Satellite Communications Management System With Ground-Based Frequency Hopping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite communication systems require complex and costly onboard signal processing for frequency hopping and dehopping, increasing the size, weight, and complexity of satellites, and making upgrades and maintenance more difficult and expensive.
Innovation Solution
Performing frequency hopping and dehopping in terrestrial gateways instead of onboard satellites, using a system with gateways, satellites, and a control system to process frequency hopping signals, where the satellites act as transponders relaying unprocessed signals for processing at ground-based gateways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequency hopping and dehopping signal processing is performed onboard satellites, then communication security and anti-jam capability are improved, but satellite size, weight, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the frequency hopping and dehopping signal processing functions from the satellite platform and relocates them to terrestrial gateways. The satellite is reduced to a simple transponder that merely relays signals, while the complex signal processing is performed on the ground where the gateways are located. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining communication security through frequency hopping while eliminating the need for complex onboard processing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal processing function by dividing the communication system into two parts: the satellite portion that handles only signal relay, and the terrestrial gateway portion that handles frequency hopping and dehopping. This segmentation allows the satellite to remain simple while the ground-based gateways perform the complex processing, thereby resolving the contradiction between security and complexity.
2Reliability
If frequency hopping and dehopping processing equipment is installed onboard satellites, then anti-jam capability is improved, but satellite cost and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive and complex frequency hopping/dehopping processing equipment from the satellite and relocates it to terrestrial gateways. This extraction maintains anti-jam capability while significantly reducing satellite manufacturing cost and maintenance difficulty, as the satellite becomes a simple transponder that can be easily manufactured and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
By moving the complex and expensive processing equipment to the ground, the patent allows the satellite to be designed as a simpler, more cost-effective platform. The complex processing is performed by terrestrial systems that can be upgraded independently without affecting the satellite hardware, thereby reducing both manufacturing cost and maintenance complexity.
3Reliability
If complex signal processing is performed onboard satellites, then communication security is improved, but upgrade difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal processing functions from the satellite and places them in terrestrial gateways, enabling independent upgrades of the ground-based processing systems without affecting the satellite hardware. This extraction maintains communication security while significantly improving upgrade adaptability, as software and processing algorithms can be updated on the ground without satellite mission changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the terrestrial gateways can be reconfigured and upgraded independently of the satellite. The frequency hopping and dehopping processing can be adapted to new security requirements through software updates on the ground, providing continuous adaptability without requiring physical changes to the satellite platform.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for processing a signal is present. Information is carried in a frequency hopping signal. The frequency hopping signal is sent to a gateway in a communications network through a satellite. The frequency hopping signal is unprocessed by the satellite to identify the information in the frequency hopping signal.