Satellite Link Weather Detection Using Clear-Sky Reference Metrics

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing satellite communication systems lack automated and sufficiently reliable methods to detect weather conditions affecting service in specific areas with sufficient granularity for application to one or more functions of a satellite communication network.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for computing a weather metric based on evaluating monitored satellite-link parameters relative to a reference value determined from past evaluations, using a computer system to determine weather conditions affecting satellite service areas, enabling detection of weather outages and controlling scheduling or load balancing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated weather detection methods are implemented, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated weather detectionVSAvoidweather condition detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by comparing current satellite-link parameter evaluations against reference values derived from historical clear-sky conditions. This feedback mechanism enables automated detection while maintaining precision through continuous comparison with established baseline performance metrics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically generating weather metrics through computational processing of monitored satellite-link parameters. The automated system evaluates service degradation without manual intervention, using algorithms that compute weather metrics from collected data and compare against reference values to detect weather-affected service conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If weather detection granularity is increased for specific service areas, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice area weather detection granularityVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies segmentation by dividing the satellite service area into multiple discrete service areas, each with its own weather metric computation. This allows granular detection of weather conditions in specific geographic regions while managing complexity through modular processing of each service area independently using standardized algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If historical data is used to determine reference values, then reliability is improved, but loss of time worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference value accuracyVSAvoidhistorical data processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary action by pre-establishing reference values from historical clear-sky evaluations before weather detection is needed. These reference values represent baseline performance under normal conditions and are stored for rapid comparison during operational weather detection, eliminating the need for real-time historical analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4449166B1Method and apparatus for weather detection using satellites
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 VIASAT INC
  • EP4449166B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4449166B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4449166B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A technique relies on the computation of a weather metric (52) to detect weather conditions affecting a satellite service area (26), where the weather metric (52) is based on evaluating monitored values (92) of a satellite-link parameter in relation to a reference value (98). The reference value (98) can be understood as representing a clear-sky value as determined from past evaluations of the satellite-link parameter-historical monitoring-for the satellite service area (26). Basing the reference value (98) on the past evaluations made for the service area (26) provides an advantageous, relative basis on which to evaluate ongoing weather conditions. One example application of the technique is the detection of weather outages, e.g., for determining compliance-exceptions with respect to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) between the involved satellite-service provider and subscribers covered by the SLAs. Other example applications include controlling scheduling or load balancing in the involved satellite communication system (10).