LEO Satellite Routing With Dynamic Forwarding Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication protocols are not optimized for LEO satellite networks, which have dynamic and constantly changing network components, leading to performance degradation due to varying distances and delays between satellites, resulting in higher packet loss and latency.
Innovation Solution
Implement dynamic forwarding tables on satellite nodes to perform path selection and routing calculations in real-time, enabling efficient communication across LEO satellite networks by using ground stations to determine destination satellites and provide updated address information to edge devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional static communication protocols are used in LEO satellite networks, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but communication performance degrades due to dynamic network topology and varying satellite distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing tables that are continuously updated based on real-time satellite positions and network topology changes. This allows the routing protocol to adapt to the moving nature of LEO satellites, optimizing packet forwarding paths as satellites move in and out of communication range, thereby improving communication reliability without requiring completely new protocol designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-calculates and maintains routing tables that anticipate future satellite positions and communication opportunities. By performing routing calculations in advance based on predicted satellite orbits and positions, the system prepares optimal forwarding paths before they are needed, reducing latency and packet loss when actual communication windows open
2Speed
If satellites are placed in low Earth orbit to reduce latency and improve bandwidth, then communication speed improves, but network topology becomes highly dynamic with constantly changing adjacencies and distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where satellites continuously exchange position and status information with neighboring satellites and ground stations. This real-time feedback allows the routing system to track topology changes as they occur and dynamically adjust routing tables to maintain optimal communication paths despite the highly dynamic nature of LEO satellite positions
Solution Approach 2:
Each satellite in the network autonomously maintains its own routing table and participates in routing calculations for the entire network. Satellites use their own position data and received position information from other satellites to independently determine optimal forwarding decisions, enabling the network to self-adapt to topology changes without requiring centralized control
3Productivity
If dynamic forwarding tables are implemented to adapt to changing network topology, then communication efficiency improves, but computational overhead and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the routing calculation task into segments handled by different satellites at different times. Instead of requiring every satellite to perform complete routing calculations for all possible destinations, each satellite maintains routing information for its local neighborhood and collaborates with others to build complete routing paths, reducing individual computational overhead while maintaining overall network efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are techniques for implementing a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network and routing communications (e.g., packets) over that network. In embodiments, the techniques may comprise receiving, at a first ground station computing device, a request to determine destination information for a communication, determining, at the first ground station computing device based on information about the communication, a target computing device to which the communication is to be routed, determining, at the first ground station computing based on the target computing device, a location of a destination ground station, determining, at the first ground station computing by mapping orbital data to the location of the destination ground station, a destination satellite, generating the destination information to include at least an address for the destination satellite, and providing the destination information in response to the request.