Coordinated Satellite Network Switching for Maritime Vessels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ship satellite targeting systems typically can only target one satellite at a time, leading to network disruptions and increased costs due to the need for prolonged re-targeting processes when switching between satellites, especially when one antenna becomes blocked or the ship moves into a new satellite connection area.
Innovation Solution
A network-switching system that allows multiple satellite dishes to target independent satellites in a coordinated manner, using a ship-board router to manage communication traffic and switch between available networks to maintain continuous connectivity, optimize signal strength, and reduce downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple satellite dishes target independent satellites independently without coordination, then each dish can maintain its own connection, but the system cannot efficiently switch networks to minimize cost and disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple satellite dishes under a single coordinated control system that manages them as a unified resource pool. The router monitors all dishes and networks collectively, enabling efficient switching between networks while maintaining continuous connectivity. This merging approach allows the system to leverage multiple dishes for network switching purposes while preserving connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically assigns dishes to different networks based on real-time conditions such as signal strength, cost considerations, and connection stability. The router can reconfigure which dish serves which network at any moment, creating a dynamic allocation system that adapts to changing environmental and operational conditions, thereby improving both reliability and adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If both satellite dishes are connected to the same transponder, then routing is possible, but during re-target both dishes move in lockstep causing network access to go offline for five to ten minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the satellite dish resources and network connections into independent controllable units. Instead of moving both dishes together as a single unit, the system can independently control each dish's targeting and connection status. This segmentation allows one dish to maintain connectivity while another transitions to a new satellite, eliminating the lockstep movement problem and reducing network downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing connections with multiple satellites using different dishes before a network switch is needed. The router monitors available satellites and can have dishes pre-positioned on potential backup satellites, so when a network switch is required, the transition is rapid because the target connection is already prepared and waiting.
3Reliability
If the ship is nearing the edge of a satellite connection area, then signal strength decreases, but uncoordinated dishes cannot efficiently switch networks to minimize cost and disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The router implements continuous feedback monitoring of signal strength, connection quality, and satellite availability for all dishes. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when the ship is approaching the edge of a satellite connection area and proactively initiate network switching operations. The feedback loop enables informed decision-making about when and how to switch networks, improving both connection stability and switching efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for switching networks aboard a moving vessel includes determining that a first network-connection device located aboard the moving vessel is communicatively coupled to a first network located off the moving vessel; determining that a second network-connection device aboard the moving vessel is able to communicatively couple to a second network, the second network selected from available networks located off the moving vessel; and connecting the second network-connection device to the second network.The method may further comprise connecting the first network-connection device to the second network; reducing the first communication activity and increasing the second communication activity; receiving an available network control from the network geographic data memory structure, the available network control comprising a list of the one or more available networks; and disconnecting the second network-connection device from the second network in response to the connection value being less than the connection threshold value.