Satellite Communication Terminal Beam Direction Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication terminals face challenges in rapidly determining the direction of a radio beam towards communication satellites due to the time-consuming process of obtaining position information, especially when using GPS, which limits communication duration and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A communication terminal apparatus equipped with an antenna to receive beacons from communication satellites and a processor to determine candidate directions for the radio beam based on beacon information, allowing for rapid direction determination and improved communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS is used to obtain position information of the communication terminal, then position accuracy is improved, but communication setup time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The communication satellite transmits beacon information containing its position data in advance, allowing the communication terminal to calculate the beam direction without waiting for GPS position acquisition. This preliminary provision of position data from the satellite resolves the time-consuming GPS dependency while maintaining accurate direction determination
Solution Approach 2:
Beacon information from the communication satellite serves as an intermediary that carries position data, enabling the terminal to determine beam direction through calculation rather than direct GPS acquisition. This intermediary mechanism bypasses the GPS time delay while achieving the same positioning objective
2Volume of moving object
If a small antenna is used in the communication terminal, then device size is reduced, but beam direction control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical beam steering (which would require large antennas and complex moving parts) with electronic beamforming using phase shifters and signal processing. This substitution enables precise beam direction control with small antennas by manipulating the phase and amplitude of signals across antenna elements
3Productivity
If directional antenna is used for millimeter wave communication, then communication efficiency is improved, but beam direction determination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication satellite preliminarily transmits beacon information containing its position data before communication begins. This allows the terminal to calculate the beam direction using simple geometric relationships between the terminal's position, the satellite's position from beacon information, and the beam direction, avoiding complex real-time direction determination algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the satellite's own transmitted beacon information to enable the terminal to self-determine the beam direction through calculation. The terminal independently computes the optimal beam direction using the position data provided in the beacon, without requiring complex external assistance or complex determination algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a communication terminal apparatus, a communication satellite apparatus, and a satellite communication system, capable of facilitating rapid determination of the direction of a beam. A communication terminal apparatus (10) is a communication terminal apparatus configured to communicate with a communication satellite apparatus (20) by means of a radio beam, the apparatus including: an antenna (11) configured to receive a plurality of beacons (Fa1 to Fa3) from at least one communication satellite apparatus, and to transmit and receive a directional radio beam; and at least one processor executing a control process of determining a plurality of candidate directions of the radio beam to be transmitted, on the basis of information included in the plurality of beacons.