Satellite ACM Control Loop for Transparent Packet Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current satellite telecommunications systems face challenges in optimizing spectral resource usage and reducing onboard complexity for high-speed data packet switching, particularly with DVB-S2 frame transport, leading to data losses and inefficient spectral efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an end-to-end adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) control loop that estimates signal-to-noise and interference ratios across inter-satellite links to dynamically adjust modulation and coding parameters, allowing for transparent data packet transport with minimal onboard processing and optimized spectral resource use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If local adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) is used per ground station-satellite link, then spectral resource optimization is improved, but onboard processing complexity increases and data losses occur in satellite buffers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata loss preventionVSAvoidonboard processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication link into multiple independent hops (ground station to satellite, satellite to ground station) and applies separate ACM control loops for each direction. This segmentation allows each satellite to operate with simplified processing while maintaining overall system reliability through end-to-end adaptive control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each satellite measures the SNIR of incoming and outgoing links and adjusts its transmission parameters accordingly. The destination satellite feeds back quality information to the source ground station, which then adapts its transmission parameters to prevent buffer overflows and data losses without requiring complex onboard processing at intermediate satellites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If local ACM is applied to optimize each link, then spectral efficiency is improved, but modulation and coding parameters become inconsistent across different links requiring complex segmentation or concatenation processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal ACM control mechanism that operates consistently across all links in the network. Each satellite and ground station follows the same adaptive control logic, measuring local SNIR conditions and adjusting parameters independently. This universal approach eliminates the need for complex segmentation or concatenation processing while maintaining spectral efficiency across diverse link conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Speed

If high-speed data packet switching is implemented through satellites, then data transmission speed is improved, but spectral resource optimization becomes difficult and onboard processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidonboard processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables each satellite and ground station to autonomously manage its own transmission parameters through local SNIR measurement and adaptive adjustment. This self-service approach allows high-speed packet switching without requiring complex centralized control or extensive onboard processing, as each node independently optimizes its transmissions based on real-time channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3203656B1Method for transparent end-to-end data packet transmission in a telecommunications system using a regenerative satellite network including inter-satellite links
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 THALES SA
  • EP3203656B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3203656B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3203656B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An end-to-end transparent data packet transport method is implemented by a telecommunications system (2) comprising a first starting station (4), a second destination station (6), a first starting satellite (8) directly connected to the first station (4), and a second destination satellite (10) directly connected to the second station (6), the first and second satellites (8, 10) being interconnected by a space network (42). The transport method includes steps enabling the implementation of an end-to-end transparent loop for adaptive control of the modulation and coding of the access links (22, 24, 32, 34) between the first station (4) and the first satellite (8) and between the second station (6) and the second satellite (10).