GEO Satellite Coverage Information for LEO Network Prioritization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Geostationary (GEO) satellites face challenges due to their large distance from Earth, resulting in significant delays and a poor link budget, which complicates communication with terrestrial networks and user equipment.

Innovation Solution

A method is disclosed that involves creating and transmitting messages over a geostationary system, including coverage information for non-geostationary satellites in a non-terrestrial network from public land mobile networks, thereby enhancing communication efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If GEO satellites are used for communication, then coverage area is improved, but link budget and communication reliability deteriorate due to large distance from Earth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidlink budget

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces LEO satellites as intermediary nodes between GEO satellites and user equipment. The GEO satellite communicates with LEO satellites, which then provide local coverage to UEs, effectively mediating the communication path to overcome the distance-related link budget problems while maintaining wide coverage capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication system into multiple layers: GEO satellites providing broad coverage area, LEO satellites providing localized high-quality connections, and terrestrial networks providing ground-based infrastructure. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and link budget

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If LEO satellites are deployed in sparse configurations, then device complexity is reduced, but search time and power consumption increase for user equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesatellite deployment complexityVSAvoidcell search time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having GEO satellites broadcast coverage information about LEO satellites in advance. User equipment receives and stores this information before needing to search for LEO cells, significantly reducing the time and power required for cell searches while maintaining simple sparse LEO deployments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes feedback mechanisms where GEO satellites continuously provide updated coverage information about LEO satellites to user equipment. This feedback allows UEs to adapt their search strategies based on current LEO satellite positions and coverage areas, reducing search time without increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250159455A1GEO guidance for leo coverage and connectivity

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

Message(s) are created to be transmitted over a geostationary system. The message(s) include coverage information for non-geo stationary satellite(s) in an NTN from PLMN(s). The message(s) are transmitted over the geostationary system. A UE searches for a PLMN. The UE, in response to finding a PLMN transmitting, using a geostationary system, message(s) including coverage information for non-geo stationary satellite(s) in an NTN, receives the message(s). The UE updates preferences used for a list used for PLMN selection to make PLMN(s) corresponding to the coverage information as higher priority than other PLMN(s) in the list. The UE performs cell search(es) for cells from the non-geo stationary satellite(s) using the updated list.