Satellite Protocol Adaptation for Latency and Power Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Satellite communication systems face inefficiencies due to long delays and smaller link margins compared to terrestrial systems, requiring enhanced protocols to minimize propagation delays and improve spectral and power efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A broadband satellite communications system incorporating forward error correction, interleaving, puncturing, and unique signature sequences, along with advanced receiver structures for timing and frequency estimation, and diversity receptions, to optimize data transmission and reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional terrestrial communication protocols are used in satellite systems, then system compatibility is maintained, but propagation delay impact increases and spectral efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidpropagation delay impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies protocol parameters specifically for satellite environments, including adjusting timing advance parameters, modifying random access procedures, and optimizing handover parameters to account for longer propagation delays. These parameter changes allow the protocol to function effectively in satellite systems while maintaining compatibility with terrestrial standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustments to protocol behavior based on satellite movement and changing channel conditions. This includes dynamic timing advance compensation, adaptive resource allocation, and flexible connection management that respond to real-time satellite position and signal quality, thereby reducing delay impact while maintaining protocol compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If higher power transmission is used to overcome smaller link margins, then signal reliability improves, but power efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reliabilityVSAvoidpower efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple signal processing techniques including advanced modulation schemes, coded modulation, and hybrid ARQ to achieve reliable communication at lower power levels. By merging these techniques, the system achieves the reliability of high-power transmission without the corresponding power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite coding schemes that combine convolutional codes, turbo codes, and LDPC codes in hybrid configurations. These composite error correction mechanisms provide enhanced reliability that allows reduction of transmission power while maintaining signal integrity against channel impairments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If more robust error correction is applied to handle smaller link margins, then transmission reliability improves, but spectral efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidspectral efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adaptive error correction where the level of redundancy is adjusted based on channel conditions. During good channel conditions, less error correction is applied to maximize spectral efficiency. During poor conditions, more robust error correction is activated to maintain reliability. This partial application of error correction optimizes the trade-off between reliability and spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the data transmission into multiple frames with different error protection levels. Critical data segments receive stronger error correction while less critical segments use lighter protection. This segmentation allows the system to achieve overall high reliability while maintaining higher average spectral efficiency by not over-protection all data equally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of time

If advanced signal processing techniques are implemented to reduce delay, then latency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelatencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary synchronization and timing adjustment mechanisms that prepare the system in advance for satellite signal reception. By performing initial frequency offset estimation, timing synchronization, and channel characterization before actual data transmission, the system reduces processing delays during active communication while the complexity is distributed across initialization phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9391690B2Method and system of providing efficient packetized voice communcations and data bearers in mobile satellite systems

Publication Date: 2016.07.12 HUGHES NETWORK SYST

AI summary

A broadband satellite communications system comprises forward error correction (FEC) encoder/decoder, interleaver/deinterleaver, puncturing/de-puncturing, scrambler/descrambler, bit to symbol mapping/de-mapping devices, modulator/demodulator, transmit and receive filter; operating in a time-division multiple access (TDMA) system where information is sent in a burst-by-burst fashion during the assigned time slot; supporting diverse traffic types such as voice over internet protocol (VOIP), control messages (DACCH) and keep alive burst (KAB) during silence period and multiple data rates.