Secured Multi-Payload Antenna Operations via Segmented Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antenna systems on vehicles, such as satellites, lack resource allocation privacy, as all steering commands are managed by a single satellite controller, compromising customer privacy and independent operation of antenna resources.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for secured multi-payload antenna operations that involves transmitting antenna location pointing requests from customers to an antenna operations center, generating unencrypted commands, encrypting them using communication security protocols, and decrypting them on the vehicle to allow independent gimballing of antennas, ensuring privacy and secure resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single satellite controller manages all antenna steering commands, then the system structure is simple and centralized control is achieved, but customer privacy is compromised and resource allocation transparency is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into multiple independent controllers (host controller and customer controllers) that can independently manage antenna resources. This segmentation allows customer-specific commands to be processed separately from host commands, preventing the host controller from accessing customer operational details while maintaining overall system coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer that routes commands between customers and the antenna system without requiring the host controller to process customer-specific steering commands. This intermediary mechanism enables private resource allocation by mediating between customer requests and antenna execution, eliminating the need for the host to have visibility into customer operational details.
2Loss of information
If multiple independent controllers manage antenna resources with privacy protection, then customer privacy and independent operation are improved, but the system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into distinct functional segments: host controller for host antenna management, customer controllers for customer antenna management, and a coordinated communication interface. Each segment operates independently with its own processing capabilities, reducing the complexity burden on any single controller while maintaining overall system functionality.
3Reliability
If encryption is applied to commands and telemetry, then security and privacy are enhanced, but processing time and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Encryption keys and security parameters are pre-configured and established before command transmission. The encryption/decryption mechanisms are pre-loaded into the controllers and communication interfaces, eliminating the need for real-time key exchange or complex cryptographic computations during operational command processing, thus minimizing processing time overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed method for secured multi-payload antennas operators operations comprises generating, by an antenna operations center (AOC), AOC commands using an antenna location pointing request for each of at least one antenna associated with each of at least one customer. The method further comprises transmitting, by a satellite operation center (SOC), the AOC commands and SOC commands to a vehicle via a ground antenna, where the SOC commands are related to at least one antenna associated with a host. Also, the method comprises generating customer antenna gimballing commands by using the AOC commands, and generating host antenna gimballing commands by using the SOC commands. Further, the method comprises gimballing respectively each of the antenna(s) associated with each of the customer(s) by using the customer antenna gimballing commands, and gimballing respectively each of the antenna(s) associated with the host by using the host antenna gimballing commands.