GNSS-Based Directional RF Antenna Orientation for Satellite Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directional RF antennas in wireless communication devices face challenges in efficiently determining the orientation for satellite-based wireless communication, leading to reduced performance with devices outside their field-of-view and unnecessary power consumption when no satellite signals are present.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies visible GNSS satellites based on received signals, estimates the orientation of directional RF antennas, and determines the visibility of satellite-based wireless communication satellites, allowing for adaptive monitoring of wireless frequency bands to conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a directional RF antenna is oriented to communicate with a remote device at a known position, then communication performance with devices within the field-of-view is improved, but communication performance with devices outside the field-of-view deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna orientation adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the antenna orientation based on satellite positions and communication needs, allowing the directional antenna to track different satellites as they move across the sky, thus maintaining communication capability with multiple satellites throughout the orbital period
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes periodic action by exploiting the periodic orbital motion of satellites. The system schedules communication activities based on predicted satellite visibility windows that occur periodically as satellites orbit the Earth. The antenna orientation is adjusted periodically to track satellites as they enter and exit the field-of-view, enabling time-diversified communication opportunities
2Measurement precision
If the directional RF antenna continuously monitors frequency bands to detect satellite signals, then satellite visibility detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using orbital mechanics calculations to predict satellite positions and visibility windows before actual communication occurs. The system pre-computes when satellites will be visible based on their known orbital parameters and the device's location, allowing it to activate monitoring only during predicted visibility windows rather than continuously, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses self-service by leveraging publicly available satellite orbital data and standard astronomical calculations to determine satellite visibility without requiring continuous active sensing or external assistance. The device independently computes visibility windows using its location, time, and satellite ephemeris data, enabling intelligent power management based on predictive algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for satellite-based wireless communication (SBWC) satellite visibility determination based on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) satellite visibility. The techniques can include identifying one or more visible GNSS satellites based on one or more received GNSS signals, estimating an orientation of a directional radio-frequency (RF) antenna based on respective expected positions of the one or more visible GNSS satellites, determining whether any of a plurality of SBWC satellites are visible based on the estimated orientation of the directional RF antenna, and initiating an SBWC communication procedure responsive to a determination that at least one SBWC satellite among the plurality of SBWC satellites is visible.