Encrypted Navigation Signals for Secure LEO Satellite Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing satellite navigation systems face challenges in providing secure, precise, and efficient location and time transfer services, as well as accurate atmospheric and environmental monitoring, particularly in low earth orbit (LEO) scenarios, due to limitations in data transmission and processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A satellite constellation system comprising LEO satellites equipped with navigation processing systems that utilize encrypted navigation messages, radio occultation, and inter-satellite communication to provide secure precision location and time transfer services, atmospheric monitoring, and environmental data, leveraging atomic clocks and edge computing for enhanced data processing and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If higher power navigation signals are transmitted from LEO satellites, then navigation precision and atmospheric monitoring capability are improved, but energy consumption and satellite power system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transmission power parameter dynamically based on operational requirements. LEO satellites adjust their signal power levels to provide higher power when precision navigation and atmospheric monitoring are needed, while reducing power during normal operations to conserve energy. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing high precision only when necessary.
2Speed
If LEO satellites are used for navigation and atmospheric monitoring, then signal convergence speed and atmospheric penetration are improved, but orbital geometry limitations and coverage area reduce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coverage area into multiple zones and uses a constellation of LEO satellites in different orbital planes and altitudes. Each satellite covers a specific region, and together they provide global coverage. This segmentation allows individual satellites to maintain fast signal convergence while the network as a whole achieves comprehensive area coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional orbital geometry by deploying satellites at different altitudes and inclinations. This multi-layered spatial arrangement allows signals to reach deeper into the atmosphere for monitoring purposes while maintaining coverage over large surface areas through the combined effect of multiple satellites viewed from different dimensional perspectives.
3Reliability
If encryption is applied to navigation signals, then security and anti-spoofing capability are improved, but signal processing complexity and receiver computation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cryptographic keys and authentication protocols as intermediary elements between the satellite transmitter and receiver. These intermediaries enable secure signal verification and anti-spoofing capabilities without requiring complex processing of the navigation signal itself. The encryption layer operates separately from the core navigation signal processing, maintaining reliability while managing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A satellite is operable to generate a navigation message. Encrypted navigation message data is generated from the navigation message by applying an encryption scheme to the navigation message. An encrypted ranging signal is generated by applying the encryption scheme to a spreading code of the satellite. A secure navigation signal is generated based on modulating the encrypted navigation message data upon the encrypted ranging signal. The secure navigation signal is broadcast for receipt by at least one client device. The secure navigation signal facilitates the at least one client device to determine state data of the at least one client device by utilizing key data associated with the encryption scheme.