Multi-Beam Satellite Frequency Allocation via Cell Splitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current frequency reuse techniques in multi-beam satellite radio communication systems face challenges in optimizing transmission capacity and minimizing interference, particularly with conventional schemes like four-color and two-color frequency reuse, which do not effectively balance frequency band reuse and interference insulation.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that divide a geographic service area into hexagonal or square cells, with each cell split into two parts along an axis of symmetry, allocating frequencies such that each part corresponds to a specific sub-band and polarization, reducing the total frequency band usage to three sub-bands, and ensuring contiguous cell parts have different colors, thereby maximizing interference distances and reducing the frequency band required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If four-color frequency reuse scheme is used, then frequency band reuse is improved, but interference between adjacent beams increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency band reuseVSAvoidinterference between beams
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides each cell into two distinct parts (first part and second part) along an axis of symmetry. Each part is then assigned different frequency sub-bands and polarizations. This segmentation allows for more granular control of interference patterns while maintaining frequency reuse, effectively resolving the contradiction between maximizing frequency reuse and minimizing interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If two-color frequency reuse scheme is used, then device complexity is reduced, but interference levels increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency allocation complexityVSAvoidinterference levels
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies different frequency sub-bands and polarizations to different parts of the same cell (first part vs second part). This local differentiation allows the system to maintain simple overall structure while achieving better interference management through localized frequency-polarization assignments, thus reducing interference without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If fractional frequency reuse with 4 colors is used, then transmission capacity is improved, but frequency band usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidfrequency band usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines frequency sub-band allocation with polarization assignment in a unified scheme. By merging these two dimensions of resource allocation, the system achieves higher transmission capacity through more efficient spectral utilization, while actually reducing the total frequency band requirement compared to traditional 4-color FFR schemes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3531735B1Method for allocating frequencies in a multi-beam satellite radio communication system, and associated system
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 THALES SA
  • EP3531735B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3531735B1 patent drawingFigure 4a
  • EP3531735B1 patent drawingFigure 4b

AI summary

Frequency allocation method in a multibeam satellite radiocommunication system, in which: - a geographical service area covered by the system is decomposed into a plurality of cells (Cell), distributed in a first grid (G1) and a second grid (G2) of cells, the cells of the first grid (G1) and the cells of the second grid (G2) being respectively associated with inverse polarizations of the transmission signals; - a cell (Cell) is decomposed into two parts (P), one part being respectively associated with a color (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) corresponding to a sub-band of frequencies and to the polarization of the grid (G1, G2) to which it belongs, the total frequency band being decomposed into three sub-bands of frequencies; and two contiguous parts of a cell of the same grid are associated with different colors.