Drone-Mounted Transcoder and RIS for Indoor Satellite-to-UE Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-terrestrial network satellite direct-to-device communication is unreliable due to radio frequency signal attenuations caused by physical structures, requiring a line-of-sight path and differing air-interfaces between satcom and terrestrial networks, especially for user equipment in indoor environments.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a Layer-1 physical transcoder on drones with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) to translate 3GPP 5G NR air-interface to DVB Satcom, incorporating 3D doppler compensation and metasurfaces to boost indoor RF signals, enabling direct communication with satellites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellite direct-to-device communication is used, then connectivity is provided, but signal attenuation occurs due to physical structures blocking the line-of-sight path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a drone-mounted transcoder as an intermediary device between the satellite and indoor user equipment. The transcoder receives satellite signals, converts them to terrestrial network signals, and transmits them indoors, thereby mediating the communication path and eliminating the need for direct line-of-sight between the satellite and indoor devices.
2Reliability
If line-of-sight path is required for satellite communication, then signal quality is improved, but adaptability to indoor environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drone-mounted transcoder serves as a mobile intermediary that can be positioned outdoors to maintain line-of-sight with satellites while simultaneously providing indoor coverage. This mediator enables both high-quality satellite signal reception and adaptability to indoor environments where direct satellite access is blocked.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a mobile drone platform that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation to maintain optimal line-of-sight connection with satellites while serving different indoor locations. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to adapt to various indoor environments and user positions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transcoder is deployed on ground-based infrastructure, then air-interface conversion is achieved, but portability and deployment flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the transcoder from ground-based two-dimensional deployment to three-dimensional aerial deployment using drones. This dimensional change provides access to new deployment locations and perspectives, enabling the transcoder to be positioned optimally for satellite communication while serving multiple indoor areas simultaneously.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing devices are not modified, then device compatibility is maintained, but integration of new communication capabilities is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The drone-mounted transcoder acts as an external intermediary that performs air-interface conversion between satellite and terrestrial networks without requiring modifications to existing user equipment. The transcoder handles all protocol conversions and signal transformations, allowing legacy devices to communicate with satellite networks through the intermediary.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides reliable and portable connectivity for user equipment, bridging the digital divide by ensuring always-on communication and overcoming signal attenuation, suitable for emergency and disaster scenarios without modifying existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) to translate 3GPP 5G NR air-interface to DVB Satcom, incorporating 3D doppler compensation and metasurfaces to boost indoor RF signals
Implementation Method 2
incorporating 3D doppler compensation
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described herein is directed towards a transcoder that can be deployed on a drone and used to couple non-terrestrial network satellites to user equipment. A metasurface (reconfigurable intelligent surface, or RIS, e.g., also mounted on the drone or integrated with the transcoder) redirects signals from the satellite to a satellite radio frequency (RF) interface of the transcoder, with the transcoder also coupled by a user equipment (UE) RF interface to user equipment. The drone-mounted transcoder converts satellite-originating signals to UE-compliant signals, and converts UE-originating signal to satellite-compliant signals. The transcoder performs various conversion-related functions to facilitate such satellite direct-to-device service, including via packet conversion, frequency conversion, doppler manipulation, a repeater, frequency equalization/negative-slope compensation and RIS-related conversion in both the receive mode and transmit mode of the RIS. Various example form factors for implementing and deploying the transcoder and metasurface can be used.