Satellite Coverage Region Detection for Mobile Platforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining satellite service availability for moving mobile platforms, such as aircraft, is challenging due to their rapid movement in and out of satellite coverage regions, leading to temporary communication link losses.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine boundary coordinates defining satellite coverage regions and monitor a mobile platform's position to predict when it will enter or exit these regions, using an on-board server system and navigational system to calculate proximity and time-to-perimeter measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellite based transponders are used to provide continuous RF connectivity to mobile platforms, then communication availability is improved, but communication link stability deteriorates due to temporary interruptions when the platform enters or exits coverage regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring the mobile platform's position relative to satellite coverage region boundaries and predicting future entry/exit events. This allows the system to proactively notify users before communication interruptions occur, enabling them to take preventive measures such as saving work or switching to alternative communication methods, thus maintaining overall system reliability while accounting for inevitable link instability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously tracking the mobile platform's position, comparing it against predefined coverage region boundaries, and providing real-time notifications to users about upcoming communication disruptions. This feedback loop enables users to adjust their communication behavior dynamically, maintaining effective communication availability despite temporary link interruptions
2Productivity
If the mobile platform travels at high speed covering significant distances, then productivity is improved, but communication link reliability deteriorates due to frequent entry and exit from satellite coverage regions
Solution Approach 1:
By continuously monitoring position and predicting coverage region transitions in advance, the system enables high-speed mobile platforms to maintain productivity while anticipating communication disruptions. Users can proactively save work, cache data, or switch to stored communication methods before link interruptions occur, allowing fast travel without sacrificing communication reliability
3Loss of information
If the system provides advance notification of communication disruptions, then user preparedness is improved, but system complexity increases due to position monitoring and boundary comparison requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by integrating position monitoring, boundary comparison, and prediction functionality into a multi-functional notification system. The same position data used for navigation can simultaneously serve communication availability prediction, reducing overall system complexity while preventing user data loss through proactive notifications
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining when a moving mobile platform will enter or exit a satellite coverage region. In a preferred form the method involves determining a plurality of boundary coordinates that define a satellite coverage region perimeter. A position of the mobile platform is monitored as the mobile platform moves along a travel path. The proximity of the mobile platform to the satellite coverage region perimeter is determined by periodically comparing the position of the mobile platform to the boundary coordinates.