Co-Located Satellite Beamforming With Ground-Based Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing satellite communication systems face challenges in achieving high frequency reuse and efficient energy conservation due to limited satellite processing capabilities and potential component malfunctions, which impact system performance and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a satellite swarm with co-located satellites that offload signal processing to ground-based systems, utilizing MIMO and beamforming techniques, and a central processor to apply beamforming coefficients to satellite signal components, thereby conserving satellite energy and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite processing capabilities are increased to improve signal processing quality, then beamforming precision and frequency reuse efficiency improve, but satellite energy consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex signal processing functions from the satellite and relocates them to ground-based processing systems. The satellite retains only basic signal reception and transmission capabilities, while ground stations perform beamforming calculations, signal component separation, and frequency reuse management. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining high beamforming precision through sophisticated ground-based processing while keeping satellite energy consumption low.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ground-based processing systems as intermediaries between the satellite and the final signal output. The ground stations receive raw signal components from satellites, perform complex beamforming operations, and return processed signals. This intermediary approach allows high-precision processing without requiring enhanced satellite processing capabilities, thus avoiding increased satellite energy consumption.
2Productivity
If more processing components are added to satellites to improve signal processing capability, then system performance improves, but maintenance complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes complex processing components from satellites and relocates them to ground-based systems. This extraction maintains high signal processing capability while significantly reducing satellite device complexity and maintenance requirements. The ground-based processing infrastructure handles beamforming, signal separation, and frequency management without adding any complexity to the satellites themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional architecture by placing processing power on the ground rather than in space. Instead of making satellites more capable, the system makes ground stations more capable. This inversion resolves the contradiction by achieving high productivity through ground-based processing while keeping satellite complexity minimal and maintenance straightforward.
3Measurement precision
If satellite components are upgraded to improve processing performance, then beamforming accuracy improves, but maintenance difficulty increases and system resilience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex beamforming processing from satellite components and relocates it to ground-based processing systems. This maintains high beamforming accuracy while eliminating the need to maintain complex processing components on satellites. Ground-based systems can be upgraded and maintained without affecting satellite operations, significantly improving ease of repair and system resilience.
Solution Approach 2:
The satellite performs its basic function of signal reception and transmission without requiring complex processing components. The ground-based processing systems handle all sophisticated operations, allowing satellites to operate with simple, reliable components that require minimal maintenance. This self-service approach where ground systems handle complexity improves both beamforming accuracy and maintenance ease.
4Productivity
If frequency reuse is increased to improve system capacity, then network throughput improves, but interference management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground-based processing systems as intermediaries that manage frequency reuse and interference coordination. Ground stations calculate optimal frequency allocation, manage beamforming to reduce interference, and coordinate resource usage across multiple satellites. This intermediary approach enables high network throughput through aggressive frequency reuse while keeping interference management complexity centralized on the ground rather than distributed on satellites.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances energy efficiency, reduces maintenance complexity, and increases system resilience by allowing incremental upgrades and fault tolerance, while maintaining high frequency reuse and coverage.
Implementation Method 1
A central processor may be configured to apply a set of beamforming coefficients to the representations of the respective return link signal components received by the one or more ground stations to obtain one or more return link beam signals corresponding to one or more return link beams from the set of co-located satellites
Implementation Method 2
Wireless communications (e.g., cellular communications, satellite communications, etc.) may use beamforming and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques for communications between devices to increase frequency reuse
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for co-located satellites with ground based processing are described. A set of co-located satellites may be configured to collect a set of return link signal components, where each co-located satellite includes a first payload configured to receive a respective return link signal component including one or more return link signal transmitted from one or more terminals and a second payload configured to transmit a representation of the respective return link signal component. One or more ground stations may be configured to receive the representations of the respective return link signal components. A central processor may be configured to apply a set of beamforming coefficients to the representations of the respective return link signal components received by the one or more ground stations to obtain one or more return link beam signals corresponding to one or more return link beams from the set of co-located satellites.