Ground-Network End-to-End Beamforming for Wide Satellite Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless relay communication systems, particularly satellite communication systems, face challenges in efficiently managing beamforming to maximize data transmission capacity while minimizing system complexity, weight, and power consumption, especially when covering large geographic areas.
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 traverse an end-to-end relay, allowing for multipath-induced signal superpositions to create desired user beams without the need for extensive on-board processing or complex satellite design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beamforming is implemented to focus transmitted energy to a wireless relay, then data transmission capacity is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the beamforming function into separate components: ground-based access nodes perform individual beamforming to the satellite, and the satellite performs separate beamforming to user terminals. This segmentation allows each component to use simpler, narrower beams rather than one complex end-to-end beam, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high data transmission capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The satellite acts as an intermediary that receives focused beams from ground access nodes and independently forms beams to user terminals. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for complex coordinated beamforming across the entire path, as each端 can independently manage its own beamforming with simpler algorithms and lower computational requirements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If narrow beams are used to focus energy to the wireless relay, then transmission efficiency is improved, but the coverage area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coverage area requirement is segmented across multiple ground-based access nodes, each using narrow beams for efficient transmission to the satellite. The satellite then uses its own beamforming capabilities to cover different user terminal areas. This segmentation allows each narrow beam to maintain high transmission efficiency while the collective system achieves broad coverage through multiple nodes and multiple satellite beams.
3Measurement precision
If extensive on-board processing is implemented on the satellite, then beamforming precision is improved, but satellite weight and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex beamforming computation and processing functions from the satellite and relocates them to ground-based access nodes. The satellite retains only the essential beamforming hardware (antenna elements and basic signal processing), while the computationally intensive tasks of channel estimation, beam weight calculation, and coordination are performed on the ground. This extraction maintains beamforming precision through accurate ground-based calculations while significantly reducing satellite weight and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of implementing extensive processing hardware on the satellite, the system uses ground-based nodes to compute and effectively 'copy' the beamforming functions. The ground nodes calculate the necessary beam weights and signal adjustments, then transmit control information to the satellite, which executes the beamforming with minimal on-board processing. This copying approach achieves the same beamforming precision without duplicating complex processing hardware in space.
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 enhances data transmission capacity by enabling efficient beam formation over large areas with reduced satellite complexity, weight, and power consumption, while maintaining robustness against multipath interference.
Implementation Method 1
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
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
Implementation Method 3
Such antennas typically have a paraboloid shaped reflector to focus the beam
Implementation Method 4
an antenna that is shaped to focus the signal into a narrow beam
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, an end-to-end beamforming system include a relay satellite and a ground network to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground network includes geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system (CPS). Beamformers of the ground network generate forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the satellite, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form forward user beams.