Satellite Command Queue Scheduling for Contact Window Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ground segment systems for satellite control are unscalable and computationally inefficient, leading to underutilization of infrastructure and inefficient use of hardware resources due to one-to-one satellite control and manual command issuance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a satellite operations center (SOC) that automates satellite commanding workflows using virtualized fleet operations ground segment elements, leveraging satellite orbital data to determine contact windows and command orders, and employing machine learning for anomaly prediction and criticality assessment to optimize command transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual command issuance and one-to-one satellite control are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but productivity and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual control simplicityVSAvoidcommand transmission efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated satellite commanding workflows where the ground segment infrastructure self-manages command scheduling, contact window determination, and resource allocation without requiring manual operator intervention for each command, thereby improving productivity while maintaining ease of operation through high-level workflow definition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The virtualized ground segment infrastructure provides multi-functional capabilities including command generation, contact window calculation, queue management, and resource allocation within a single unified system, enabling one-to-many satellite control and improving overall system productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If virtualized fleet operations ground segment is implemented, then productivity and resource utilization are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesatellite fleet management efficiencyVSAvoidground segment infrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ground segment infrastructure is segmented into virtualized functional modules including workflow management, contact window determination, command queue management, and resource allocation, allowing independent development, deployment, and scaling of each component while improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A virtualization layer acts as an intermediary between physical ground infrastructure and satellite control operations, abstracting complex hardware resources into manageable virtual entities and simplifying the control interface while improving resource utilization and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If automated command scheduling based on contact windows is implemented, then loss of time is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand transmission delayVSAvoidorbital data processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of contact windows and command scheduling in advance based on orbital data, preparing optimized command queues before actual transmission opportunities arise, thereby reducing time loss during actual command execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Manual timing and scheduling operations are replaced with automated computational systems that process orbital data and determine contact windows algorithmically, reducing time loss through faster processing while managing complexity through software-based solutions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250346372A1Systems and methods for automated transmission of satellite commands in an optimized satellite commanding queue

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 NETWORK ACCESS ASSOC LTD

AI summary

Systems and methods of the present disclosure may use a satellite operations center (SOC) to receive satellite commanding workflows associated with satellites in a fleet of satellites, where each satellite commanding workflow includes tasks configured to trigger at least one fleet operations ground segment element to generate at least one satellite command to cause at least one change in at least one of the satellite payload or the satellite bus. The SOC may determine contact windows associated with the satellites. The SOC may determine a command order of the satellite commanding workflows based on the contact windows and append each satellite commanding workflow to a satellite command queue according to the command order. The SOC may automatically instruct, upon each contact window commencing, satellite communication infrastructure to transmit the satellite command(s) of each successive satellite commanding workflow in the satellite command queue according to the command order.