RU2783227C1 - System for satellite communication arrangement on water vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: communication equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of communication equipment and can be used to arrange satellite communication on water vehicles. By means of two satellite transceiver tracking antennas, the system receives and transmits in the Ku or Ka frequency bands via communication channels to repeater satellites located on the geostationary and highly elliptical orbits. To ensure a stable path, one antenna of the system is mounted on the aft part of the vessel, and the other one on the fore part thereof. Taking into account the difference in the services ensuring the operability of the satellite systems, groups of modems (iDirect, Newtec, Gilat, Istar, etc.) with corresponding Internet services are used. The latter, in turn, ensure the operation of the system as a whole both in the automatic mode and in the manual mode with remote access, jointly with the router and the on-board computer with special software and a work algorithm.

EFFECT: system for satellite communication arrangement on a watercraft provides consumers via a high-speed Internet network with such services as digital television, IP telephony, video conference communication, transmission and reception of various types of information both while moving and while parked.

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Description

The invention relates to the field of communications and can be used to organize satellite communications in water transport, for example, on sea and river vessels during movement and parking.

Satellite communication is becoming increasingly important for the transmission of various types of data in corporate communication networks, including television and video information, telephony and text messaging, organizing access to social networks, video conferencing, data transmission from other sources, etc. At the same time, for the organization satellite communication channels on mobile objects use specialized antenna systems. These systems operate with repeater satellites in different frequency bands (Ku, Ka, X, C, Q, V) mainly in geostationary and highly elliptical orbits (Express, Yamal, Intelsat, Eutelsat, SES Astra and others constellations).

Thanks to modern technologies, satellite gyro-stabilized receiving and transmitting tracking antenna terminals (hereinafter referred to as antennas) have been developed, which, in water transport, provide guidance and tracking of the satellite in a given position, under the influence of pitching and changes in the course of the ship (SOTM - Satcom-on-the-move or SOTM -communication-on-the-move - communication in motion).

The most widespread are satellite terminals using VSAT technology (Very Small Aperture Terminal - a satellite terminal with a small antenna aperture), for example, Sailor-Cobham, Orbit, Gilat, KNS, Intellian, Telecom-60, SNARK and others. This technology provides sea and river vessels with a round-the-clock reliable broadband communication channel, for example, with a transfer rate of up to 10 Mbps and a reception of up to 50 Mbps. At the same time, Internet access services are implemented on different satellites on various technological platforms, for example, iDirect, Newtec, Gilat Istar, etc. And, accordingly, when a vessel moves from the service area of one satellite to the service area of another, it becomes necessary to switch from one technology to provide service to another.

A known system of two satellite dishes, two controllers, modem [1] URL: https://www.livewire-connections.com/sites/default/files/files/documents/SeaTel-Arbitrator.pdf, where to ensure continuous satellite communication a device is used - an arbitrator, which, in the event of a signal loss from one antenna (shadowing the line of sight of the satellite), connects the second antenna.

The disadvantage [1] is the limited functionality of the system, since only one antenna can work at a time, and the second one is in standby mode and one modem of a given type is used. In addition, the absence of an antenna heating device reduces the reliability of the system.

Known [2] method and system for organizing satellite television with buffering on land transport. The system includes a television tracking receiving satellite subsystem, a satellite mobile Internet access subsystem, a stationary television satellite subsystem, a repeater satellite, an Internet telecommunications environment, and communication channels.

The disadvantage [2] is that when moving a moving object and the coverage area of one repeater satellite to the coverage area of another, automatic roaming of communication services is not provided. In addition, the absence of an antenna heating device reduces the reliability of the system.

Known [3] is a digital complex of a satellite communication system, consisting of a digital communication complex, a satellite communication system of the Inmarsat type, the Internet and software, a tracking satellite antenna for Ku and Ka satellite communications, a GSM navigation system, a router, Ethernet switch, multiswitch. The complex can work both with repeater satellites located in geostationary orbit, and with repeater satellites in highly elliptical orbits, while the complex provides Internet access at a marine mobile object through an automated operator station for various applications.

