Ground-Based Beamformer for Satellite Relay Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing beamforming for wide geographic coverage areas, leading to increased complexity, size, weight, and power consumption, which limits data capacity and increases launch costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of end-to-end beamforming systems that compute and apply beam weights within a ground network, using an array of access nodes to form beams that relay signals through an end-to-end relay, allowing for multipath-induced beamforming over a large area without the need for extensive on-board processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If on-board beamforming processing is implemented in satellites to manage beamforming for wide geographic coverage, then beamforming capability is improved, but device complexity, size, weight, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beamforming processing functionality from the satellite and relocates it to ground-based network elements. The satellite performs only simple signal relay functions, while the complex beamforming computations are performed by access nodes and a central processor in the ground network. This extraction significantly reduces on-board processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ground-based access nodes and a central processor as intermediary elements that perform the complex beamforming operations. These intermediaries compute beam weights and phase shifts based on channel state information and relay this processed information to the satellite, which then applies the instructions for signal transmission.
2Adaptability or versatility
If on-board beamforming processing is implemented in satellites, then beamforming capability is improved, but satellite size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beamforming processing functionality from the satellite and relocates it to ground-based network elements. The satellite performs only simple signal relay functions, while the complex beamforming computations are performed by access nodes and a central processor in the ground network. This extraction significantly reduces on-board processing requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If on-board beamforming processing is implemented in satellites, then beamforming capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beamforming processing functionality from the satellite and relocates it to ground-based network elements. The satellite performs only simple signal relay functions, while the complex beamforming computations are performed by access nodes and a central processor in the ground network. This extraction significantly reduces on-board processing requirements.
4Loss of energy
If narrow beams are used to focus energy to a single wireless relay, then energy transmission efficiency is improved, but system coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service area into multiple geographic regions, each served by a different access node. Each access node forms a narrow beam to a specific relay for its designated area, maintaining energy efficiency. The system achieves wide overall coverage by coordinating multiple such segmented beams from different access nodes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-beam system to a multi-beam system operating in parallel across different spatial dimensions. Multiple access nodes simultaneously form narrow beams to different relays across various geographic areas, effectively expanding the system coverage area without compromising the energy efficiency of individual beams.
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
This approach reduces the complexity of satellites, enhances data capacity, and lowers launch costs by enabling efficient beamforming across large geographic areas with reduced satellite size and power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a beam may be formed electronically by adjusting the gain and phase (or time delay) of signals that are transmitted, received, or both from several elements of a phased array antenna. By properly selecting the relative phase and gain transmitted and/or received by each element of a phased array antenna, the beam may be directed.
Implementation Method 2
Such antennas typically have a paraboloid shaped reflector to focus the beam.
Implementation Method 3
end-to-end beamforming systems that compute and apply beam weights within a ground network, using an array of access nodes to form beams that relay signals through an end-to-end relay
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.