Satellite Connectivity Window Control for Battery-Saving NTN Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices experience network outages and dead zones due to satellite movement in non-terrestrial networks, leading to continuous searching for connections that drain battery life and increase energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines the location of the wireless device and satellites, calculates connectivity windows, and manages network connections only during these windows to conserve battery life and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices continuously search for network connections in non-terrestrial networks, then network connectivity is maintained, but battery life is drained and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by calculating connectivity windows based on satellite orbital mechanics and device location. Instead of continuous searching, the device activates network searching only during predicted connectivity windows when satellites will be in position, creating periodic on-demand connection attempts that maintain reliability while dramatically reducing energy consumption.
2Reliability
If mobile devices continuously search for network connections, then network availability is improved, but greenhouse gas emissions increase due to energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic connectivity window-based searching, the system reduces continuous network searching to targeted periodic attempts only when connectivity is predicted. This minimizes energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions from device charging infrastructure while maintaining network availability during operational windows.
3Area of stationary object
If satellites are positioned at lower orbit (550 km), then coverage area per satellite is reduced, but connection stability is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the satellite network into multiple satellites at lower orbital altitude (550 km). Although each satellite covers a smaller area, the segmented network of multiple satellites provides more frequent connectivity windows and better overall coverage, improving connection stability while maintaining manageable coverage areas per satellite.
Data Source
AI summary
The system receives orbital information for at least one satellite of a non-terrestrial network. The orbital information includes the location and velocity of the at least one satellite. The system determines a location of a wireless device and the wireless device's location relative to the at least one satellite. The system calculates a connectivity window based on the relative location. The connectivity window is a time period at the location of the wireless device during which the wireless device receives a signal from the at least one satellite to perform a network connection with the non-terrestrial network. The system connects the wireless device to the non-terrestrial network when the connectivity window of the at least one satellite is open. The system prevents the wireless device from searching for a network connection to the non-terrestrial network when the wireless device is outside the connectivity window of the at least one satellite.