Satellite Diversity System for Seamless Link Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication satellite systems face high costs and inefficiencies due to the need for an in-orbit spare satellite to provide redundancy, which is often dormant and offers limited benefits for large coverage areas like the continental United States, as the failure of a single satellite can disrupt communication channels for an extended period.
Innovation Solution
A satellite diversity system utilizing multiple satellites with overlapping beams, where each satellite can act as both a primary and secondary for different regions, allowing for seamless signal switching between satellites when a communication path degrades, ensuring continuous communication links with minimal interference from secondary satellites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single communication satellite is used to cover a large region, then the system cost is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because the satellite becomes a single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple satellites into a coordinated diversity system where satellites work together to provide redundant coverage. Instead of using a single satellite, the system merges the capabilities of multiple satellites to achieve both cost efficiency and high reliability through cooperative operation and signal combining.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by maintaining satellites in standby or reduced-power modes that allow rapid activation. This prior preparation ensures that backup capacity is available immediately when needed, cushioning against failures without requiring full continuous operation of redundant satellites.
2Reliability
If an in-orbit spare satellite is provided to maintain communication channels, then the reliability is improved, but the system cost and burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning satellites between different operational states (active, standby, reduced-power) based on real-time system needs. This dynamic state management allows the system to maintain reliability through backup capability while reducing the burden of keeping spare satellites at full operational readiness continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters such as power consumption levels, transmission activity, and beam coverage to optimize the balance between reliability and cost. By adjusting these parameters, the system can maintain backup capability without the full resource burden of continuously operating spare satellites at maximum capacity.
3Reliability
If multiple satellites with overlapping beams are used for diversity, then the reliability is improved, but the interference between satellites increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing targeted beams from specific satellites to specific geographic regions or user groups rather than having all satellites broadcast universally. This localized approach allows overlapping coverage for reliability while minimizing widespread interference, as each satellite's transmission is focused where most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ground-based intermediaries (gateways, signal combining equipment) that mediate between multiple satellites and end users. These intermediaries receive signals from multiple satellites, process and combine them appropriately, and forward to users, thereby managing interference through intelligent signal processing rather than direct satellite-to-user transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
Communication diversity using a plurality of satellites is disclosed. The satellites can support multiple regions corresponding to multiple satellite beams. Each satellite can support all regions in the reverse direction and each satellite can be designated as a primary satellite for one of the multiple regions corresponding to one of the multiple satellite beams. Each satellite can receive from any of the regions reverse link signals broadcast by, for example, a mobile station. Each satellite can communicate the received reverse link signals to, for example, a base station or gateway where the signals can be combined to increase signal quality. A mobile station receives forward link signals from the primary satellite and monitors a signal quality from the primary satellite and from a secondary satellite. If the signal quality from the primary satellite drops below a threshold value, the communication signal is transferred to the secondary satellite.