NTN Search Space Optimization via Obstruction Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently establishing and maintaining non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity due to obstructions, which increase latency and power consumption, and require manual device orientation for optimal antenna alignment.
Innovation Solution
The use of 3D maps, GNSS RF measurements, and camera data for identifying obstructions and determining optimal alignment opportunities to reduce the search space for NTN space vehicles, allowing for automatic device orientation and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless communications device searches for all expected NTN space vehicles, then connectivity coverage is improved, but latency and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by using 3D maps and obstruction detection data to pre-identify and remove blocked NTN space vehicles from the search space before the actual communication search begins. This preliminary filtering action reduces the number of vehicles that need to be searched, thereby reducing latency while maintaining connectivity coverage to unobstructed vehicles.
2Reliability
If the wireless communications device searches for all expected NTN space vehicles, then connectivity coverage is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by using 3D maps and obstruction detection data to pre-identify and remove blocked NTN space vehicles from the search space before the actual communication search begins. This preliminary filtering action reduces the number of vehicles that need to be searched, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining connectivity coverage to unobstructed vehicles.
3Measurement precision
If the device requires manual orientation for antenna alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by using sensors, 3D maps, and obstruction detection data to automatically determine optimal antenna orientation and identify alignment opportunities without requiring manual user intervention. The device serves itself by autonomously calculating the best antenna pointing direction based on environmental data, thereby maintaining alignment precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical manual orientation process with an automated computational system that uses sensor data, 3D map information, and obstruction detection to calculate optimal antenna alignment. This substitution eliminates the need for manual mechanical adjustment while maintaining or improving alignment precision through algorithmic determination of the best orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a wireless communications device detects a trigger to communicate via non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity, determines whether one or more obstructions are estimated to be blocking a subset of NTN space vehicles of a set of NTN space vehicles expected to be in view of the wireless communications device at a current location of the wireless communications device, and transmits, in response to a determination that the one or more obstructions are estimated to be blocking the subset of NTN space vehicles, at least one message towards at least one NTN space vehicle of the set of NTN space vehicles other than the subset of NTN space vehicles.