LEO Satellite Data Compression for Intermittent IoT Links
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
LEO satellite constellations face inefficiencies in storage and bandwidth usage due to variable data volume and intermittent coverage, leading to inefficient use of resources for data collection and transmission from IoT devices.
Innovation Solution
A compression method using a predefined frame format with a global header and delta parameter fields to encode data, reducing storage needs and bandwidth by storing and transmitting only difference values, allowing on-the-fly compression and concatenation of data packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a LEO satellite aggregates all messages received during one orbital period for transmission, then complete data collection from IoT devices is achieved, but the transmission requires large bandwidth and flexible storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process by dividing messages into different priority levels (first priority for critical data, second priority for non-critical data). This allows the satellite to transmit only essential data during each orbital pass, reducing the total bandwidth required while maintaining complete data collection over multiple passes. The segmentation also applies to storage, where different data types are stored in different memory areas with different retention policies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by transmitting data in multiple orbital periods rather than aggregating all data in one transmission. Critical data is transmitted in each orbital pass, while non-critical data is transmitted in subsequent passes when bandwidth is available. This periodic transmission approach reduces the bandwidth requirement for any single transmission event while ensuring complete data collection over time.
2Loss of time
If the LEO satellite transmits all collected data in each orbital period, then data freshness is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transmission priority flexible rather than static. Data packets are dynamically assigned priorities based on their content and urgency. First priority data is transmitted immediately when bandwidth is available, while second priority data is transmitted when bandwidth permits. This dynamic prioritization ensures timely transmission of critical data without unnecessarily consuming bandwidth for non-critical data, thus reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining data freshness for important information.
3Device complexity
If the LEO satellite uses fixed storage capacity, then device complexity is reduced, but storage efficiency decreases when data volume varies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments storage space into different priority levels corresponding to data priorities. First priority data is stored in a dedicated high-priority memory area, while second priority data is stored in a separate lower-priority area. This segmentation allows the satellite to efficiently manage variable data volumes by filling high-priority storage first and using lower-priority storage only when necessary, improving storage efficiency without requiring complex dynamic allocation algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the storage parameter from fixed uniform capacity to variable priority-based capacity. Each storage area has different retention and transmission priorities, allowing the system to adapt to varying data volumes by adjusting which data is retained and transmitted based on priority rather than simply filling available space. This improves storage efficiency while maintaining relatively simple fixed storage hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A compression method for the storing and transmission of a plurality of pieces of data by a non-geostationary satellite to a ground-based station, the compression method including encoding the pieces of data in a predefined frame format, the encoding including creating a frame including at least one global header including at least one parameter field, the parameter field including a reference value of a parameter, upon receiving at least one piece of data of the plurality of pieces of data, adding at least one data packet to the frame, the data packet including: a packet header including at least one delta parameter field, the delta parameter field including the difference value between the value of the parameter for the received piece of data and the reference value of the parameter of the global header, a data payload including at least part of the received piece of data.