The disadvantage [3] is the fact that when the complex is located, for example, on a sea vessel, a second satellite tracking transceiver antenna is required to ensure stable communication in case of obscuration of the first antenna. Also, when moving from the coverage area of one repeater satellite to the coverage area of another, roaming of communication services is not provided. In addition, the absence of an antenna heating device reduces the reliability of the system.

The closest analogue of the prototype is the device [3].

The purpose of the present invention is to expand the functionality and increase the service life of satellite antennas (increased reliability).

This goal is achieved by introducing the first and second satellite antenna controllers, the second transceiver tracking satellite antenna, the first and second groups of n modems, an on-board computer with special software and an operation algorithm, a WI-FI access point, the first and second blocks thermostat and start, the first and second RF (high-frequency) splitters, the first, second and third RF switches, n satellite receivers and n modulators with appropriate connections.

The claimed set of elements and connections allows to achieve the goal due to the original combination of instruments and devices used in telecommunication networks, both in their direct and in non-standard applications.

The invention is illustrated graphically:

On FIG. 1. shows the general structural diagram of the system.

On FIG. 2 shows the algorithm of the system, where

- A - signal-to-noise ratio of the receiving signal Rx of the first antenna;

- B - signal-to-noise ratio of the receiving signal Rx of the second antenna;

- set-up A - turn on the first antenna;

- set-up B - turn on the second antenna;

- set-dn A - turn off the first antenna;

- set-dn B - turn off the second antenna;

- delay - delay.

On FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the start-up (on/off) and temperature control in satellite dishes.

On FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of switching satellite services.

On FIG. 5. shows a block diagram of the formation of a satellite television multiplex for the consumer.

The system for organizing satellite communications in water transport includes the first 1 and second 2 receiving and transmitting tracking satellite antenna (hereinafter referred to as the antenna), the first 3 and second 4 blocks of the thermostat and start, the first 5, second 6 and third 7 HF switches (hereinafter referred to as switches), first 8 and second 9 antenna controllers, 10 repeater satellites in geostationary and highly elliptical orbits, GSM subsystem with modem 11, terrestrial telecommunications environment of the Internet 12, first 13 and second 14 groups of modems, consumers (desktop) 15, router 16, on-board computer 17, first 18 and second 19 HF splitters, (hereinafter splitters) n satellite receivers 20, n modulators 21, first 22, second 23, third 24, fourth 25 and fifth 26 communication channels, WI-FI access point 27, inmarsat subsystem 28 .

The first 1 and second 2 satellite antennas with the first 8 and second 9 controllers, respectively, are separate complexes for providing in motion the reception and transmission (communication) of the satellite frequency signal to the satellite relays 20, through the communication channels 21 and 22. Structurally, the antenna housings are made radio transparent for the satellite frequency range and can have a dome shape, which contributes to the rolling of precipitation from the surface, as a result, the signal is not attenuated.

The first 3 and second 4 blocks of the thermostat and start-up are structurally the same and are schematically made as follows (Fig. 3). Directly in the block there is an element of the temperature controller and an element for starting (on / off) the controller and, accordingly, the antenna. A thermostat unit, such as the Temperature Controller XH-W3001, also contains a temperature sensor. A heating element with a fan, for example, models Fan heater type.HVL 03. The temperature sensor and the heating element with a fan are located in the satellite dish housing. The trigger element provides a prohibition to turn on the antenna, for example, at an ambient temperature below -22°C and turns it on when the temperature reaches above -22°C. Moreover, the trigger element is connected to the thermostat element and the controller and can be made by any known method, for example, based on a comparator and a power relay.

Inmarsat subsystem 28, GSM subsystem with modem 11 and WI-FI access point 27 are made by any known method

The on-board computer 17 is supplemented with the necessary input-output devices and special software that controls the system as a whole according to a certain algorithm (Fig. 2), and the system also provides remote access.

The first 5, second 6 and third 7 switches (for example, Agilent's coaxial switch) are designed to switch RF signals for receiving Rx and transmitting Tx (Rx-Recieve - reception and Tx-Transmit - transmission). The switches have n inputs, one output and a control input, through which the on-board computer switches one of the n inputs to the output.

