Beacon Location Estimation via Satellite Relay Extrapolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for locating and updating the position of distress radio beacons, especially in remote or emergency situations, face limitations such as communication latency, range restrictions, and inefficiencies in disseminating beacon positions to potential rescuers, leading to potential delays in rescue operations.
Innovation Solution
A method using satellite relays and a mobile device to estimate the current location of a remote radio beacon by encoding and transmitting historical position and time data, allowing for linear extrapolation of the beacon's current position, which is then displayed on a mobile device, enabling efficient and timely updates of the beacon's location to nearby rescuers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional satellite-based beacon localization methods (TOA, FOA, multi-burst) are used, then beacon position can be determined, but communication latency and time delays occur due to the need for multiple satellites and complex processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes and stores beacon position information in satellite almanac data structures before transmission. By preparing the position data in advance and organizing it in a compact format, the system enables mobile devices to quickly retrieve and extrapolate position information without waiting for complex real-time satellite measurements and processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary representation of beacon position data embedded in satellite navigation messages. Instead of directly transmitting raw measurement data requiring complex processing, the system uses an intermediate encoded format that mobile devices can efficiently decode and use for position extrapolation, reducing communication latency
2Productivity
If beacon position information is transmitted to all potential rescuers, then rescue effectiveness improves, but communication bandwidth and data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential position information elements from complete beacon data and embeds them in satellite almanac structures. By taking out only the critical position coordinates and time information needed for rescue operations, the system minimizes data transmission volume while maintaining rescue effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation parameters of beacon position data by encoding it in a compact format within satellite almanac messages. This parameter transformation reduces the data size from detailed measurement sets to essential position coordinates, decreasing transmission requirements while preserving the information needed for effective rescue operations
3Speed
If real-time beacon position updates are provided to mobile devices, then rescuers can locate beacons faster, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates simplified copies of beacon position information embedded in satellite almanac data that mobile devices can easily process. Instead of implementing complex real-time tracking and communication infrastructure, the patent uses copies of position data transmitted through existing satellite navigation systems, reducing system complexity while maintaining update speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the satellite navigation system serve multiple functions: it provides both standard navigation services and beacon position information dissemination. By utilizing the existing multi-functional satellite infrastructure for dual purposes, the system achieves real-time position updates without adding dedicated complex communication infrastructure
4Area of stationary object
If satellite relays are used to transmit beacon signals over wide areas, then coverage range increases, but signal transmission time and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-positions beacon information data in satellite almanac structures before the satellites reach their transmission positions. By preparing the data in advance during satellite orbital operations, the system enables immediate data availability when satellites pass over target areas, reducing the effective transmission time despite the wide area coverage requiring satellite relay
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for estimation of the current location of a remote radio beacon, at a mobile device, based on two historical positions thereof provided via at least two satellite relays and one base station, particularly usable for Search and Rescue. A beacon is configured to periodically transmit short RF signals, relayed by a first satellite payload to a base station, at which the position of the beacon is resolved; then, the base station transmits a message, relayed by a second satellite payload and detectable by a mobile device, encoding two previous positions of the beacon, stamped with time tags. Finally, the mobile device decodes the information about said two previous positions of the beacon, and accordingly estimates the current position of the beacon, accounting for possible different time references.