Mesh Network Power-Rate Control for Aircraft Attitude Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power and rate control algorithms in mesh networks fail to compensate rapidly changing antenna gain patterns due to sudden changes in aircraft attitude, leading to potential link loss and increased CDMA interference.

Innovation Solution

Implement a proactive power and rate control process that uses platform attitude orientation measurements to boost link SNR margin by increasing target SNR for forward data and adjusting power or rate at remote nodes, while diminishing measured SNR feedback to compensate for attitude changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transmit power is increased to compensate for rapid antenna gain changes, then communication link reliability is improved, but CDMA interference increases and network capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication link reliabilityVSAvoidCDMA interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by proactively increasing the target SNR margin before rapid antenna gain changes occur. The transmitter node anticipates potential link degradation due to platform attitude changes and pre-adjusts power and rate parameters, eliminating the need for reactive power increases that would cause excessive interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic power and rate control that adapts to changing channel conditions in real-time. By continuously monitoring SNR feedback and adjusting parameters dynamically, the system maintains reliable communication without requiring sustained high power transmission, thereby reducing overall CDMA interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transmit power is limited to maintain low probability of interception and detection, then security is improved, but ability to compensate for antenna gain losses deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobability of interception and detectionVSAvoidability to compensate for antenna gain losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters by adjusting both power and rate simultaneously rather than relying solely on power increases. By modifying the rate parameter alongside power adjustments, the system can maintain effective communication during antenna gain changes while keeping transmit power levels low, thus preserving security characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-increasing the target SNR margin before antenna gain changes occur. This allows the receiver to maintain reliable communication during rapid attitude changes without requiring the transmitter to use excessive power, thereby preserving low probability of interception and detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If feedback messages are transmitted at high rate to quickly convey SNR information, then power and rate control responsiveness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback message transmission rateVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by having receiver nodes send SNR measurements back to transmitter nodes, enabling closed-loop power and rate control. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond to channel changes efficiently without requiring excessive feedback bandwidth, as the feedback is used specifically for control parameter adjustment rather than general data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If power and rate control decisions are made based on feedback latency, then control accuracy is improved, but responsiveness to rapid attitude changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower and rate control accuracyVSAvoidresponsiveness to attitude changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by proactively increasing the target SNR margin before rapid antenna gain changes occur. This predictive approach allows the system to maintain control accuracy without being constrained by feedback latency, as the adjustment is made in anticipation of channel degradation rather than in response to delayed feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic control that adapts to the rate of attitude changes. By continuously monitoring channel conditions and adjusting power and rate parameters in real-time, the system maintains both control accuracy and responsiveness, overcoming the limitation of fixed feedback latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4164301B1Proactive power and rate control algorithm for dynamic platforms in a mesh network
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 L3HARRIS TECH INC
  • EP4164301B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4164301B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4164301B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Compensating for antenna gain losses due to attitude changes of a mobile local node in a network. A method includes at the local node, identifying an attitude change of the local node. As a result of identifying the attitude change of the local node, the method includes increasing a target SNR of forward data directed to one or more remote nodes by a boost value. As a result of identifying the attitude change of the local node, the method includes causing the remote node to adjust at least one of power or rate to compensate for the attitude change for subsequent reverse data sent from the remote node to the local node.