The first 18 and second 19 splitters (dividers) of the high-frequency signal have one input and n+1 equivalent outputs.

The first 13 and second 14 groups have the same set of different types of modems (Fig. 4). The group contains n modems, where n is equal to the number of satellite Internet service technologies.

The first 1 and second 2 transceiver satellite antennas are connected by the first inputs and connected to the first outputs of the first 3 and second 4 blocks of thermostats and start, the second inputs are connected to the outputs of the first 5 and second 6 switches, and the inputs/outputs are connected to the input/output of the first 8 and second 9 antenna controllers, respectively, with 1 and 2 antennas through the first 22 and fourth 25 communication channels, respectively, connected to satellites by repeaters 10 located in geostationary and highly elliptical orbits, the second outputs of the first 3 and second 4 blocks of temperature controllers are connected to the first inputs of the first 8 and second 9 controllers, respectively, Rx outputs of which are connected to the first 18 and second 19 splitters, respectively, and the inputs/outputs are connected (via USB or COM port) to the first and second input/outputs of the on-board computer 17, respectively, n Rx outputs of the first splitter 18 are connected to n Rx inputs of the first group of modems 13, n Tx outputs of which are connected to the corresponding n T x inputs of the first switch 5, the control input of which is connected to the first output of the on-board computer 17, the third output of which is connected to the control input of the third switch 7, the first input of which is connected to the n+1 output of the first splitter 18, the second input to the n+1 output of the second splitter 19, and with n outputs it is connected to the corresponding n inputs of the receiver blocks 20, the n outputs of which are connected to the corresponding first n inputs of the group of modulators 21, while the modulators are connected according to the scheme, the output of the previous one is connected to the input of the next one, and the output of the last n modulator is connected to the input 15 , the first input/output of which is connected to the first input/output of the router 16, the second input/output of which is connected to the first input/output of the inmarsat subsystem 28, the second input/output of which, through the second communication channel 23, is connected to the satellite repeaters 10, the GSM subsystem 11 is the first input/output through the third communication channel 24 is connected to the terrestrial telecommunications environment of the Internet 12, and the second the th input/output is connected to the third input/output of the router 16, the 1-m inputs/outputs of which are connected to the 1-m inputs/outputs of the first group of modems 13, and the 1-to inputs/outputs are connected to the 1-to inputs/outputs of the second group modems 14, the second input / output of the consumer 15, through the fifth communication channel 26 is connected to the first input / output of the WI-FI access point 27, the second input / output of which is connected to the fourth input / output of the router 16, is connected to the fifth input / output of the router 16 the third input/output of the on-board computer 17, the second output of which is connected to the control input of the second switch 6, the n inputs Tx of which are connected to the n outputs Tx of the second group of modems 14, the n inputs of which are connected to the n outputs of the second splitter 19.

The system is designed as follows. On water transport, for example, a sea vessel (ship) on the stern and bow parts on racks with a height of more than 1.5 meters, the first 1 and second 2 transceiver tracking satellite antennas are installed, respectively. They also install external GSM and Inmarsat antennas. The rest of the equipment is located in the interior of the ship, for example, in the technical compartment

The system for organizing satellite communications in water transport operates as follows.

With the help of two satellite receiving-transmitting tracking antennas, through communication channels, reception and transmission are carried out in the Ku or Ka frequency bands, through satellite repeaters located in geostationary or highly elliptical orbits, and to ensure a stable path, one antenna is mounted on the stern of the vessel, and the second - on the bow. Also, for faster antenna pointing at the satellite, the network identifier of the NID (Network ID) modulated television carrier and the signal from the ship's gyrocompass are used, which are guaranteed to identify the given satellite. Since services differ on different satellites, sets of modems (iDirect, Newtec, Gilat, Istar, etc.) are used that support the necessary Internet access technologies. Together with a router and an on-board computer with special software and algorithm, the operation of the system as a whole is ensured both in automatic mode and manually with remote access. At the same time, modems are registered in advance in different service networks, and the router is programmed. The on-board computer stores information about repeater satellites and when the ship moves from the coverage area of one satellite to the coverage area of another, the service services change, while the modem whose service service matches the satellite will be activated, and other modems become passive. When one of the antennas is shaded, the system, according to the algorithm (Fig. 2), switches to an unshaded antenna. Moreover, the transmission mode is blocked on the shaded antenna. If both antennas are in the visibility range of one or more satellites and, accordingly, there are several communication channels, the system allows you to combine several physical channels into one logical one, which increases the throughput and reliability of the channel, proportionally distributing network traffic.

