Satellite Network Switching via SDN Mobility Manager
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite networks supporting high throughput communications are complex and expensive, with challenges in mobility support for roaming terminals and moving sub-nets, such as aircraft and ships, due to complicated setup, operation, and maintenance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A software-defined network (SDN) architecture is implemented with a mobility manager in the management plane, a network controller in the control plane, and switches as the data plane, using the OpenFlow protocol for communication, which proactively updates flow tables based on satellite ephemeris and aircraft itinerary data to manage handovers between satellites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional satellite network architecture is used, then high throughput communications are supported, but device complexity and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobility manager as an intermediary component that handles handover decisions and coordination between satellites and ground stations. This mediator abstracts the complexity of mobility management, allowing the core communication functionality to operate at high throughput while the intermediary handles the complex coordination tasks separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The network architecture is segmented into distinct functional components: satellite entities for communication, ground station entities for ground-based operations, and a separate mobility manager for handover control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - satellites focus on high throughput communication while the mobility manager handles complexity separately.
2Productivity
If traditional satellite network architecture is used, then high throughput communications are supported, but setup and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility manager serves multiple functions: it manages handovers between satellites, coordinates with ground stations, and handles terminal mobility. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity and associated setup and maintenance costs while maintaining high throughput capabilities.
3Reliability
If mobility support for roaming terminals and moving sub-nets is implemented, then communication continuity is maintained, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility manager acts as an intermediary that automatically handles handover decisions and coordination, reducing operational complexity. It monitors terminal positions, determines optimal handover timing, and coordinates with relevant satellites and ground stations, thereby maintaining communication continuity without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary handover preparation by the mobility manager before actual handover is needed. It proactively manages handover sequences and coordinates resources in advance, which simplifies the actual handover execution and maintains communication continuity without last-minute complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A satellite network comprises networks nodes including multiple satellites, multiple gateways, additional servers and a mobile vehicle (e.g., an aircraft). All of (or a subset) of the network nodes include switches. The network implements a software defined network that includes a mobility manager as part of the management plane, a network controller as part of the control plane, and the switches on the network nodes as the data plane. In one embodiment, the switches communicate using an Open Flow communications protocol and make routing decisions based on flow tables. The mobility manager communicates with, and manages, the switches via the network controller. The mobility manager proactively generate updates to flow tables based on satellite ephemeris data for the multiple satellites and itinerary data for the aircraft, and pushes the updates to the switches in response to determining that the aircraft needs to be handed off between satellites.