Hybrid Satellite Band Allocation for Rain-Aware Throughput Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing satellite communication systems face challenges in leveraging multi-band capable terminals to extend capacity and increase throughput, particularly due to varying rain attenuation properties, terminal capabilities, beam overlapping, and differing capacity and attenuation across frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a multi-band hybrid satellite communication system with dynamic inroute and outroute reconfiguration processes, load balancing algorithms, and adaptive hardware configurations to manage terminals with varying frequency band capabilities, ensuring efficient distribution of traffic across multiple frequency bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If higher frequency bands are used for data transmission, then throughput is improved, but rain and weather attenuation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidrain attenuation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the operating frequency band parameter based on weather conditions. When rain attenuation is detected in higher bands (Ka, Q, V), the system switches terminals to lower bands (C, Ku) that are less susceptible to rain fade, thereby maintaining throughput while compensating for weather-related signal degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic band selection and reconfiguration where terminals can switch between different frequency bands in real-time based on channel conditions. The system dynamically adjusts which bands are active in each spot beam based on current weather patterns and signal quality metrics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multi-band capable terminals are deployed, then system capacity is extended, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidterminal configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments terminals into different groups based on their band capability (single-band vs. multi-band terminals) and assigns them to appropriate spot beams and frequency bands. This segmentation allows the system to manage heterogeneous terminal capabilities systematically, assigning C/Ku band resources to single-band terminals and Ka/Q/V band resources to multi-band terminals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multi-band capable terminals are designed to perform multiple functions by operating across different frequency bands (C, Ku, Ka, Q, V) depending on system needs and weather conditions. These terminals serve as versatile nodes that can adapt to various operational requirements, replacing the need for multiple specialized terminal types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If single-band terminals are used, then device complexity is reduced, but system capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal configurationVSAvoidsystem capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds the frequency band dimension to capacity management by utilizing multiple bands (C, Ku, Ka, Q, V) simultaneously across different spot beams. This dimensional expansion allows the system to accommodate both single-band and multi-band terminals while significantly increasing overall system capacity through spectral diversity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic reconfiguration is implemented, then adaptability to changing conditions is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveband switching capabilityVSAvoidreconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple frequency bands and spot beams before actual communication begins. Terminal capabilities and preferred bands are established in advance, allowing for faster reconfiguration when weather conditions change, as the system only needs to switch between pre-established band configurations rather than creating new ones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260081680A1Multi-band hybrid satellite communication systems and methods

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 HUGHES NETWORK SYST

AI summary

Systems and methods for a satellite communication system include identifying highly active terminals (HUTs) in a spot beam of a satellite; determining a first ratio of single-band HUTs that operate in a first frequency band only to multi-band HUTs that operate in the first frequency band and a second frequency band; and determining a second ratio of outroutes for the first frequency band to outroutes for the second frequency band. When the first ratio is less than the second ratio, a first step of balancing the single-band HUTs across the outroutes for the first frequency band is performed, and then the multi-band HUTs are balanced across both the outroutes for the first frequency band and the outroutes for the second frequency band. When the first ratio is greater than the second ratio, the single-band HUTs and the multi-band HUTs are allocated based on at least one weight factor.