NTN Feeder Link Switching for Rainfall-Affected Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-terrestrial networks using high frequency bands, rainfall can cause disconnection of feeder links when the entire area covered by one relay station is affected, leading to deterioration in communication quality.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication method and system that extracts rainfall data from weather radar predictions, predicts communication deterioration due to rainfall, determines communication quality, and controls the feeder link to maintain predetermined quality by switching propagation paths or adjusting transmission parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high frequency bands (millimeter waves) are used in the feeder link to increase bandwidth and data transmission capacity, then communication speed and capacity are improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to rain attenuation causing feeder link disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the frequency parameter of the feeder link based on rainfall conditions. When rain attenuation is detected or predicted, the system switches from high frequency bands (millimeter waves) to lower frequency bands, thereby adapting the communication parameters to environmental conditions and maintaining reliable communication while accepting reduced bandwidth during adverse weather
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder link frequency is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors rainfall conditions and adjusts the operating frequency in real-time, transitioning between different frequency bands as needed. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between capacity and reliability based on current atmospheric conditions
2Reliability
If rainfall prediction and feeder link switching are implemented to prevent disconnection, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where rainfall prediction information is continuously obtained and fed into the feeder link control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the feeder link configuration, switching between different links or frequency bands as needed. This closed-loop control maintains reliability while automating the complexity management
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses rainfall prediction data as an intermediary to mediate between environmental conditions and feeder link configuration. Rather than directly responding to complex atmospheric conditions, the system uses the processed prediction information as an intermediate signal to trigger appropriate feeder link switching decisions, simplifying the control logic
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication method according to an embodiment extracts rainfall data of each of places between a plurality of relay stations moving in the sky in an NTN and a plurality of ground stations placed on the ground in respective cells formed by the relay stations at predetermined time intervals from rainfall prediction of each predetermined region based on observation data of a weather radar, predicts deterioration in communication of a feeder link of each of the plurality of relay stations caused by rainfall on the basis of the extracted rainfall data, determines a communication quality of the feeder link of each of the plurality of relay stations on the basis of the predicted deterioration in communication of each feeder link, and controls the feeder link such that the feeder link satisfies a predetermined communication quality.