Satellite Visibility Assignment with Dynamic Start-End Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing visibility assignment devices either assign more visibility to some satellites inefficiently or fail to handle overlapping visibility times effectively, leading to suboptimal operations.

Innovation Solution

A satellite visibility assignment device that selects visibility units based on optimization calculations to set start and end times, ensuring efficient use of visibility times by determining feasible combinations that satisfy constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If priority levels are assigned to satellites and stations for visibility assignment, then the assignment process becomes simpler and more deterministic, but some satellites receive more visibility time than others leading to inefficient overall assignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility assignment processVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the approach from static priority level parameters to dynamic optimization parameters. Instead of assigning fixed priorities to satellites and stations, the system uses optimization calculations to dynamically determine the optimal visibility assignment that maximizes overall operational efficiency. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and utilize visibility time more effectively across all satellites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If fixed visibility time is used for assignment, then the assignment process is simplified, but the system cannot handle overlapping visibility times effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassignment processVSAvoidvisibility time utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces dynamics to the visibility assignment process by allowing visibility start and end times to be adjusted based on optimization calculations. Instead of using fixed visibility time slots, the system dynamically determines the optimal start and end times for each visibility assignment, enabling effective handling of overlapping visibility times while maximizing resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If optimization calculations are performed to maximize visibility time utilization, then operational efficiency improves, but the assignment process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility time utilizationVSAvoidassignment process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces manual or rule-based visibility assignment mechanisms with automated optimization calculations. By using computational algorithms to determine optimal visibility assignments, the system achieves high productivity and effective utilization of visibility times while managing complexity through automation rather than manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4036019B1Satellite visibility assignment device, satellite operation system, visibility assignment method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4036019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4036019B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4036019B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A satellite visibility assignment device (1) includes a visibility unit setter (21), a visibility unit selector (22), and an optimization calculator (23). The visibility unit setter (21) sets visibility units each including a combination of a satellite and a station to communicate with the satellite, a lower limit of a visibility start time, and an upper limit of a visibility end time. The visibility unit selector (22) sets one or more combinations of the visibility units. The optimization calculator (23) determines whether the visibility start time and the visibility end time are settable for each of the one or more combinations of the visibility units within a range satisfying a set constraint and calculates the visibility start time and the visibility end time through an optimization calculation when the visibility start time and the visibility end time are settable. The visibility unit selector (22) selects, from the combinations of the visibility units, a combination of the visibility units to be used based on determination of the optimization calculator (23) as to whether the visibility start time and the visibility end time are settable and based on the visibility start time and the visibility end time set when the visibility start time and the visibility end time are determined to be settable.