Satellite Data Chunking for Unstable Link Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite data transmission is prone to loss due to signal interference, distance changes, and station unavailability, particularly when satellites move out of range or experience unstable connections with ground stations, leading to potential data loss and failure in transmission.
Innovation Solution
The method involves splitting data into multiple chunks and determining stable connections with ground nodes, with the option to transmit chunks to neighboring satellites for temporary storage until a stable connection is re-established, and employing redundancy chunks using erasure encoding algorithms to ensure data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If satellite transmits data directly to ground nodes, then transmission speed is improved, but data loss occurs due to unstable connections and distance changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides data into multiple chunks and distributes them to different ground nodes or neighboring satellites. This segmentation allows the system to transmit data through multiple parallel channels, improving both speed and reliability. If one transmission path fails, other chunks can still be recovered through redundancy mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces neighboring satellites as intermediary nodes in the data transmission chain. When direct satellite-to-ground-node connection is unstable, data can be relayed through neighboring satellites that maintain stable connections, thereby preserving transmission reliability without significantly compromising speed.
2Reliability
If satellite uses multiple ground nodes for data transmission, then data reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes neighboring satellites multi-functional nodes that can simultaneously serve as data relays, temporary storage locations, and transmission intermediaries. This universal approach allows the same satellite infrastructure to handle multiple functions, reducing the need for dedicated complex components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables satellites to automatically select optimal transmission paths and ground nodes based on real-time connection quality. The intelligence is distributed across satellites rather than centralized, allowing each satellite to make autonomous decisions about data routing, thereby managing complexity through decentralized self-service mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If satellite maintains continuous connection with ground nodes, then data transmission completeness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining continuous connections, the patent implements periodic connection establishment and data transmission bursts. Satellites establish connections when needed for specific data chunks, transmit efficiently during active periods, and enter low-power states between transmissions. This periodic approach prevents data loss through strategic connectivity while significantly reducing overall energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure describe methods and systems for transmitting data via a satellite to a ground node. In one exemplary aspect, a method comprises splitting, on a satellite, a data segment into a plurality of data chunks, wherein an amount of the data chunks equals a number of ground nodes that the data chunks will be transmitted to. For each respective data chunk, the method comprises determining whether the satellite has a stable connection with the respective ground node. When the satellite has the stable connection with the respective ground node, the method comprises transmitting, by the satellite, the respective data chunk to the respective ground node, and when the satellite does not have the stable connection with the respective ground node, the method comprises transmitting, by the satellite, the respective data chunk to a neighboring satellite for storage until the stable connection is established.