Multi-Beam Satellite Handover Using Flight Plan Utilization Forecasts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communications systems face challenges in efficiently managing network resources due to varying demands from aircraft and fixed terminals, leading to over-utilization of certain satellite beams, which can be exacerbated by limited bandwidth and high costs for increasing bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A beam handover manager utilizes flight plan data to predict beam utilization and adjusts satellite beam assignments based on beam utilization scores, optimizing resource distribution by scheduling handovers to meet criteria, thereby ensuring efficient use of network resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If satellite beams are assigned to serve aircraft based on current demand, then network service is provided to aircraft, but beam utilization becomes unbalanced and certain beams become over-utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating beam utilization scores in advance based on flight plan data before aircraft actually connect to satellite beams. This allows the handover manager to predict future beam utilization patterns and proactively schedule handovers to prevent over-utilization, rather than reacting after the problem occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic beam assignment by continuously adjusting satellite beam assignments based on changing conditions. The handover manager dynamically schedules handovers between satellite beams as aircraft move through different coverage areas, optimizing beam utilization in real-time rather than using static assignments.
2Quantity of substance
If bandwidth is increased to handle high demand, then network capacity improves, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by optimizing beam utilization scores and handover timing rather than simply increasing bandwidth. By adjusting operational parameters such as which aircraft are assigned to which beams and when handovers occur, the system maximizes the efficient use of existing bandwidth resources without requiring additional spectrum or infrastructure investment.
3Productivity
If satellite beams are assigned without prediction, then service is provided quickly, but beam utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of beam utilization scores using flight plan data before actual service provision. This advance planning enables the handover manager to optimize beam assignments in advance, so that when handovers are executed, they follow pre-determined optimal paths that maximize resource efficiency while maintaining quick service delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for providing satellite beam handover based on predicted network conditions. In embodiments, a satellite communications system retrieves flight plan data for a plurality of aircraft being provided a network access service, identifies, for each aircraft respective candidate satellite beams of the plurality of satellite beams for providing the network access service, each candidate satellite beam having an associated service timeframe for providing the network access service, obtains, for each of the respective candidate satellite beams, a beam utilization score indicative of predicted beam utilization by the plurality of aircraft over the associated service timeframe, selects satellite beams for providing the network access service of each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft based at least in part on the beam utilization scores, and schedules handover of the network access service for the plurality of aircraft to the selected satellite beams.