Terminal Satellite Group Configuration for Multi-RAT Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite communication systems face challenges in efficiently configuring and operating multiple radio access technologies (RATs) across different satellites, which limits their ability to provide seamless wireless communication services.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring a primary and secondary satellite group to support multiple RATs, where a terminal receives synchronization signals, performs higher layer signaling, and transmits channel status information to select a primary satellite for communication, allowing for efficient communication across different RATs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a satellite communication system uses multiple different radio access technologies (RATs) across satellites, then the versatility and service coverage are improved, but the device complexity and configuration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the satellite group into a primary satellite and secondary satellites based on their RAT support capabilities. The terminal first establishes connection with the primary satellite, then uses it to access secondary satellites. This segmentation simplifies the overall system complexity by creating a hierarchical structure where the primary satellite handles complex multi-RAT coordination while secondary satellites provide specialized services.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary satellite acts as an intermediary between the terminal and the network infrastructure. It performs higher layer signaling procedures with the terminal and relays channel status information about secondary satellites. This intermediary role allows the terminal to access multiple RATs through a single point of contact, reducing the complexity of direct multi-RAT management.
2Reliability
If the terminal attempts to communicate with multiple satellites supporting different RATs simultaneously, then the communication reliability and service continuity are improved, but the ease of operation and signal management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the terminal directly manage connections to multiple satellites with different RATs, the patent inverts the approach by having the primary satellite manage these connections on behalf of the terminal. The terminal only needs to perform initial synchronization and signaling with the primary satellite, while the primary satellite handles the complexity of managing secondary satellite connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary satellite performs self-service by automatically performing higher layer signaling procedures with the terminal and autonomously managing the configuration of secondary satellites. The terminal simply provides channel status information, and the primary satellite uses this to establish optimal connections with secondary satellites, reducing the operational burden on the terminal.
3Manufacturing precision
If the system configures primary and secondary satellites with specific RAT support, then the manufacturing precision and service optimization are improved, but the loss of time for satellite selection and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having satellites pre-configured with specific RAT support capabilities before deployment. The primary satellite is pre-configured to support multiple RATs and to perform higher layer signaling procedures. This pre-configuration eliminates the need for complex real-time satellite selection and configuration, reducing the time loss while maintaining precise RAT matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal provides feedback in the form of channel status information about secondary satellites to the primary satellite. The primary satellite uses this feedback to dynamically select and configure the most appropriate secondary satellites for communication, optimizing the configuration process based on real-time channel conditions rather than using static pre-configured assignments.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An operation method of a terminal includes receiving a synchronization signal from a first satellite in a first satellite group that includes first satellites, the first satellite group supporting plural radio access technologies (RATs), performing a higher layer signaling procedure with the first satellite, based on the synchronization signal, transmitting, based on the higher layer signaling procedure, to the first satellite, first channel status information regarding a second satellite group including second satellites from among the first satellites, the second satellite group supporting a RAT supported by the terminal, and performing wireless communication with a satellite in the second satellite group that is configured as a primary satellite, based on the first channel status information.