IP-Based Satellite Communication via Intermediary Ground Stations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional satellite communication with the Earth's surface is limited by the need for visual contact between satellites and ground stations, resulting in complex timelines and restricted interactive operation, especially for data exchange and satellite control.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an IP-based communication method using a satellite radio terminal connected to a space-based Internet system, allowing for permanent, bidirectional, and interactive communication between a ground terminal and a satellite, independent of orbital position, through protocols like IP, TCP, UDP, HTTP(S), and FTP, with error correction protocols like LTE or CCSDS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional direct radio communication between satellite and ground station is used, then communication is possible only when there is visual contact, but this results in complex timelines and restricted interactive operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary ground station that acts as a relay between the satellite and the user's ground terminal. This intermediary enables communication when direct visual contact between the satellite and the user's terminal is not available, resolving the contradiction by providing communication reliability through indirect paths while maintaining interactive operation capability through the intermediary's processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the communication architecture by introducing multiple ground stations at different locations. This allows the system to maintain communication through geometric relationships rather than requiring direct line-of-sight between satellite and user terminal, thereby improving reliability without restricting interactivity.
2Productivity
If conventional direct radio communication is used, then data exchange is limited to brief periods when satellite flies over ground station, but this restricts communication to not more than 8 minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary ground station receives and buffers data from the satellite during its brief pass, then forwards this data to user terminals over extended periods. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high data exchange efficiency during the satellite pass while eliminating the time loss for users who can access data continuously through the intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground station performs preliminary actions by receiving, processing, and buffering satellite data during the brief communication window, preparing it for subsequent user access. This preliminary data preparation eliminates the need for users to wait for brief satellite passes, thereby improving productivity while eliminating time loss.
3Loss of information
If relay satellites are used for transfer of satellite reference data, then data transfer is possible, but satellite control does not take place via such relay satellites and permanent reachability is not allowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal ground station infrastructure that performs multiple functions: receiving reference data from satellites, providing relay communication, enabling user terminal access, and supporting satellite control operations. This multi-functional ground station system resolves the contradiction by providing both reference data transfer and satellite control capabilities through the same intermediary infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground station serves as a versatile intermediary that can handle different types of satellite communications including reference data transfer and control commands. This intermediary provides adaptability by supporting multiple communication modes and purposes, resolving the limitation of specialized relay satellites.
4Reliability
If space-based Internet systems with large number of satellites are deployed, then permanent bidirectional communication is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ground-based intermediary stations rather than additional satellites to achieve permanent communication availability. This ground-based intermediary approach provides reliable continuous communication by relaying data between passing satellites and user terminals, avoiding the complexity and cost of deploying large constellations of satellites while maintaining permanent communication capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for communication between a ground terminal on the earth's surface and a satellite, wherein the ground terminal and a radio terminal of the satellite are set up for IP-based communication. The communication proceeds such that one or more IP-based protocols are used with the interposition of a space-based Internet system to transmit control commands for one or more modules of the satellite from the ground terminal to the radio terminal, which receives the control commands by radio from the space-based Internet system and forwards them to the module(s). Alternatively or additionally, module data, which come from one or more modules of the satellite, are transmitted from the radio terminal to the ground terminal, with the radio terminal sending the module data by radio to the space-based Internet system.