LEO Satellite Handover Planning for Vehicle-Mounted Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent satellite handovers in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems, especially for vehicle-mounted user terminals, cause delays, latency, and inefficient use of communication resources due to rapid satellite movement and vehicle direction divergence from orbital paths.
Innovation Solution
A method for satellite selection and handover that utilizes vehicle-, satellite-, and Earth-related information to identify and prioritize candidate satellites for future handovers, reducing the number of handovers through a predetermined handover plan based on vehicle navigation, ephemeris data, and Earth rotation, minimizing communication resource consumption and service disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent satellite handovers are performed to maintain connection with moving vehicles, then connection continuity is improved, but communication resource consumption increases and delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by gathering vehicle navigation information and satellite ephemeris data to identify and prioritize candidate satellites before handover is needed. This allows the system to proactively establish connections with future satellites, reducing the frequency of reactive handovers and optimizing resource usage while maintaining connection continuity.
2Reliability
If satellite handovers are performed rapidly to track vehicle movement, then connection stability is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies candidate satellites and prepares handover sequences in advance using vehicle trajectory prediction and satellite position data. By having prioritized candidate satellites ready before handover is triggered, the system minimizes decision-making time and reduces latency while maintaining stable connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more satellite handovers are performed to accommodate vehicle direction changes, then connection coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by prioritizing candidate satellites based on specific criteria such as predicted vehicle location, satellite visibility, and signal quality. This localized prioritization approach simplifies handover management by focusing resources on the most relevant satellites rather than managing all possible handover scenarios equally.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for satellite selection and handover for use with a vehicle-mounted user terminal and a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation having a number of LEO satellites. The method uses an expected future location of the vehicle-mounted user terminal, as well as other optional factors, to preemptively devise a “handover plan” that identifies optimum satellite candidates before a satellite handover is urgently required. In one embodiment, the method may use a predetermined navigational route for the vehicle and ephemeris data for the LEO satellite to devise the handover plan. The present method may reduce instances where there is a loss of service, reduce the overall number of satellite handovers needed, and/or better utilize communication resources.