Schedule-Driven Satellite Handovers for Low-Latency Service Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless handover technologies in satellite-based communication systems experience perceptible latencies, loss or interruption of service, and have limited scalability and flexibility, particularly due to the complexity of satellite movements, relative distances, and beam pointing accuracy, which degrade user experience and reduce service availability.
Innovation Solution
A schedule-driven handover scheme that predicts and schedules handover events in advance, using a route distribution service to generate communication schedules based on ephemeris data, location information, and other factors to facilitate seamless, stable, and efficient handovers between satellites and satellite terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wireless handover technologies are used in satellite-based communication systems, then handover can be performed between satellites or beams, but perceptible latencies and service interruption occur due to the complexity of satellite movements, relative distances, and beam pointing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by predicting future handover events based on satellite ephemeris data and terminal location information before the actual handover occurs. The network device determines handover prediction information including target satellite/beam identifiers and timing in advance, allowing the system to prepare for handover proactively rather than reactively, thereby reducing latency and service interruption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional handover technologies are used, then handover can be performed, but scalability and flexibility are limited due to the complexity of managing satellite movements and beam pointing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the network device to autonomously determine handover prediction information using pre-stored satellite ephemeris data and terminal location information. The system automatically processes handover decisions without requiring complex real-time coordination between multiple network entities, thereby improving flexibility while reducing operational complexity.
3Speed
If reactive handover triggering is used, then handover can respond to current conditions, but latencies occur because handover is initiated after service degradation is detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by performing preliminary handover preparation based on predicted future positions of satellites and terminals. The network device calculates handover prediction information in advance using ephemeris data, allowing the terminal to prepare for handover before the actual event occurs, thereby executing handover rapidly when the time comes without significant preparation delays.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory media are provided for low latency handovers. An example method can include receiving, by a user terminal associated with a cell served by a satellite, a schedule of communications between the user terminal and one or more satellites, wherein the one or more satellites comprises the satellite and a different satellite, and wherein the schedule of communications is obtained by the user terminal from the satellite; requesting, based on the schedule, a handover from a beam of the satellite to a different beam of one of the satellite or the different satellite; performing the handover from the beam of the satellite to the different beam of the one of the satellite or the different satellite; and after the handover, transmitting, by the user terminal, one or more packets via the different beam of the one of the satellite or the different satellite.