Satellite Fleet Beam Transition for Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Broadband satellite communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing communication demand, particularly in areas with high demand regions where existing wide spot beams experience congestion, leading to data bottlenecks and reduced quality of service.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a fleet of multi-beam satellites and a fleet management device that transitions terminals from wide spot beams to high-gain spot beams in high-demand regions, optimizing resource allocation and increasing data throughput by reallocating capacity and improving signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If wide spot beams are used to provide broad coverage, then coverage area is improved, but data throughput and signal quality deteriorate in high-demand regions due to congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coverage area into multiple spot beams, each serving a specific geographic region. This segmentation allows the system to concentrate resources in high-demand areas while maintaining broad coverage through multiple smaller beams, thereby improving data throughput in specific regions without sacrificing overall coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allocating different beam characteristics to different geographic regions. High-demand regions receive high-gain spot beams with concentrated resources for improved throughput, while lower-demand regions are served by wide spot beams for broad coverage. This localized optimization resolves the contradiction between coverage area and data throughput.
2Device complexity
If wide spot beams are used to serve multiple regions, then device complexity is reduced, but quality of service deteriorates in elevated demand regions due to resource dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam management where the system can transition terminals between wide spot beams and high-gain spot beams based on real-time demand conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain simple wide beam configurations for broad coverage while activating targeted high-gain beams in high-demand regions, thus improving QoS without permanently increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the satellite beam system multi-functional by enabling beams to serve different purposes: wide spot beams provide broad coverage and basic service, while high-gain spot beams provide enhanced service in high-demand regions. This universality allows a single satellite system to handle both broad coverage and targeted high-performance service, improving QoS without requiring separate dedicated systems.
3Area of stationary object
If capacity is allocated to wide spot beams for broad coverage, then coverage area is improved, but data throughput deteriorates in specific high-demand regions due to capacity dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the beam parameters (gain, bandwidth allocation, power distribution) based on geographic region and demand characteristics. High-gain spot beams use concentrated power and bandwidth for high throughput in specific regions, while wide spot beams use distributed power for broad coverage. This parameter optimization allows the system to achieve both broad coverage and high data throughput in different regions simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing satellite communications through the deployment of a fleet of multi-beam satellites serving overlapping and non-overlapping spot beams. In these methods, systems, and devices, a first communication service associated with a relatively wider spot beam of a first satellite is provided to a first coverage area having multiple terminals. A second communication service associated with a relatively narrower spot beam (e.g., high-gain spot beam) of a second satellite is provided to a second coverage area located within the first coverage area. A subset of terminals located within the second coverage area is identified, and the terminals of the identified subset are transitioned from the first communication service of the wide spot beam of the first satellite to the second communication service of the high-gain spot beam of the second satellite.