Hierarchical Radio System with Shared Spectrum and Interference Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiocommunication systems face challenges in increasing uplink transmission capacity and reducing complexity in dual-mode terminals for asymmetric data traffic in IoT communications, particularly in extending terrestrial cellular network coverage with satellite integration, while managing shared frequency resources effectively to avoid interference and optimize spectrum use.

Innovation Solution

An integrated radiocommunication system with ordered hierarchical cellular coverage, where a higher level coverage cell shares a common frequency band with lower level cells, allowing dual-mode terminals to selectively use either system based on geographical position and propagation conditions, with advanced resource management and interference cancellation techniques to optimize transmission capacity and minimize collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If geostationary satellites are used for satellite communication, then global coverage and service reliability are achieved, but service cost and terminal cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidterminal cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the satellite communication system into multiple functional components: satellite relay stations in orbit, terrestrial base stations on ground, and dual-mode terminals. This segmentation allows the system to achieve global coverage through distributed satellite relays while using cost-effective terrestrial infrastructure for local communication, reducing overall terminal costs compared to pure geostationary satellite systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces terrestrial base stations as intermediary components between satellites and end users. These base stations handle local communication tasks, reducing the burden on satellite systems and enabling cheaper terminal designs. The terrestrial infrastructure acts as a mediator that provides reliable service at lower cost by combining satellite and terrestrial communication advantages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If geostationary satellites are used, then global coverage is achieved, but latency increases due to significant information transit time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidtransit time
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the communication path into multiple segments: satellite-to-terrestrial base station links and terrestrial base station-to-terminal links. This segmentation allows data to be transmitted through optimized paths, using terrestrial infrastructure for short-distance, low-latency communication while satellites provide broad coverage, thereby reducing overall transit time compared to direct satellite-to-terminal communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Terrestrial base stations serve as intermediaries that reduce latency by handling local communication traffic. Instead of all data traveling directly to and from distant geostationary satellites, the intermediary base stations process and route data locally, significantly reducing the information transit time while maintaining global coverage capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If LEO satellite constellations are used, then latency is reduced and service quality improved, but infrastructure cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransit timeVSAvoidinfrastructure capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges satellite communication infrastructure with existing terrestrial cellular network infrastructure. By combining LEO satellite relays with ground-based base stations and utilizing shared frequency bands, the system achieves low-latency communication without requiring a completely separate infrastructure, thereby reducing overall infrastructure capacity requirements and costs compared to pure LEO constellation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal communication system where terrestrial base stations and satellite relay stations can both serve mobile terminals using common protocols and shared frequency resources. This multi-functionality allows the infrastructure to handle both terrestrial and satellite communication tasks, reducing the need for dedicated infrastructure and lowering overall system costs while maintaining low latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If dual-mode terminals are deployed to access both satellite and terrestrial networks, then coverage ubiquity is achieved, but terminal complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage ubiquityVSAvoidterminal complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs dual-mode terminals with universal communication capabilities that can operate on both satellite and terrestrial networks using standardized protocols. The terminal incorporates multi-functional radio interfaces that can selectively access either network type based on availability and conditions, achieving global coverage ubiquity without requiring completely separate hardware systems for each network type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic network selection in dual-mode terminals, where the terminal can automatically switch between satellite and terrestrial access modes based on real-time conditions such as signal quality, network availability, and service requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the terminal to maintain connectivity across diverse environments while managing complexity through intelligent software-controlled mode switching rather than rigid hardware configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

5Productivity

If shared frequency bands are used between satellite and terrestrial systems, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but interference management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum efficiencyVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where satellite relay stations and terrestrial base stations continuously monitor and exchange information about frequency band usage and interference conditions. This feedback enables dynamic resource allocation and coordination, allowing the system to efficiently manage shared spectrum resources by adjusting transmission parameters based on real-time conditions, thereby achieving high spectrum efficiency while managing interference through coordinated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables satellite and terrestrial systems to self-coordinate their resource usage through standardized protocols and automatic interference management algorithms. The systems can autonomously detect interference conditions and adjust their transmission strategies without requiring complex external coordination, allowing efficient shared spectrum utilization while keeping resource management complexity manageable through self-organizing network behaviors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3209088B1Integrated radio-communication system with ordered hierarchical cell coverage
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 THALES SA
  • EP3209088B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3209088B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3209088B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B

AI summary

An integrated radio communication system with ordered hierarchical cellular coverage comprises a first system (104) and a second system (106), the coverage of the second system (106) being overlapped by the coverage of the first system (104), and a set of dual-mode terminals (114, 116) that can selectively use either the first system (104) or the second system (106). The first and second systems (104, 106) are configured to simultaneously share a common portion Bc of a first frequency band B1 on a first uplink (158) and a second uplink (156), respectively, and manage corresponding first and second transmission resources.The second lower-level N2 radio communication system (106) is free to manage its second transmission resources without coordination constraints with the first higher-level N1 system (104), while the first higher-level system is configured not to interfere with the second system in the shared frequency band portion. The first system (104) is configured to transmit data packets on a random upstream contention channel and to manage its first resources optimally in terms of channel transmission capacity based on the measured occupancy of the second radio resources currently used by the second system (106) and the first resources currently used by the first system (104).