MUOS Terminal Virtualization for Multi-Stream Power Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The current Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform architecture only supports a single active audio or serial stream per user equipment instance, limiting the capability to provide multiple active audio and serial data streams.
Innovation Solution
A computer-defined radio system that configures a single physical MUOS terminal to instantiate multiple virtual terminals, each with full MUOS functionality, allowing them to join separate groups and operate at different bitrates, thereby enabling multiple active audio and serial data streams while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical MUOS terminals are used to provide multiple active audio and serial data streams, then the communication capability and operational availability are improved, but the power consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of MUOS terminal functionality through software-defined radio technology. Instead of deploying multiple physical terminals, the system instantiates multiple virtual terminals within a single physical terminal, each capable of independent audio and serial data stream processing. This virtualization approach provides the communication capability of multiple terminals while consuming the power of one physical device.
Solution Approach 2:
The single physical MUOS terminal is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously by hosting multiple virtual terminals. Each virtual terminal can join different MUOS groups and handle separate communication streams, making the single physical device universal enough to replace multiple specialized terminals while reducing overall system power consumption.
2Productivity
If multiple physical MUOS terminals are deployed to support multiple active streams, then the communication capacity increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple physical MUOS terminals into a single physical terminal through virtualization. Multiple virtual terminals are combined within one physical device, sharing common hardware resources such as antenna, RF front-end, and baseband processing. This consolidation maintains full communication capacity for multiple streams while dramatically reducing system complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate physical terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
Virtual copies of terminal functionality are created through software rather than hardware replication. Each virtual terminal is a software-based copy that emulates the behavior and capabilities of a physical terminal, allowing the system to achieve the communication capacity of multiple terminals without the hardware complexity and cost associated with deploying actual multiple physical devices.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a single physical terminal is configured to support multiple virtual terminals, then the power consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses software-based virtual terminal copies that run on the single physical terminal's processing unit. These virtual instances share the physical hardware resources efficiently, reducing power consumption compared to running multiple physical terminals. The complexity introduced by virtualization is offset by the elimination of additional physical hardware, power supplies, and antenna systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a hardware-based multi-terminal architecture to a software-based virtual terminal architecture. By moving the multiplication of terminal functionality from the physical dimension (multiple hardware devices) to the virtual/software dimension, the system achieves multiple independent communication streams within a single physical platform, reducing power consumption while managing complexity through software abstraction.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer defined radio includes a Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) terminal configured to instantiate two or more virtual terminals. Each of the two or more virtual terminals provides all of the functionality of a MUOS terminal with satellite communication through a single antenna. Each of the two or more virtual terminals may join a separate group as defined by MUOS specifications, and give the single MUOS terminal access to the disparate groups. Each of the two or more virtual terminals is configured to operate at a different bitrate such that the total power consumption of the MUOS terminal is less than the same number of physical terminals operating separately.