Multi-Beam Satellite Coverage Area Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite-based broadcast data services face inefficiencies in power usage and throughput, particularly in multi-beam systems, where transmission power is often optimized for the worst-case user condition, leading to unnecessary power consumption and limited capacity.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines coverage areas for each beam based on reception parameters independent of transmission power, allowing for the adjustment of transmission parameters to reduce power usage and increase effective throughput by leveraging better-than-nominal channel conditions, thereby optimizing resource utilization and message delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transmission power is optimized for worst-case user conditions, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining coverage areas based on reception parameters specific to each beam's actual channel conditions rather than using uniform worst-case assumptions. This allows different beams to be configured according to their specific reception characteristics, optimizing power usage for each local region while maintaining overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for coverage area determination from transmission power-based (conservative) to reception parameter-based (actual channel conditions). This parameter change enables the system to adjust coverage areas according to real reception quality, reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining reliability for users who can receive signals under current conditions.
2Productivity
If coverage area is calculated based on nominal reception parameters, then system simplicity is maintained, but throughput is limited by conservative estimates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using actual reception parameters measured or reported from the satellite downlink to determine coverage areas. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt coverage calculations to real channel conditions, increasing throughput for users with better-than-nominal reception while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated parameter collection and processing.
3Reliability
If multiple beams transmit separately to ensure complete coverage, then coverage reliability is improved, but transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coverage determination process by calculating coverage areas for multiple beams simultaneously based on their respective reception parameters, then combining these areas to determine the total effective coverage. This merging approach allows the system to identify overlapping regions and optimize transmission scheduling, reducing total transmission time while maintaining complete coverage reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided that enhances the throughput of data broadcasts in a multi-beam satellite communication system by taking advantage of target users whose normal environment or equipment provide a better channel performance than that of the nominal environment or equipment for which the system is tuned, which enables a larger coverage area per beam than the nominal design supports. A system is provided that operates the method. A preferred embodiment is described using the Iridium Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) system as a basis.