Ground Control for Reconfigurable Satellite Payload Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional satellite communication systems lack flexibility and scalability due to fixed frequency plans and mappings between gateways and user beams, leading to inefficiencies and reduced network performance.

Innovation Solution

Implement a reconfigurable satellite payload with dynamic network frequency plans and mappings among user beams and gateways, allowing for adaptable network architectures that can evolve with changing demand and customer populations, and support dynamic reconfiguration of spatial coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed frequency plan and fixed gateway-to-user-beam mapping is used, then ease of configuration and operation is improved, but flexibility and scalability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of configuration and operationVSAvoidflexibility and scalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of satellite payload operations, allowing the system to transition from static fixed mappings to dynamic adjustable mappings between gateways and user beams. The ground system can modify frequency plans, beam configurations, and gateway associations in real-time based on network conditions and demand, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and system flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed network architecture is used, then system stability is improved, but network capacity and coverage evolution are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidnetwork capacity and coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains stability through controlled dynamic reconfiguration. The ground system manages changes to frequency plans and beam configurations in a controlled manner, allowing the network capacity and coverage to evolve and grow as demand changes over time while maintaining overall system stability through managed transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables dynamic modification of key network parameters including frequency plans, beam configurations, and gateway associations. These parameter changes allow the network to adapt its capacity and coverage to match evolving demand patterns while maintaining stable operation through controlled implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If reconfigurable satellite payload is implemented, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but ground system complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility and adaptabilityVSAvoidground system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ground system acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of reconfiguring the satellite payload. It provides the computational intelligence and control logic to coordinate dynamic reconfiguration events, process reconfiguration requests, and manage the associations between gateways, beams, and frequency resources, thereby enabling payload flexibility while centralizing the complexity management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If dynamic reconfiguration is enabled, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but system reliability during reconfiguration events may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidsystem reliability during reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares for potential reconfiguration needs by maintaining the capability to dynamically reconfigure frequency plans and beam associations. This preparatory measure ensures that when reconfiguration events occur, the system can efficiently reallocate resources to maintain service continuity and reliability, cushioning against potential disruptions through pre-established reconfiguration pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS12580640B2Ground system techniques to support flexible reconfigurable satellite payload operation

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 HUGHES NETWORK SYST

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for ground system techniques to support flexible reconfigurable satellite payload operation. In some implementations, a satellite communication network is managed to operate in a first configuration. The satellite communication network includes a satellite having a payload that enables dynamic reconfiguration of carriers within a beam. A reconfiguration event is detected, and in response, a second configuration is determined for the satellite communication network. The second configuration differs from the first configuration in at least one of a set of carriers used for the beams or an assignment of the carriers to gateways. The satellite network is managed to operate in the second configuration, including at least one of (i) changing to a second set of carriers for the beams of the satellite or (ii) changing to a second assignment of the carriers to the gateways.