Dynamic Carrier Grouping for Satellite Return Link Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communications systems face challenges in reliably serving densely populated areas due to signal blocking and penetration issues, and they struggle to support broadband communications due to fragmented frequency allocations that lack contiguous bandwidth segments.
Innovation Solution
A communications network with a resource manager that dynamically regulates carrier assignments for bidirectional communications by coupling and decoupling FDD return subcarriers with FDD forward carriers to adapt to changing bandwidth requirements and interference levels, allowing for different frequency reuse patterns across service areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequency reuse is increased to reduce co-channel interference, then signal reliability improves, but network capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency reuse patterns where the reuse factor is not fixed but adapts based on traffic demand and interference conditions. The system can switch between different reuse patterns (e.g., 1/3, 1/7, 1/9) dynamically, allowing the network to optimize between capacity and reliability in real-time based on current operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different frequency reuse patterns to different geographical areas and service regions based on local conditions. Urban areas with high interference may use higher reuse factors (1/7 or 1/9) for reliability, while rural areas with less interference can use lower reuse factors (1/3 or 1/7) for maximum capacity. This localized approach allows each region to operate at its optimal point.
2Reliability
If contiguous bandwidth segments are allocated to support broadband communications, then communication quality improves, but frequency spectrum utilization becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the return link bandwidth into multiple subcarriers that can be independently allocated and coupled with forward carriers. This segmentation allows the system to create contiguous bandwidth segments dynamically by combining multiple subcarriers when broadband communication is needed, while still utilizing the fragmented frequency spectrum efficiently through selective coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically couples and decouples return subcarriers with forward carriers based on traffic demand and bandwidth requirements. When broadband communication is required, multiple subcarriers are coupled to create contiguous segments; when traffic demand is low, subcarriers can be decoupled and reallocated, maximizing spectrum utilization while maintaining communication quality when needed.
3Device complexity
If carrier assignments are fixed to simplify network management, then system complexity decreases, but adaptability to changing bandwidth requirements worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic carrier assignment where return subcarriers are coupled with forward carriers based on real-time bandwidth requirements and traffic demand. The coupling configuration can be changed dynamically without requiring complete reconfiguration of the system, allowing the network to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through automated resource management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal carrier assignment framework where the same pool of return subcarriers can be coupled with different forward carriers depending on demand. This multi-functional approach allows a single set of subcarriers to serve multiple purposes and be dynamically reassigned, providing adaptability without requiring separate dedicated carriers for each potential service scenario.
Data Source
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AI summary
In some embodiments, a satellite communications network dynamically regulates carrier assignment for bidirectional communications between a satellite and radioterminals. The satellite communications network includes a resource manager that regulates the carrier assignments by selecting among a plurality of FDD return subcarriers, with potentially different subcarrier bandwidths and supporting different radio access technologies, within at least one FDD return carrier grouping for coupling to a selected one of a plurality of FDD forward carriers, and by controlling the satellite network to receive communications from the radioterminal on the selected FDD return subcarrier and to transmit communications to the radioterminal on the selected FDD forward carrier.