Low-Overhead CubeSat Routing Through Ground-Based SDN Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing routing algorithms for CubeSat networks face challenges due to computational limitations, reliance on GEO and MEO satellites, and high control traffic volumes, making them unsuitable for efficient data routing in software-defined CubeSat networks.
Innovation Solution
A method for routing communications through CubeSat constellations using a virtual network topology based on Voronoi tessellations, segment routing, and middlepoint routing to minimize control traffic and optimize inter-satellite links, employing a ground controller to determine optimal tunnels and reduce computational overhead on CubeSats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distributed on-board path computation is employed, then routing flexibility is improved, but computational complexity and resource requirements increase beyond CubeSat capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground-based SDN controller as an intermediary that performs centralized path computation and tunnel establishment. The controller computes optimal routes offline and pushes routing rules to CubeSats, eliminating the need for complex on-board computation while maintaining routing flexibility through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs path computation and routing rule generation in advance (offline) before CubeSats need to route traffic. The ground controller pre-calculates optimal paths and pushes routing rules to satellites beforehand, so that actual routing decisions during operation require minimal computation on the CubeSats themselves.
2Ease of operation
If traditional SDN control planes are used, then routing control is improved, but control traffic volume increases adversely affecting network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The ground controller performs offline path computation and generates complete routing rules before deployment. These rules are pushed to CubeSats in advance, eliminating the need for continuous control plane signaling during data transmission. The control traffic is minimized to only essential management messages rather than per-packet routing decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex control plane functions (path computation, routing decision-making) from the CubeSat data plane and consolidates them in the ground-based SDN controller. This separation allows the CubeSats to focus solely on efficient data forwarding using pre-computed rules, dramatically reducing control traffic overhead.
3Area of stationary object
If GEO and MEO satellites are relied upon for routing, then network coverage is improved, but system complexity and latency increase for CubeSat-only networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables CubeSats to route data directly to one another through inter-satellite links without requiring relay through GEO or MEO satellites. The Voronoi-based virtual topology allows LEO CubeSats to self-organize and self-route, eliminating dependency on higher-orbit satellites and reducing both system complexity and transmission latency.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for routing communications through a constellation (100) of a plurality of CubeSats orbiting a planet and responsive to a ground controller, the ground controller determines optimal tunnels (210) that include inter-satellite links (122) between CubeSats by: generating virtual nodes (110); generating the sub-satellite points (120) to correspond to points on a path through each virtual node that CubeSats follow; calculating an inter-satellite link from a sub-satellite point another sub-satellite point during a period from a time of initialization when the first sub-satellite point is at an entry point of the first virtual node until the first sub-satellite point is at an exit point; and generating an information packet describing the optimal tunnel (210) including inter-satellite links (122) that interconnect the sub-satellite points (120). The information packet transmitted from the ground controller to one of the CubeSats and is forwarded from one of the CubeSats to remaining CubeSats.