Centralized Data Center for HTS Satellite Gateway Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
High throughput satellites with numerous spot beams require geographically dispersed gateways, leading to increased costs due to complex hardware needs and often limited access to high-speed ISP connections, affecting throughput and quality of service, especially in remote locations.
Innovation Solution
Centralizing common gateway operations in locations with high-speed ISP connections using a system with distributed gateways and centralized data centers, where data centers manage traffic and network functions, enabling efficient load balancing and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If gateways are geographically dispersed to support high throughput satellite spot beams, then satellite coverage and service area are improved, but gateway operational cost and hardware complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts common gateway functions (traffic monitoring, legal intercept, network provisioning) from individual distributed gateways and consolidates them into a centralized data center. This allows remote gateways to be simplified while maintaining full functionality through cloud-based services accessed via the backhaul network.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized data center provides universal services to all distributed gateways, enabling a single facility to perform multiple functions that were previously distributed across many gateways. This includes traffic monitoring, security functions, and network management for the entire satellite network.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gateways are located in remote areas to expand service coverage, then geographic accessibility is improved, but ISP connection speed and quality of service deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backhaul network as an intermediary between remote gateways and the centralized data center with high-speed ISP connections. This allows remote gateways to access high-speed internet through the centralized facility rather than relying on local slow connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-speed ISP connection capability is extracted from individual gateway locations and consolidated at the centralized data center. Remote gateways access this high-speed connection through the backhaul network, eliminating the need for each gateway to have its own high-speed connection.
3Reliability
If gateway capabilities are expanded to maintain service levels, then quality of service is improved, but hardware cost and operational expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized data center provides self-service capabilities for common gateway functions, automatically handling traffic monitoring, security intercepts, and network provisioning without requiring additional hardware at each gateway location. This reduces operational complexity while maintaining service quality.
4Productivity
If additional gateways are deployed to support increased subscribers, then service capacity is improved, but total hardware cost and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functional capabilities of multiple distributed gateways into a single centralized data center. This consolidation reduces the total number of physical facilities required while maintaining or expanding service capacity through efficient resource utilization and virtualization.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is disclosed for centralizing common gateway operations in a satellite communication system. One or more distributed GWs establish a first Layer-3 connection to the plurality of terminals over a satellite network. A second Layer-3 connection is established between a data center and the distributed GWs over backhaul network. A network management system is provided for managing access to the external networks by the plurality of terminals. The system also includes a deep packet inspection unit, within the data center, for inspecting all traffic between the plurality of terminals and the external networks. The data center establishes a connection with external networks, and enable communication between the plurality of terminals and the external private networks. Multiple data centers can be used to balance traffic load, and to provide system redundancy.