Satellite Terminal Attribute Set Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communications systems face challenges in accommodating multiple terminal classes after launch, as they are difficult and costly to update with new terminal types, requiring cumbersome software updates and resource-intensive configurations to support various terminal characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A communications satellite with a main antenna system and controller stores terminal attribute sets, allowing it to identify and adapt communication settings based on terminal class identifiers, enabling efficient communication with diverse terminal classes by configuring transmit power, carriers, and frequency assignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If satellite communications systems use fixed configuration for supporting terminal classes, then system stability is maintained, but adaptability to new terminal types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple terminal attribute sets corresponding to different terminal classes before the satellite is launched. These attribute sets include parameters such as transmit power, carrier frequency, modulation schemes, and coding rates. When a new terminal class needs to be supported, the satellite can simply activate the corresponding pre-configured attribute set without requiring complex software updates, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If satellite communications systems support multiple terminal classes with customized configurations, then versatility improves, but resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a unified configuration framework where a single set of terminal attribute sets can serve multiple terminal classes. The communications controller is configured to select from these pre-defined attribute sets based on the terminal class identifier, allowing the satellite to support diverse terminal types (handheld, vehicular, fixed, mobile) without requiring separate customization processes for each class, thus improving resource utilization while maintaining versatility.
3Manufacturing precision
If satellite communications systems perform complex configurations for each terminal class, then communication precision improves, but operation time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by performing the complex configuration work in advance during the satellite's operational setup phase. Multiple terminal attribute sets with precise communication parameters are pre-configured and stored in the communications controller. When a terminal connects, the controller quickly identifies the terminal class and activates the corresponding pre-configured attribute set, achieving both precise communication configuration and rapid deployment without time-consuming on-demand adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a communications satellite includes a main antenna system and a communications controller. The main antenna system is configured to send communications to and receive communications from one or more terrestrial terminal devices. The communications controller has a memory storing a plurality of terminal attribute sets, each of which specifies attributes for communicating with a corresponding class of terrestrial terminal devices. The communications controller is configured to receive a terminal class identifier from an active terrestrial terminal device, identify, from among the stored terminal attribute sets, a particular terminal attribute set as corresponding to the terminal class identifier received from the active terrestrial terminal device, and control the communications satellite to communicate with the active terrestrial terminal device according to the attributes for communicating specified in the particular terminal attribute set identified as corresponding to the terminal class identifier received from the active terrestrial terminal device.