Predictive Adaptive Coding and Modulation for Mobile Terminals

Solution Overview

Problem

Adaptive communication techniques, such as ACM, face delays in adjusting to changing network conditions, especially with mobile data terminals that experience rapid changes in link conditions, leading to potential service degradation.

Innovation Solution

A predictive adaptive network access unit that determines current terminal capabilities and position metrics to generate link condition predictions, allowing for pre-adjustment of transmission parameters using adaptive coding and modulation schemes to preempt service impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adaptive coding and modulation is used to adjust to changing network conditions, then service availability is improved, but response time is worsened due to detection delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future link conditions based on current terminal capabilities and position metrics before actual degradation occurs. The network access unit generates link condition predictions in advance and pre-adjusts transmission parameters, eliminating the need to wait for condition changes to be detected and respond accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional adaptive coding and modulation is used, then coding adaptation is improved, but speed of adaptation is worsened for mobile terminals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoding adaptationVSAvoidspeed of adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future link conditions based on current terminal capabilities and position metrics before actual degradation occurs. The network access unit generates link condition predictions in advance and pre-adjusts transmission parameters, eliminating the need to wait for condition changes to be detected and respond accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters based on predicted link conditions rather than reacting to actual conditions. The adaptive coding and modulation scheme continuously adapts coding rates and modulation orders based on forecasted network conditions, enabling proactive adaptation that keeps pace with mobile terminal movement through changing network environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If network conditions are detected in real-time, then service quality is improved, but complexity of detection is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice qualityVSAvoiddetection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future link conditions based on current terminal capabilities and position metrics before actual degradation occurs. The network access unit generates link condition predictions in advance and pre-adjusts transmission parameters, eliminating the need to wait for condition changes to be detected and respond accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8358690B2Predictive adaptive coding and modulation

Publication Date: 2013.01.22 VIASAT INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing predictive adaptive communications. Embodiments include a network access unit, in communication with multiple data terminals, and adapted to determine geospatial and other network data (e.g., current capability and position information relating to a designated one of the data terminals, map data, etc.), and to generate a link condition prediction as a function of the network data. The network access unit may then adaptively encode source data (e.g., using adaptive coding and modulation of hierarchically pre-coded data) to preempt impacts of changing link conditions on communications with the designated data terminal as a function of the link condition prediction.