Satellite Internet Edge Device Caching for Latency Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Satellite communications face significant signal latency and data access limitations, leading to degraded user experiences, especially in rural areas, due to high latency and data caps, which restrict usage of high-bandwidth services like gaming and media streaming.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an edge device with local data storage and terrestrial wireless communication capabilities to cache popular content, allowing direct delivery via a terrestrial network, reducing redundant satellite traffic and enhancing resilience to weather conditions, while managing content delivery between satellite and cached sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If satellite communications are used to deliver data to remote users, then coverage is provided to rural areas, but signal latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecoverageVSAvoidsignal latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The edge device pre-fetches and caches popular media programs before they are requested by users. By storing content in advance in local storage, the system eliminates the need for real-time satellite transmission during user requests, thereby reducing latency while maintaining coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The edge device acts as an intermediary between the satellite communication system and end-user devices. It receives data from the satellite, stores it locally, and serves users through a terrestrial network, thereby mediating the latency issue without sacrificing coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If satellite bandwidth is allocated to deliver data, then data access is provided to users, but data caps limit usage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accessVSAvoiddata cap

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates local copies of media programs in the edge device's storage. Instead of requiring continuous satellite bandwidth for each user request, the cached copies can be served locally through the terrestrial network, effectively bypassing data caps while maintaining data access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

By pre-loading popular content into the edge device's storage, the system prepares data in advance so that users can access it without consuming additional satellite bandwidth during their viewing sessions, thus working around data caps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple users access the same content via satellite, then data is delivered to each user, but redundant traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata deliveryVSAvoidredundant traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The edge device merges multiple user requests for the same content into a single satellite transmission. By caching the content and serving multiple users through the terrestrial network from one stored copy, the system eliminates redundant satellite traffic while maintaining data delivery to all users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a single copy of the media program in the edge device's storage that can be served to multiple users simultaneously through the terrestrial network, replacing what would otherwise require multiple separate satellite transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Ease of operation

If customer devices use their own satellite connections, then direct access is provided, but resilience to weather conditions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect accessVSAvoidresilience to weather

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The edge device serves as a more reliable intermediary that aggregates traffic from multiple users and has superior weather resilience due to its larger antenna and more powerful transmitter. It mediates between the satellite connection and end users, providing both direct access capability and enhanced weather resilience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The edge device provides multiple functions including content caching, traffic aggregation, and enhanced transmission. Its larger antenna and more powerful transmitter give it universal capability to handle both direct access requests and serve as a relay for multiple users, improving overall reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20230403341A1Satellite internet system with edge-based delivery

Publication Date: 2023.12.14 DISH NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PTE LTD

AI summary

A satellite internet system includes an edge device that services a neighborhood or relatively close terrestrial area. The edge device receives satellite transmissions, and caches at least some of the received content in a disk drive or other local data storage. In some implementations, the data cached in local storage relates to popular media programs or other content that is likely to be requested by multiple customers operating within range of the edge device. The edge device communicates with customer devices in the area via a terrestrial wireless network. Customer devices obtain cached data directly from the edge device via the terrestrial network, when possible, rather than receiving a dedicated stream of the same data via satellite, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption on the satellite link.