Satellite Data Routing via Gateway Relay for Latency Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellites in low-earth or medium-earth orbit face challenges in consistently maintaining direct communication with ground stations due to their orbital paths, leading to variable latency and quality of service in data transmission, necessitating efficient data routing methods to optimize communication resources.
Innovation Solution
A satellite terminal determines the latency metric of data packets and uses metadata to decide between direct or indirect data paths, queuing packets for transmission via a geosynchronous satellite if latency is low and a direct link if high, to ensure efficient resource utilization and minimize latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a satellite uses a direct link to ground stations for data transmission, then communication cost is reduced, but transmission reliability deteriorates due to orbital path limitations and intermittent ground station visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway satellite as an intermediary node in the space network. When direct ground station links are unavailable or unreliable, data packets are routed through the gateway satellite, which maintains continuous visibility and provides stable communication relay. This mediator approach ensures transmission reliability while maintaining cost-effectiveness by using direct links when possible and relay links only when necessary.
2Loss of time
If a satellite transmits data packets immediately when in range of ground stations, then latency is reduced, but transmission stability deteriorates due to variable ground station availability and orbital dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing that adapts to changing orbital conditions and ground station visibility. The system continuously monitors satellite position, ground station availability, and network conditions to dynamically select optimal transmission paths. This dynamic approach balances immediate transmission needs with overall stability, adjusting routing decisions in real-time based on current system state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary routing decisions based on predicted ground station visibility and orbital trajectories. By anticipating future visibility windows and preparing transmission paths in advance, the system can smooth out transmission timing while maintaining acceptable latency. This preliminary action allows for more stable transmission scheduling without sacrificing too much time efficiency.
3Reliability
If a satellite implements multiple data paths with gateway satellites, then transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional routing decisions and network management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the satellite communication system into distinct functional components: direct link terminals, gateway satellites, and ground stations. Each segment operates with simplified logic focused on its specific function, while the overall system achieves high reliability through the coordinated interaction of these segments. This segmentation reduces individual component complexity while maintaining system-level reliability.
4Productivity
If a satellite optimizes data path selection based on latency and QoS metrics, then resource utilization is improved, but computational overhead increases due to continuous metric evaluation and routing decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of routing decision-making from continuous real-time optimization to event-driven optimization based on significant metric changes. Instead of continuously evaluating all routing options, the system triggers routing decisions only when latency or QoS metrics cross predefined thresholds or when ground station visibility changes. This parameter change approach maintains high resource utilization while significantly reducing computational overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for data routing between satellites and ground based servers are described. A terminal of a satellite may receive a data packet associated with a latency metric from a payload of the satellite. The terminal may determine whether the latency metric is less than a threshold based on a first duration associated with the first satellite being in range of a ground station of a plurality of ground stations. If the terminal determines that the latency metric is less than the threshold, the terminal may queue the data packet for transmission via a first data path which includes an indirect link via a second satellite to a ground-based server. Alternatively, if the terminal determines that the latency metric is greater than the threshold, the terminal may queue the data packet for transmission via a second data path which includes a direct link to the ground-based server.