Satellite Communication Device Dynamic Scheduling for Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Satellite communication devices, especially battery-powered ones, face inefficiencies in power consumption due to unnecessary activity and lack of dynamic scheduling, leading to reduced battery life and increased power usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic scheduling system that uses two-line element (TLE) data to determine satellite visibility periods, allowing the device to enter a sleep state during non-communication periods, thereby reducing power consumption by scheduling wake-up and sleep states based on orbital data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the device continuously monitors for satellite communication, then communication availability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device transitions between active and sleep states periodically based on predicted satellite visibility windows. Instead of continuous monitoring, the device activates only during periods when satellite communication is expected to be available, creating a periodic on-demand operation pattern that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining communication reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculations using TLE orbital data to predict future satellite visibility windows before the device needs to communicate. This advance planning allows the device to enter sleep mode with confidence that it will wake up at the optimal time for communication, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the device enters sleep state to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but communication responsiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates and stores wake-up schedules in advance based on satellite orbital mechanics and device location. This preliminary action ensures the device wakes up at the precise moment satellite visibility begins, eliminating unnecessary wake-up delays while allowing the device to remain in low-power state during periods when no satellite is visible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sleep-wake schedule is dynamically adjusted based on device location changes and updated satellite orbital data. When the device moves to a new location or satellite orbits change, the system recalculates visibility windows and adjusts the wake-up schedule accordingly, maintaining optimal responsiveness without continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the device uses simple idle detection, then implementation complexity is reduced, but power optimization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling system complexityVSAvoidpower optimization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary layer of satellite orbital prediction algorithms that translate complex TLE data into simple wake-up schedules. This intermediary processing layer handles the mathematical complexity of orbital mechanics, allowing the device itself to use straightforward schedule execution without implementing complex real-time orbital calculation algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The computationally intensive task of calculating satellite visibility windows is extracted from the resource-constrained satellite communication device and performed externally using more powerful computing resources. The device receives pre-calculated wake-up schedules rather than performing the calculations itself, reducing its complexity while maintaining optimization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10181896B1Systems and methods for reducing power consumption in a satellite communication device

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 HAND HELD PRODS INC

AI summary

The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for utilizing an operating schedule to place a satellite communication device in a sleep state for reducing power consumption in the satellite communication device during periods of time when no satellite is available to communicate with the satellite communication device. The operating schedule, which can be a wake-up schedule and/or a sleep schedule, is dynamically updated by a scheduling server that receives two-line element (TLE) data from a TLE server on a recurring basis and uses the TLE data to determine timing information pertaining to line-of-sight visibility of one or more satellites to the satellite communication device. A push routine is then used by the scheduling server to periodically push the timing information to the satellite communication device for dynamically updating the operating schedule of the satellite communication device.