Satellite Beam TAC Mapping for Moving RAN Coverage Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Terrestrial cellular networks face limitations and unreliability in providing wireless communication, particularly in less developed regions, due to the use of stationary base station hardware, which is not compatible with satellite-based systems in low Earth orbit that move rapidly relative to the ground.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically updates Tracking Area Codes (TACs) for satellite-based beams covering geographic sub-areas, assigning virtual localized identifiers to ensure consistent TACs across time slots, reducing the number of TAC update requests and increasing bandwidth for user data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If satellites in low Earth orbit are used to provide cellular telecommunication links, then coverage in remote and less developed regions is improved, but the system cannot operate efficiently under standard terrestrial RAN protocols because satellites move rapidly relative to ground locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the base station identifiers dynamic rather than static. Satellite base stations broadcast updated base station identifiers at regular intervals to ground locations, allowing the system to adapt to the rapid relative motion between satellites and ground equipment. This dynamic identifier update mechanism enables standard terrestrial user equipment to operate reliably with satellite-based RAN despite the moving platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of base station identifier stability. Instead of using fixed identifiers for satellite base stations, the system implements time-varying identifiers that are periodically updated. This parameter change allows the RAN to function efficiently by providing ground equipment with current location information about satellite base stations, resolving the incompatibility between standard protocols and moving satellite platforms.
2Measurement precision
If base station identifiers are updated frequently to track satellite movement, then accurate location information is provided to user equipment, but bandwidth available for user data is reduced due to increased signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by updating base station identifiers at regular, optimized intervals rather than continuously or too frequently. This periodic update strategy provides user equipment with sufficiently accurate satellite location information while minimizing signaling overhead. The interval is tuned to balance location accuracy requirements against bandwidth efficiency, reducing the loss of bandwidth to essential signaling and maximizing it for user data.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system for mapping geographic sub-areas of a ground area to cells of a radio access network (RAN) implemented by a plurality of satellites can perform steps including one or more of: receiving, from a first satellite, connection data indicating that a first UE has connected to the RAN via a first beam of the first satellite, wherein the connection data identifies a physical localized identifier of the first beam and a connection time; determining, from a mapping of physical localized identifiers to virtual localized identifiers across a plurality of time slots, a first virtual localized identifier associated with the physical localized identifier of the first beam and the connection time, the first virtual localized identifier corresponding to a first of the geographic sub-areas; and, in response to the determining, causing to be stored location data for the first UE indicative of the first geographic sub-area.