Vehicle Satellite Modem Wake Scheduling for Low-Power Coverage Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle systems consume excessive energy when satellite communication is not available due to unpredictable satellite overhead periods and marginal network coverage, leading to inefficient power management.
Innovation Solution
A power scheduling method for vehicle satellite communications that determines the geographic location of the vehicle and schedules modem wake-ups based on satellite availability, allowing system components to enter low-power modes when communication is not possible, using sensors to enhance accuracy and maintain message buffers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If system components remain in full power mode to ensure immediate communication capability, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating satellite visibility windows in advance and scheduling modem wake-ups before actual communication opportunities arise. This allows the modem to enter low-power mode during periods when satellite communication is impossible, while still being ready to communicate immediately when satellites become visible, thus resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by cycling the modem between low-power sleep mode and active communication mode based on predicted satellite overhead periods. Instead of maintaining continuous full-power operation, the modem activates only during periodic satellite visibility windows, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining communication capability when satellites are available.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the modem is kept in low-power mode to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but communication response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates satellite visibility windows and schedules modem wake-ups in advance before actual communication opportunities. This preliminary scheduling ensures the modem is activated with sufficient lead time to establish communication immediately when satellites become visible, eliminating any response delay while still allowing the modem to remain in low-power mode during periods when communication is impossible.
3Productivity
If independent power control is implemented for modem and telematics gateway, then power management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by separating the power control of the satellite modem from the telematics gateway, allowing independent power management of each component. This enables the modem to be controlled based on satellite visibility while the gateway operates independently, improving power management efficiency by avoiding unnecessary activation of the entire system when only satellite communication is needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and related aspects are disclosed for scheduling vehicle-satellite communications for a vehicle comprising a power controller configured to provide power to a satellite communications modem of the vehicle independently of at least a telematics gateway of the vehicle. The method comprises responsive to the power controller of a vehicle receiving a low power mode request, determining a geographic location, for example, a three-dimensional geographic location, of the vehicle, determining a start time when a satellite will next be available for vehicle satellite-communications based on the determined geographic location of the vehicle, and configuring the power controller to schedule a modem power mode wake-up, for example, so that the modem is operational for vehicle-satellite communications, at the determined start-time.