Satellite Beam Handover Using Fixed Cell and Cluster IDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems for low-orbit satellites face significant burdens due to frequent handovers between cells, clusters, and satellites, particularly in beam hopping systems, where ground terminals experience signal disruptions and require frequent control message exchanges.
Innovation Solution
Implementing unique identification information for cells and clusters fixed at predetermined ground locations, allowing ground terminals to perform handovers only between satellites using beam steering technology, eliminating the need for cell and cluster number changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cell and cluster numbers are assigned around a moving satellite using beam hopping TDMA communication, then the satellite can provide coverage to ground terminals, but ground terminals must perform frequent handovers between cells, clusters, and satellites which creates a great burden on network control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracking area into fixed ground-based clusters and cells, separating them from the moving satellite. This allows ground terminals to maintain stable cell and cluster identifiers while only performing handovers at the satellite level, reducing handover management complexity while preserving beam hopping capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-assigns unique cell and cluster numbers to fixed ground locations before satellite movement occurs. This preliminary assignment of stable identifiers eliminates the need for dynamic reconfiguration during satellite motion, reducing network control burden while maintaining beam hopping operation
2Productivity
If beam hopping TDMA method is used for communication with moving satellite, then satellite can serve multiple ground terminals, but ground terminals cannot continuously receive signals and experience frequent signal disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the service area into overlapping clusters with multiple cells, allowing ground terminals to switch between adjacent cells within the same cluster or neighboring clusters when signal quality degrades. This segmentation provides redundant coverage paths, maintaining signal continuity while preserving TDMA communication efficiency
3Speed
If cell and cluster identifiers are tied to satellite position, then satellite beam hopping can be implemented, but network control and resource allocation become increasingly complex with high-speed satellite movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by making cell and cluster identifiers ground-based and stationary rather than satellite-based and moving. This inversion decouples identifier management from satellite motion, allowing high-speed satellite movement while keeping network control complexity manageable through stable, location-fixed identifiers
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an operation method of a network controller supporting communication by using a unique cell number and cluster number. The operation method of the network controller includes identifying identification information corresponding to each of at least one cell, identifying identification information corresponding to each of at least one cluster including the at least one cell, identifying identification information corresponding to at least one cluster and at least one cell corresponding to a first area covered by a beam transmitted from a first satellite, identifying identification information corresponding to at least one cluster and at least one cell corresponding to a second area not covered by the beam due to movement of the first satellite, and identifying information on a second satellite covering the second area.