Inter-Satellite Cooperation for Low-Latency Terminal Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing satellite communication systems face challenges with high latency and coverage issues in geostationary orbits, and require complex constellations in medium or low Earth orbits to achieve global coverage, leading to inefficiencies in communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for aerial or spatial devices to cooperate by sharing resources, such as frequency channels and time slots, to enhance coverage and reliability, allowing autonomous and dynamic cooperation without extensive ground station control, and utilizing inter-satellite cooperation for improved communication performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If geostationary satellites are used to provide large coverage areas, then coverage area is improved, but latency increases and emission power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple satellites (first satellite and second satellite) to work together as a cooperative system. The first satellite receives data from the ground station and transmits it to the second satellite, which then relays it to the terminal. This merging of multiple satellites allows the system to achieve both large coverage area and reduced latency by utilizing the closer proximity of medium/low Earth orbit satellites while maintaining the coverage benefits through cooperative transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The second satellite acts as an intermediary or relay between the first satellite and the terminal. It receives the data signal from the first satellite and retransmits it to the terminal, effectively mediating the communication process. This intermediary approach allows the system to leverage the advantages of both satellites' positions and reduce the overall transmission distance and latency.
2Loss of time
If medium or low Earth orbit satellites are used to reduce latency, then latency is improved, but the number of satellites required increases leading to implementation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple satellites into a coordinated cooperative system where a first satellite and a second satellite work together to serve terminals. This approach reduces implementation complexity compared to deploying and managing large constellations of independent medium or low Earth orbit satellites, as the cooperative mechanism allows fewer satellites to achieve similar coverage and performance goals through coordinated resource sharing and relay transmission.
3Reliability
If cooperation between aerial or spatial devices is implemented to share resources, then coverage and reliability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first satellite autonomously determines whether to trigger cooperation with the second satellite by evaluating local conditions such as signal strength, coverage requirements, and resource availability. The satellite independently manages the cooperation process, selecting appropriate second satellites and coordinating resource sharing without requiring complex centralized control. This self-service approach improves reliability through adaptive cooperation while limiting the increase in system complexity to mainly local decision-making logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method implemented by a first aerial or spatial device to transmit data to at least one terminal. The method includes: receiving, from a cooperation entity, information relating to resources of at least one second aerial or spatial device that can be used to transmit data to the at least one terminal; and if a cooperation criterion is verified, triggering a cooperation with the at least one second device as a function of the information to transmit data to the at least one terminal. The cooperation includes: sending, to the at least one second device, second data to be transmitted to the at least one terminal.