Satellite Spot Beam Selection Algorithm for Mobile Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional satellite systems fail to maintain end-to-end connectivity for mobile terminals as they transition between satellite spot beams, leading to frequent disconnections and data packet loss during handovers, which disrupts continuous internet access and interactive sessions.
Innovation Solution
A method for a mobile terminal to intelligently select and switch between satellite spot beams by transmitting signals to the satellite and gateway, determining boundary approaches, and establishing connections with new gateways to maintain continuous data transmission without re-login, using a spot beam selection algorithm that considers velocity, proximity, and available satellite resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional satellite systems use multiple spot beams for coverage, then area coverage is improved, but connectivity reliability deteriorates during handover between beams
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a prediction mechanism that anticipates terminal movement across spot beam boundaries. The gateway predicts when a terminal will leave the current spot beam and proactively initiates handover preparation, including resource allocation in the target beam, before the actual boundary crossing occurs. This prevents connectivity interruption by ensuring the target beam is ready to receive the terminal immediately upon handover.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a prediction mechanism as an intermediary layer between the terminal and the gateway. This intermediary predicts terminal movement patterns and communicates predicted handover events to the gateway, enabling smooth transitions between spot beams. The prediction mechanism acts as a mediator that coordinates resources across multiple beams to maintain continuous connectivity during handover.
2Productivity
If spot beam diameter is reduced for higher capacity, then data transmission capacity is improved, but handover frequency increases for mobile terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The prediction mechanism serves as an intermediary that tracks terminal movement patterns and predicts future handover events. By anticipating when terminals will need to switch beams, the system can prepare target beams in advance and execute handovers more efficiently, reducing the time lost during transitions even as handover frequency increases due to smaller beam diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary resource allocation and handover preparation before terminals actually need to switch beams. The prediction mechanism identifies upcoming handover events and triggers preliminary actions such as reserving resources in target beams and pre-configuring handover parameters, thereby minimizing the time impact of frequent handovers caused by reduced spot beam diameters.
3Reliability
If data packet transmission is suspended during handover, then handover reliability is improved, but data transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining data transmission during handover through a prediction-based mechanism. The system predicts handover events in advance and continues transmitting data packets to the terminal through the current beam while simultaneously preparing the target beam. This eliminates the need to suspend data transmission during handover, maintaining both reliability and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The prediction mechanism performs preliminary identification of handover events and triggers advance preparation in target beams. By predicting when handovers will occur, the system can set up resources in advance and execute seamless transitions without suspending data transmission, thereby maintaining high data transmission efficiency while ensuring reliable handovers.
4Device complexity
If TCP connection is terminated during spot beam transition, then connection management is simplified, but user session continuity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The prediction mechanism acts as an intermediary that maintains TCP connection continuity during spot beam transitions. By predicting handover events in advance, the system can prepare the target beam to take over the TCP connection seamlessly, preventing connection termination. This maintains user session continuity while managing the complexity through automated prediction-based handover coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary preparation of target beams for TCP connection handover based on predicted terminal movement. By anticipating handover events, the target beam can pre-configure network resources and establish connection parameters in advance, enabling seamless TCP connection transitions without termination, thereby maintaining session continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention is a system to maximize efficiency as a mobile terminal receives data signals transmitted through multiple satellite spot beams. The multiple spot beams can be broadcast via a single satellite or multiple satellites. As a mobile terminal travels throughout a region, the system determines which spot beam would delivers data in the most efficient manner possible. This system takes into account multiple factors, including but not limited to velocity of the mobile terminal, traffic within a spot beam, business affiliations, etc. Once the system takes into account the various factors, an embodiment of the present invention generates a relative weighted factor that is subsequently associated with various available spot beams. Based on rankings of the weighted factors associated with each spot beam, the system may choose to receive data from a different spot beam.