Satellite Pointing Guidance Using Orbital Control Boxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite-based communication for non-specialized devices like standard mobile phones is impractical due to the challenge of orienting the device such that communication satellites fall within the main lobe of the mobile phone antenna, and accurately predicting satellite locations in real time is difficult without frequent updates of orbital parameters.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for modeling the orbital positions of satellites using historical data to create a reference grid of control boxes, allowing accurate prediction of satellite locations for extended periods, enabling non-specialized devices to communicate with satellites by orienting the device towards the center of these control boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If satellite-based communication is enabled for non-specialized devices like standard mobile phones, then accessibility and versatility are improved, but the device orientation requirement becomes a practical limitation reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of ground stations and servers that track satellite positions and compute control boxes. This intermediary provides orientation guidance to the mobile device, mediating between the satellite communication requirement and the user's ability to operate the device without specialized knowledge of satellite positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-computing control boxes and orientation guidance before the user needs to communicate with satellites. Historical orbital data is processed in advance to create predictive models, so when communication is needed, the device already has guidance information ready, eliminating the need for real-time orientation calculations by the user.
2Measurement precision
If orbital parameters are updated frequently to maintain accurate satellite location prediction, then measurement precision is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of orbital data by computing control boxes and predictive models in advance using historical orbital parameters. This pre-computation stores the essential information needed for accurate prediction, allowing the system to maintain precision without requiring frequent real-time updates of full orbital parameter sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for prediction by defining control boxes that encapsulate satellite position data. Instead of tracking and updating all orbital parameters continuously, the system extracts and stores only the critical position information within control boxes, reducing the complexity of parameter management while maintaining prediction accuracy.
3Device complexity
If real-time satellite tracking is implemented without frequent orbital parameter updates, then system complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of satellite location deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary computation of control boxes using historical orbital data, creating predictive models that can be used without frequent real-time parameter updates. This pre-computation stores the essential prediction information, allowing the system to maintain accuracy while reducing the frequency of orbital parameter updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies of satellite position information in the form of control boxes. These control boxes are computational representations that capture the essential position data without requiring the full complexity of real-time orbital parameter tracking. The control boxes serve as simplified models that maintain accuracy while reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a method of facilitating pointing of a mobile device at a satellite of a satellite constellation for satellite-based data communication, may comprise obtaining, at a first time point, historical orbital data indicative of orbital movement of a plurality of satellites of a satellite constellation over a period of time. The method may also comprise assigning a reference orbital dataset of the plurality orbital datasets determined at a reference time point to corresponding control boxes of a reference grid covering the satellite constellation, wherein each control box of the reference grid corresponds to a satellite of the satellite constellation. The method may also comprise mapping the plurality orbital datasets to the reference grid for an orbital model based on the assignment of the reference orbital dataset.