Remote Facility Redundancy Control for Satellite Uplink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite broadcasting systems face high labor and operational costs due to the need for manned stations to collect and uplink television signals, which reduces reliability and increases customer service calls.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for receiving and monitoring signals at a local collection facility, communicating them to a remote uplink facility through an IP network, utilizing primary and backup multiplexers and modulators to ensure redundancy and reliability, allowing for autonomous operation in case of communication line interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manned stations are used to collect and uplink television signals, then signal collection and uplinking can be performed, but labor costs and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The remote facility is designed to autonomously collect television signals, process them through multiplexers and modulators, and uplink to satellites without requiring continuous human intervention. The system self-manages signal routing, equipment control, and operational monitoring, eliminating the need for manned stations while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated electronic systems. Physical signal handling, equipment switching, and system monitoring that previously required human operators are substituted with electronic control circuits, microprocessors, and automated switching mechanisms that perform these functions autonomously.
2Ease of operation
If manned stations are used for signal collection, then operations can be monitored and controlled, but reliability decreases due to human dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates self-diagnostic and self-correction capabilities where control circuits automatically detect equipment failures, switch to backup components, and maintain operational continuity without human intervention. The automated monitoring system continuously checks signal quality, equipment status, and system performance, ensuring reliable operation independent of human presence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements redundant backup systems for critical components including backup multiplexers, modulators, and control circuits. These backup elements are pre-configured and automatically activated upon failure of primary components, providing a cushion against system failures and ensuring continuous reliable operation without requiring manual intervention.
3Reliability
If primary and backup components are implemented at remote facility, then system reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides redundancy implementation into discrete modular segments - separate backup multiplexers, modulators, and control circuits - each independently configurable. This segmentation allows the complexity of redundancy to be organized into manageable, independent units that can be activated or deactivated based on operational requirements, making the overall complex system more controllable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically manages the complexity of redundant components by selectively activating backup elements only when needed. The system adaptively switches between primary and backup components based on real-time operational status, signal requirements, and equipment performance, optimizing the balance between reliability and operational complexity rather than maintaining all redundant elements in constant active states.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote facility and method for operating the same includes a signal processing system including a primary multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form a multiplexed signal, a primary modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a primary modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal, a backup multiplexer multiplexing IP signals to form the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator a primary transport processing system forming a transport stream signal from the multiplexed signal, a backup modulator modulating the transport stream signal to form a modulated signal. The remote facility includes a controller in communication with the primary multiplexer, the primary transport processing system, the primary modulator, the backup multiplexer, the backup transport processing system and the backup modulator, said controller forming an output signal using at least one of the primary multiplexer, the primary transport processing system, and the primary modulator and at least one of the backup multiplexer, the backup transport processing system and the backup modulator. The remote facility may be part of a television signal collection system that includes an IP network and a local collection facility in communication with the remote collection facility through the IP network.