HAP Node Emergency Backhaul via Selective MT Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency situations, such as natural disasters, telecommunications connectivity is disrupted due to network outages, and existing systems struggle to maintain communication services when the primary network is unavailable, especially when the backup network belongs to a different provider.
Innovation Solution
A high-altitude platform (HAP) node with a selectively-activatable embedded mobile terminal (MT) searches for and establishes a connection with a second network, either within or outside its original provider's region, to provide emergency communication services by activating the MT to initiate a new backhaul link, allowing it to handle emergency calls even if the primary network is down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the HAP node uses the first network for backhaul service, then normal communication services are provided, but the service is disrupted when the first network fails during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The HAP node pre-configures an embedded mobile terminal (MT) that can selectively activate to establish backhaul connections with alternative networks. This preliminary setup enables rapid switching to backup networks during emergencies without requiring complex real-time decision-making or configuration changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded MT acts as an intermediary component between the HAP node and alternative networks. It provides a standardized interface for establishing backhaul connections with different network providers, enabling seamless transition from the primary network to alternative networks during service disruptions.
2Reliability
If the HAP node establishes a backhaul link with a second network from a different provider, then emergency services are maintained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded MT is designed with multi-functionality to handle both primary and alternative network connections using standardized protocols. It can selectively activate to work with different network providers without requiring provider-specific customizations, thereby managing complexity while maintaining emergency service continuity.
3Reliability
If the HAP node activates the embedded MT to search for alternative networks, then backup backhaul is established, but energy consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded MT is implemented as a dynamically activatable component rather than a permanently active system. It remains dormant during normal operations to conserve energy and is selectively activated only when the primary network fails, providing backhaul redundancy while minimizing energy consumption and operational complexity during normal conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A high-altitude platform (HAP) node provides communication service during an emergency. The HAP node uses a first network to provide communication services for handling calls initiated by at least one user equipment (UE). The HAP node detects that an emergency disruption has occurred that prevents the use of the first network. In response to detecting the occurrence of the emergency disruption, a mobile terminal (MT) in the HAP node searches for a second network able to accept emergency calls. The HAP node determines whether the second network will handle all calls initiated by the at least one UE or only emergency calls generated by the at least one UE. The HAP node handles the calls based on the determining and through the use of the second network.