User Terminal Routing for LEO Satellite Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In low-earth-orbit satellite networks, the short contact time between LEO satellites and user terminals leads to frequent handovers, causing delays in communication due to multiple inter-satellite link transmissions, which affect service continuity and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method where the user terminal generates and installs routing information into both the current and target satellite routing tables, updating the information to relay data during handover, enabling seamless transitions between satellites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control plane frequently sends control signaling to maintain routing and quality of service parameters during handover, then service continuity is maintained, but communication delay increases due to multiple inter-satellite link transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The user terminal proactively generates routing information and installs it into both the current satellite's routing table and the target satellite's routing table before handover occurs. This preliminary action prepares the routing paths in advance, eliminating the need for delayed control signaling during actual handover.
Solution Approach 2:
The user terminal autonomously manages its own routing information without requiring frequent control plane intervention. By generating and installing routing information independently, the terminal reduces dependency on control signaling and minimizes handover delays caused by inter-satellite link transmissions.
2Reliability
If the user terminal performs frequent handover between LEO satellites due to short contact time, then network coverage is maintained, but additional waiting time is consumed for control signaling exchange
Solution Approach 1:
Routing information is installed into the target satellite's routing table before handover occurs, preparing the data path in advance. This eliminates the waiting time for control signaling exchange during actual handover, allowing seamless transitions between satellites.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing information acts as an intermediary that pre-establishes data transmission paths between the user terminal and the target satellite. This intermediary mechanism bypasses the need for real-time control signaling during handover, reducing latency while maintaining coverage.
3Loss of time
If routing information is installed into both current and target satellite routing tables before handover, then handover delay is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user terminal autonomously generates and manages routing information for both current and target satellites without requiring complex control plane coordination. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture despite the increased local routing management at the terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing management function is extracted from the control plane and implemented locally at the user terminal. This extraction reduces the complexity of control signaling and inter-satellite communications, as the terminal independently handles routing information installation and updates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for switching routing in a low-earth-orbit satellite network, being adapted to a user terminal (UT), includes the following. Routing information is generated by the UT. The routing information is installed into a first routing table of a first satellite. The routing information is installed into a second routing table of a second satellite by the UT. The routing information of the first routing table is updated to relay information by the UT. The relay information corresponds to the second satellite. Handover from the first satellite to the second satellite is performed by the UT.