Satellite Network Call Activity Monitoring via Real-Time Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network monitoring tools for satellite communication systems, such as the Iridium satellite system, are cumbersome and limited, unable to provide real-time analysis or associate calls with specific satellites, antenna panels, or antenna beams, and lack the capability to track and organize call information effectively.
Innovation Solution
A suite of software modules that collect and display real-time call activity data, allowing for live viewing and playback of past events, with visual presentations that show geographic distribution, satellite activity, and detailed message analysis, enabling administrators to filter and diagnose issues within the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional network monitoring tools are used to display geographic distribution of call activity, then call activity data can be retrieved from databases, but the view is static with delays of hours or days and lacks real-time analysis capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes communication with the switch to receive call detail records in real-time as they are generated. This preliminary action of setting up the data collection infrastructure enables immediate display of call activity without the hours or days delay of traditional database retrieval methods.
Solution Approach 2:
A new communication interface acts as an intermediary between the switch and the display system. This intermediary component receives call detail records directly from the switch and transmits them to the display, eliminating the need to query databases and enabling real-time visualization of call activity.
2Reliability
If call activity data is collected from the switch, then real-time information can be obtained, but the system complexity increases due to the need for new communication interfaces and data processing modules
Solution Approach 1:
The communication interface is designed to handle multiple functions: receiving call detail records, filtering relevant data, and transmitting information to the display system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining real-time data accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a communication interface for data collection, a processing module for data filtering and organization, and a display system for visualization. This segmentation allows each module to be developed and maintained independently, managing overall system complexity while enabling real-time reliable data flow.
3Loss of information
If multiple data collection connections are made to capture more message traffic, then more complete data can be obtained, but it becomes difficult to merge their outputs into a single data stream
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple data streams from different connections are merged into a single unified data stream by the processing module. This module consolidates call detail records from various sources, removes duplicates, and organizes the combined data for consistent display, thereby achieving complete message traffic capture without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attempting to physically merge multiple data streams, the system creates a unified virtual representation of all call activity. The processing module copies and standardizes data from multiple sources into a common format, enabling complete information capture while simplifying the integration process.
4Measurement precision
If call data is displayed in detailed format, then comprehensive analysis is possible, but the data presentation becomes difficult to interpret and less meaningful
Solution Approach 1:
The display system presents different levels of detail in different regions or contexts. Summary views provide high-level overview for quick interpretation, while detailed views are available on-demand for specific calls or time periods. This local differentiation of detail levels maintains both interpretability and analytical depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The data presentation is dynamic and adaptable. The system can adjust the level of detail displayed based on user interaction, time of day, or current network conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the same interface to serve both quick overview needs and detailed analysis requirements without sacrificing interpretability.
Data Source
AI summary
A network monitoring system includes data source routers, data servers, and user interface modules for depicting visual data presentations that show call activity within a satellite-based communication network. The data source routers capture signaling data from a terrestrial portion of the network and supply the signaling data to the data servers. The user interface modules request selected data from the data servers based on selected display filtering settings and generate the visual data presentations, including a geo view, a satellite activity grid, and a message view. The geo view shows a time progression of live or recorded call activity data on a map. The satellite activity grid organizes a time-progression of live or recorded call activity on a two-dimensional grid representing each satellite spot beam in the system. The message view shows a detailed listing of individual messages that have occurred within selected call flows in the network.