Satellite API for Ephemeris Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The mobility of satellites in satellite-based communication systems introduces complexity in providing reliable and efficient data services to user equipment (UE), as UE cannot readily identify the current position or operational parameters of satellites, making it difficult to establish and maintain connections.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based system that centralizes and processes satellite ephemeris information, providing it to UE through an application programming interface (API), allowing software applications to adapt operations based on calculated satellite parameters such as latency and throughput, and beam coverage maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If satellite-based communication is used to provide coverage, then area of coverage is improved, but device complexity increases due to satellite mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network entity (intermediary) that acts as a mediator between the UE and satellites. This intermediary collects satellite ephemeris information, calculates beam coverage maps, and provides this processed information to the UE via API. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining wide satellite coverage while reducing UE complexity through centralized information processing.
2Reliability
If satellite ephemeris information is provided to UE, then connection establishment is improved, but information transmission overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments satellite information into two parts: (1) satellite ephemeris information (position, velocity, altitude) provided by the network, and (2) beam coverage maps calculated and provided by the network entity. This segmentation allows the UE to efficiently determine satellite connections without receiving all raw satellite parameters, reducing information overhead while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network entity performs preliminary calculations to generate beam coverage maps before providing information to the UE. By pre-calculating which satellites are visible and their beam coverage areas, the system reduces the amount of information the UE needs to process in real-time, thereby reducing information overhead while improving connection establishment efficiency.
3Loss of time
If UE calculates satellite parameters locally, then response time is improved, but processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity serves as an intermediary that performs complex satellite parameter calculations (ephemeris processing, beam coverage map generation) centrally. The UE receives pre-processed information via API, which maintains fast response times while significantly reducing the processing requirements and complexity of the UE device.
Data Source
AI summary
A UE receives satellite ephemeris information from a server server and calculates one or more satellite parameters for at least one satellite based on the satellite ephemeris information. The UE controls, based on the one or more satellite parameters, operation of a software application that utilizes a data service provided via the at least one satellite. Calculating satellite parameters can include calculating one or more satellite parameters at an API of the UE, and controlling operation of a software application can include receiving, at the API, a request for satellite ephemeris information from the software application, providing, by the API, a representation of the one or more satellite parameters to the software application in response to the request, and adjusting, at the software application, an operation of the software application based on the received representation of the one or more satellite parameters.