Bent-Pipe Satellite Beam Switching for Gateway Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hub-spoke satellite communication systems face service interruptions due to weather, maintenance, and disasters, leading to reduced capacity for user terminals served by gateway terminals.
Innovation Solution
Implementing bent-pipe fixed beam switching to create virtual utility gateways, where a satellite with multiple receivers and transmitters uses a gateway switch structure to sequentially switch forward and return link signals into fixed location beams according to different switching patterns, allowing flexibility in capacity allocation and sharing among multiple gateway terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gateway terminals are used to service user terminals in spot beams, then communication capacity is provided to user terminals, but service interruptions occur due to weather, maintenance, and disasters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements virtual utility gateways that allow multiple gateway terminals to serve multiple user terminals through dynamic beam switching. A single gateway terminal can assume the role of multiple failed gateways by sequentially switching its beams to serve different user terminal groups, making the gateway infrastructure universal and multi-functional. This resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptability in gateway capacity allocation while maintaining service continuity through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic beam switching where the assignment of user terminals to gateways is not fixed but can change in real-time based on gateway availability. When a gateway fails, the system dynamically reassigns its user terminals to other operational gateways through coordinated beam switching. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to changing conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed beam switching is implemented to provide virtual utility gateways, then flexibility and resilience are enhanced, but system complexity increases due to multiple switches and switching patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple beam switching operations into a unified gateway switching framework. Instead of implementing separate switching mechanisms for each gateway, the system merges the switching functions into a coordinated structure where a single control logic manages beam assignments across multiple gateways. This merging approach enables capacity sharing while reducing the overall system complexity by eliminating redundant switching components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a beam switch controller as an intermediary component that manages the switching operations between gateways and user terminals. This intermediary coordinates the beam switching patterns and ensures proper signal routing without requiring complex direct connections between all system components. The controller acts as a mediator that simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling flexible capacity allocation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for communicating includes utilizing a satellite comprising receivers, transmitters, transmit switches, and a gateway switch structure. Prior to a time T, each of at least P receivers are used to receive one of at least P signals from P gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least P signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least P signals are switched into fixed location beams. After time T and before a time T2, each of at least Q receivers are used to receive a different one of at least Q signals from Q gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least Q signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least Q signals are switched into fixed location beams. Q and P are non-zero positive integers and Q < P.