Distributed Data Handling Nodes for Spacecraft Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data communication systems, such as those following CCSDS protocols, often experience significant latency and inefficiencies in data handling, particularly in distributed communication networks, leading to delays and redundancy in data delivery from spacecraft to ground stations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed communication network with data-handling nodes that receive, process, and route data units, adding extensions for tracking, storing locally, and communicating them to a routing system, ensuring proper ordering, removing redundancies, and facilitating automatic recovery of missing data, thereby reducing latency and ensuring high data availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single ground station receives data from a single data source through a single facility, then data processing is simplified, but data latency increases to approximately three hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized data processing system into multiple distributed Data Handling Nodes (DHNs) located at different ground stations. Each DHN independently processes data units received from spacecraft, enabling parallel processing across multiple facilities. This segmentation reduces data latency by eliminating the single-point bottleneck while maintaining processing capability through distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional centralized processing model to a multi-dimensional distributed network architecture. Data units are routed through multiple possible paths across a network of ground stations, adding spatial and topological dimensions to the data flow. This dimensional expansion enables simultaneous data processing at multiple locations, reducing overall latency.
2Device complexity
If data is received once-per-orbit through polar ground stations, then communication infrastructure is simplified, but data delivery frequency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal distributed network where multiple ground stations serve dual functions: receiving data directly from spacecraft and acting as intermediate routing nodes for other ground stations. This multi-functionality enables more frequent data deliveries by allowing data to be collected at any ground station passing through the satellite's footprint, not just designated primary stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a routing system as an intermediary that manages data flow between multiple ground stations and processing facilities. This intermediary coordinates data transfers across the distributed network, enabling efficient multi-hop routing that increases delivery frequency without proportionally increasing infrastructure complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple data streams are multiplexed from multiple collection sites, then data throughput increases, but data ordering and redundancy management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each DHN reports received data unit identifiers to a central tracker, which maintains the global ordering state. This feedback loop enables the system to monitor and enforce correct ordering across multiple data streams without requiring complex local decision-making at each node, managing complexity through centralized coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses data unit identifiers and tracking information as copies of the essential ordering state, distributed across all DHNs. Rather than replicating entire data streams or complex ordering logic at each node, each DHN maintains a lightweight copy of the tracking information, enabling coordinated ordering management with minimal complexity at individual nodes.
4Loss of time
If data is processed in real-time across distributed nodes, then data latency is reduced, but system reliability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning through comprehensive error checking, data unit validation, and tracking verification at each DHN before data is forwarded. The routing system pre-validates data integrity and maintains backup tracking information, cushioning against potential failures in the distributed network and ensuring reliability despite increased system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system for data handling in a distributed communication network includes one or more data-handling nodes (DHNs) that each reside at one of one or more receptors. Each receptor is operable to receive first data units from one or more remote units. Each DHN is operable to extract second data units from the first data units, add extensions to the second data units for tracking the second data units in the distributed communication network, store the second data units locally at the receptor, generate log files of the second data units for communication to a data monitoring and recovery (DMR) agent at the receptor, and communicate the second data units with the added extensions to a routing system for routing the second data units in the distributed communication network.