Satellite Position Location Information Message Transport Agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing position location information (PLI) systems using Internet protocols over satellite segments, such as the Iridium Satellite Network, suffer from high latency, unreliability, and complexity, which hinder situational awareness and communication in remote or disaster scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing short message service (SMS) based on mobile satellite systems (MSS) for PLI and messaging, employing a message transport agent (MTA) to translate and send PLI messages directly between end-user terminals and command and control systems via a transceiver board, eliminating the need for Internet protocols and enhancing reliability and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Internet protocols are used over MSS space segment for PLI communication, then global coverage and connectivity are achieved, but latency increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the PLI communication function from the Internet protocol stack and implements it directly over MSS using proprietary protocols. This removes unnecessary protocol layers and intermediaries, achieving direct satellite-to-ground communication for position data, thereby reducing latency and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated PLI message server as an intermediary that receives position data directly from MSS satellites and distributes it to authorized users. This mediator optimizes the communication path by handling PLI data separately from general Internet traffic, reducing latency and improving reliability for critical position information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Internet protocols are used over MSS for PLI systems, then connectivity is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the PLI communication functionality from the complex Internet protocol suite and implements a dedicated, simplified protocol stack specifically for position data transmission over MSS. This reduces system complexity by removing unnecessary protocol layers while maintaining connectivity through the dedicated PLI message server infrastructure.
3Reliability
If TCP/IP error control strategy is used over MSS, then data integrity is maintained, but throughput decreases due to high latency and interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the error control parameters by implementing a simplified error handling mechanism tailored for MSS characteristics. Instead of using the complex TCP/IP retransmission protocol, the system uses lighter-weight error detection and correction methods appropriate for satellite communication constraints, improving throughput while maintaining adequate data integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
An efficient and reliable way to send various information including position location information (PLI) and emergency messages (EM) using or within a mobile satellite system (MSS) using different message formats including short message (e.g., short burst data (SBD), etc.), between mobile users as provided. Embodiments also use global positioning systems (GPS) used in some cases with the PLI system. Various embodiments improve communications efficiency and reliability of message transmission through various types of MSS. Embodiments include a method or approach to interface SBD PLI messages from mobile end user terminals (EUT) to common operating picture (COP) application programs as provided. Exemplary methods interface and translate MSS short messages (e.g., SBD) to extensible markup language (XML) message format and communicate converted messages to COP application program within a computer using a TCP/IP interface.