Aeronautical Satellite Network Bandwidth Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aeronautical satellite network systems face challenges in balancing service priority between multiple aircraft sharing network bandwidth, particularly due to weather conditions and altitude, which affect service efficiency and bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to prioritize network service based on real-time usage of available capacity and environmental conditions, such as altitude, by determining a service priority factor that adjusts bandwidth allocation to ensure uninterrupted service for aircraft above cruising altitude while maintaining connectivity for those below, without impacting overall service levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network bandwidth is shared equally among all aircraft in a satellite beam, then all aircraft receive service, but aircraft at cruising altitude experience degraded service due to weather-affected aircraft below consuming excessive bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating service treatment based on aircraft location and environmental conditions. Aircraft at cruising altitude above cloud cover receive priority service with higher bandwidth allocation, while aircraft below cruising altitude experiencing weather conditions receive reduced service. This spatial and conditional differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable service for weather-unaffected aircraft while still providing connectivity to weather-affected aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the service priority parameter based on real-time environmental conditions and aircraft altitude. When aircraft are detected below cruising altitude with cloud cover, the system adjusts modulation schemes and bandwidth allocation parameters. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain service level agreements for aircraft at cruising altitude while adapting bandwidth distribution to current operational conditions.
2Reliability
If lower efficiency modulation schemes are used for aircraft below cruising altitude to maintain satellite link through cloud cover, then connectivity is maintained, but overall network efficiency and bandwidth capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different modulation schemes are applied locally to different aircraft based on their environmental conditions. Aircraft below cloud cover use high-efficiency modulation schemes (e.g., 64-QAM, 128-QAM) to maximize bandwidth, while aircraft experiencing weather conditions use more robust but less efficient modulation schemes (e.g., QPSK, 16-QAM) to maintain reliable connectivity. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts modulation schemes based on real-time channel conditions, aircraft altitude, and weather data. As aircraft move through different atmospheric conditions or change altitude, the modulation scheme is adaptively changed. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain optimal connectivity for each aircraft while maximizing overall network efficiency across the satellite beam.
3Reliability
If service is prioritized for aircraft at cruising altitude above cloud cover, then service level agreements are maintained, but aircraft below cruising altitude may experience service degradation or disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary ground-based weather and position monitoring system that provides real-time data about aircraft location and environmental conditions. This intermediary system enables the network to make informed decisions about service prioritization by detecting when aircraft are below cloud cover and experiencing weather conditions. The intermediary information layer allows the system to balance service level agreements with overall connectivity availability.
Solution Approach 2:
Service prioritization is dynamically adjusted based on real-time conditions rather than being statically assigned. When aircraft ascend above cloud cover, they transition from low-priority to high-priority status. When aircraft descend into weather conditions, they transition from high-priority to low-priority status. This dynamic reassignment ensures service level agreements are maintained for aircraft at cruising altitude while preventing complete service denial to aircraft below, as priority can change as conditions change.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods implementing prioritization of network resources in an aeronautical satellite network system, which determines network utilization of a beam of the aeronautical satellite system by a plurality of aircraft using network capacity of the beam, where network demand in the beam indicated by the network utilization is greater than capacity of the beam, share network bandwidth of the beam to the plurality of aircraft based on a service priority factor, where the service priority factor may depend on altitude of the plurality of aircraft in the beam.