Satellite Signal Adaptation via Consumer Terminal Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing satellite broadcasting systems face challenges in maintaining optimal signal strength due to atmospheric conditions, as they rely on ground-based weather radar stations that are costly and may not provide comprehensive coverage, failing to account for non-weather related signal degradations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where consumer terminals measure and feedback satellite signal strengths to a satellite control station, which processes this information to generate corrective signals for the satellite to adjust its transmission power and direction, eliminating the need for extensive ground-based monitoring stations and providing comprehensive coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground-based weather radar stations are used to detect atmospheric conditions, then signal degradation due to weather can be compensated, but the system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having consumer terminals measure actual satellite signal strengths and transmit this information back to a control station. The control station processes this feedback data and generates corrective signals sent to the satellite to adjust its transmission parameters. This closed-loop feedback system enables adaptive compensation for signal degradation without requiring complex ground-based radar infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables consumer terminals to serve dual purposes: receiving satellite signals and simultaneously measuring/monitoring signal strength. By utilizing the consumer terminals' own reception capability for monitoring purposes, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated monitoring infrastructure like weather radar stations, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If ground-based weather radar stations are deployed throughout the coverage area, then comprehensive weather monitoring is achieved, but installation and maintenance costs become prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes consumer terminals multi-functional by having them perform both satellite signal reception and signal strength measurement/monitoring. This eliminates the need for dedicated monitoring stations, as the universal consumer terminals already present in the coverage area serve dual purposes, thereby dramatically reducing deployment and maintenance costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the consumer terminals' inherent signal reception capability to perform self-monitoring. Each terminal uses its own reception function to measure signal strength and report back, eliminating the need for external monitoring infrastructure and associated costs.
3Reliability
If satellite signals are transmitted at high strength levels, then signal reception is maintained during adverse atmospheric conditions, but power consumption increases and signal strength above threshold is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of satellite transmission parameters based on real-time feedback from consumer terminals. The control station processes feedback data and generates corrective signals that dynamically modify the satellite's transmission power and other parameters according to actual signal conditions, eliminating the need for static high-power transmission and reducing wasted energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism enables the satellite to adapt its power consumption to actual signal degradation conditions. By receiving real-time measurements from consumer terminals, the system only increases power when and where needed, rather than maintaining constantly elevated power levels, thereby optimizing energy efficiency.
4Loss of information
If ground-based radar stations are used, then weather-related signal degradation can be detected, but non-weather related signal degradation and interference information is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses consumer terminals as intermediaries that directly measure the actual satellite signal strength at the point of reception. This direct measurement approach captures all types of signal degradation (weather-related and non-weather-related) and interference conditions, providing comprehensive information that ground-based radar stations cannot detect, as radar only measures atmospheric conditions rather than actual signal reception quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a methodology uses data provided from consumer terminals in a satellite system to reconfigure a satellite to thereby optimize the strength of signals transmitted by the satellite. The data from the consumer terminals may be used to provide diagnostic information about the reception of signals at various points in an area covered by a satellite broadcasting system and to compensate for attenuation of signals transmitted by the satellite due to weather storms, or other atmospheric conditions. Such use of consumer terminals eliminates the need to place expensive monitoring stations throughout an area covered by a satellite broadcasting system, resulting in substantial reduction in overall system cost. Additionally, given the widespread distribution of consumer terminals, greater monitoring coverage is achieved than with a limited number of monitoring stations.