Distributed Blockchain Data Management in Satellite Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of deploying and maintaining satellites for organizations with limited or intermittent needs hinder the utilization of satellite technology for operations like military, civilian observation, communications, navigation, and research, as existing systems require continuous operations and full sensor suites.
Innovation Solution
A distributed satellite platform that enables data storage and processing across multiple satellites, allowing for shared storage pools, virtual nodes, and blockchain management, where ledger entries are verified and stored across a network of satellites, optimizing storage and processing based on factors like orbital location, latency, and communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellites are deployed to provide space-based operations, then operational capability is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the satellite platform into multiple independent satellites that can operate autonomously or in coordination. Each satellite can be individually controlled, activated, or deactivated based on operational needs, allowing organizations to pay only for the capacity they require rather than committing to an entire satellite system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal satellite platform that can serve multiple organizations and purposes simultaneously. The distributed ledger technology enables shared data management across different users, allowing the same infrastructure to support various operational needs (military, civilian, commercial) without requiring separate dedicated systems for each.
2Reliability
If continuous operations on satellite are required, then operational reliability is improved, but cost increases for organizations with limited needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where satellite capacity and operational status can be adjusted in real-time based on demand. Organizations can activate or deactivate access to satellite resources as needed, transforming the static continuous operation model into a dynamic on-demand service model that matches resource consumption with actual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed ledger enables organizations to autonomously manage their own data storage and access rights without requiring continuous dedicated satellite resources. The system self-regulates resource allocation through smart contracts and consensus mechanisms, allowing organizations to access satellite capabilities only when needed while maintaining data availability through the distributed network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If full sensor suites are deployed on satellite, then operational versatility is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensing and data processing capabilities across multiple satellites into a unified distributed system. Instead of each satellite requiring complete sensor suites, the network collectively provides comprehensive sensing capabilities through data aggregation and sharing, reducing individual satellite complexity while maintaining overall system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to satellite operations by implementing distributed data storage and processing across the network. This architectural dimension allows the system to achieve versatility not through individual satellite capabilities but through networked collaboration, where data from multiple sources is combined and analyzed collectively.
4Reliability
If distributed blockchain data management is implemented, then data availability and redundancy are improved, but storage and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage across multiple satellites rather than concentrating it in a single location. Each satellite stores portions of the distributed ledger, creating redundancy and ensuring data availability even if individual satellites fail. This segmentation transforms the storage complexity from a centralized management burden into a distributed responsibility shared across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain consensus mechanism enables satellites to autonomously verify and validate data entries without requiring centralized coordination. Each satellite independently processes and validates ledger entries through cryptographic verification, eliminating the need for complex centralized data management infrastructure while ensuring data integrity and availability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for managing data storage in a satellite platform. In one implementation, a satellite platform includes a plurality of satellites, wherein a first satellite of the platform is configured to identify a request for a ledger entry for a blockchain maintained by the satellite platform and, in response to the request, distribute the ledger entry to one or more other satellites of the satellite platform, wherein the one or more other satellites comprise full nodes for the blockchain. Once distributed, the one or more other satellites each determine whether the ledger entry is verified and, when the ledger entry is verified, enters the ledger entry in a ledger for the satellite.