Satellite Terminal Resource Sharing via Secondary Local Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face challenges in efficiently utilizing idle resources across terminals, leading to increased costs and reduced throughput as the demand for resources grows.
Innovation Solution
A method where terminals in close proximity can share available resources, such as power, computational resources, and data, through secondary communication links not part of the primary network, allowing for better resource allocation and reduced individual terminal costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If terminals are equipped with more communication channels and resources to meet growing demand, then communication throughput increases, but terminal cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges resources across multiple terminals by enabling them to share communication channels and hardware resources. Terminals in proximity form resource pools where computational resources, battery power, and communication channels are combined and allocated dynamically, reducing the need for each individual terminal to have full-capacity components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal resource pools where terminals can serve multiple functions - acting as both resource consumers and resource providers. A terminal's communication channel can serve its own traffic as well as relay traffic for other terminals, and its computational resources can process both local and remote tasks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more terminals are connected to communication networks, then network coverage and capability increase, but resource utilization efficiency decreases due to idle resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where terminals continuously report their resource status (battery level, computational load, channel availability) to a coordinating entity. This feedback enables dynamic allocation of resources from terminals with surplus capacity to terminals with higher demand, ensuring efficient utilization across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates dynamic resource allocation where terminal roles are not fixed. Terminals can transition between being resource providers and resource consumers based on real-time conditions. The system dynamically forms resource pools and adjusts allocations as terminals enter or exit idle modes, ensuring optimal resource utilization.
3Productivity
If terminals operate independently with full resources, then individual terminal performance is maximized, but overall system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into independent resource pools formed by groups of terminals in proximity. Each pool manages its own resources locally, allowing terminals to maintain high performance for local operations while sharing resources within the pool. This segmentation reduces the need for expensive centralized infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described for use in a satellite communication network, utilizing available resources (e.g. when operating in an idle mode) of at least one first terminal. that belongs to a cluster comprising a plurality of terminals that are adapted to communicate with a satellite, by at least one other terminal being a second terminal that belongs to that cluster of terminals, and wherein the utilization of idle resources is done by enabling communications between the first and second terminals is carried out by using a communication link that is not part of the satellite communication network.