Smart Contract Satellite Constellation Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication is hindered by atmospheric obstacles like clouds, which cause latency issues and delay data transmission, and existing solutions are inadequate in ensuring reliable data transfer between satellites and ground stations.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-based system that uses smart contracts to govern the utilization of LEO satellites and ground stations, allowing for dynamic selection of communication paths based on environmental conditions, such as creating a temporary hole in clouds or using alternate satellites/ground stations, ensuring reliable data transfer and compliance with service level agreements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If laser communication is used between satellites and ground stations, then data transmission speed and bandwidth are improved, but atmospheric obstacles like clouds cause transmission failures and increase latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary satellites in orbital positions between the source satellite and ground station to relay data transmissions. When atmospheric obstacles block direct laser communication, the system automatically routes data through intermediate satellites that can transmit to ground stations from different atmospheric paths, thereby maintaining high-speed laser communication while overcoming atmospheric blockages and ensuring transmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic path selection where the communication route is not fixed but continuously adapted based on real-time atmospheric conditions, satellite positions, and network status. The system dynamically switches between direct satellite-to-ground laser links and multi-hop satellite relay paths, optimizing both transmission speed and reliability by selecting the best available path at any given moment
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple service providers operate different satellites and ground stations, then system versatility and service coverage are improved, but coordination complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coordination functions of multiple independent service providers into a unified blockchain-based management system. All satellites and ground stations from different providers are registered on a common blockchain ledger, and smart contracts establish standardized protocols for data routing, resource allocation, and inter-provider settlement, enabling seamless coordination across multiple providers without increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the blockchain network continuously monitors transmission performance, satellite positions, and ground station availability across all providers. This feedback information is used by smart contracts to automatically adjust routing decisions, allocate resources optimally, and coordinate activities between different service providers, reducing management complexity through automated closed-loop control
3Loss of time
If data is transmitted directly from satellite to ground station, then transmission latency is reduced, but atmospheric obstacles cause transmission failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses intermediary satellites as relay nodes that receive data from the source satellite via laser and forward it to ground stations. This multi-hop approach increases transmission path length but avoids direct transmission through obstructed atmospheric paths, thereby reducing successful transmission latency despite the additional hops by preventing transmission failures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary assessment of atmospheric conditions and satellite positions before initiating data transmission. The system predicts potential atmospheric blockages and pre-calculates alternative relay paths through the satellite network, so that when transmission is needed, the optimal path is already prepared and can be executed immediately, minimizing actual transmission latency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The blockchain-based system ensures robust management and operation of LEO satellites, providing reliable data transfer by selecting optimal communication paths and ensuring compliance with service level agreements, even in the presence of atmospheric obstacles, thereby reducing latency and maintaining data integrity.
Implementation Method 1
This is being replaced in some applications with laser communication, which can have advantages
Data Source
AI summary
Coordinated smart contract-based satellite management and operation is provided by obtaining terms of smart contracts that govern utilization of a constellation of Earth-orbiting satellites, which form a space-based data center, in transmitting data between the constellation of satellites and ground stations for receiving data transmissions. Different service providers operate different satellites of the constellation and different ground stations of the collection, and the smart contracts further govern servicing of requests made between the different service providers. A service provider operates satellite(s) of the constellation pursuant to the smart contracts and ground station(s) of the collection of ground stations. This includes receiving a request for data stored on a satellite, selecting a device to which the satellite is to send the data, the selecting being made between at least (i) a ground station and (ii) another satellite of the constellation, and initiating sending the data to the selected device.