Further, the system receives a signal from the satellite containing television channels and, using satellite receivers and modulators, converts it into a multiplex, which is used for playback on consumers' television receivers. When the ship is in low temperature conditions, a start-up and temperature control unit is used in the antennas. For emergency communications, the Inmarsat subsystem is used, and in ports and coastal areas where land mobile communications are available, the GSM (3G, LTE, 5G) subsystem is used to communicate with selected mobile operators.

Thus, the system installed on the ship, in motion and at stops, provides high-speed Internet access for consumers, such services as digital television, IP telephony, video conferencing, transmission and reception of various types of information, etc.

The invention meets the criterion of "inventive step", as it includes a set of essential features with appropriate connections, namely the first and second controllers of satellite antennas, the second transceiver tracking satellite antenna, the first and second groups of n modems, on-board computer with special software and algorithm , WI-FI access point, the first and second blocks of thermostats and start, the first and second RF splitters, the first, second and third RF keys, n satellite receivers, n modulators.

The technical solution is "new", since the specified set of essential features make it possible to organize satellite communications on a mobile object, and when changing service after moving from the coverage area of one repeater satellite to another, the system automatically switches to the corresponding service service.

The claimed system for organizing satellite communications in water transport can be implemented using existing apparatus and equipment, electrical engineering and communications, telecommunications, computer technology and is "industrially applicable".

1. URL: https://www.livewire-connections.com/sites/default/files/files/documents/SeaTel-Arbitrator.pdf

2. RF patent No. 2652424, IPC H04L 12/925, H04H 20/74, H04H 40/90, H04F 7/20.

3. RF patent No. 2633911, IPC G01C 21/00 (prototype).

Claims (3)

1. The system for organizing satellite communications in water transport consists of the first receiving and transmitting tracking antenna, which provides communication on the move in the satellite frequency range, the satellite communication subsystem of the Inmarsat type, the subsystem of the terrestrial infrastructure of cellular GSM operators, and the first antenna through the first communication channel connected to repeater satellites located in geostationary or highly elliptical orbits, an Ethernet router, the first input/output of which is connected to the first input/output of the workstation, the second input/output is connected to the Inmarsat subsystem, and the third input/output is connected to the GSM subsystem , while the communication subsystem "Inmarsat" through the second communication channel is connected to the repeater satellites, and the GSM subsystem through the third communication channel is connected to the terrestrial telecommunication environment of the Internet, characterized in that it includes the first and second controllers of satellite antennas, the second transceiver tracking satellite antenna, first and second groups of n modems, on-board computer with special software, WI-FI access point, first and second thermostatic and start units, first and second RF splitters, first, second and third RF switches, n satellite receivers and n modulators, and the second antenna through the fourth communication channel is connected to satellites located in geostationary or highly elliptical orbits, and the first and second satellite antennas are connected by the first inputs to the first outputs of the first and second blocks of temperature controllers and launch, respectively, the second inputs are connected to the outputs of the first and second RF switches, respectively, and the Rx inputs/outputs are connected to the first Rx inputs/outputs of the first and second satellite antenna controllers, respectively, and the second input/output of the first controller is connected to the first input/output of the on-board computer, the second input/output of which is connected to the second input/output second controller, while the second outputs of the first th and second blocks of thermostats and start are connected to the inputs of the first and second controllers, respectively, the Rx output of the first controller is connected to the Rx input of the first RF splitter, n + 1 output of which is connected to the first input of the third RF switch, the second input of which is connected to n + 1 outputs of the second RF splitter, n outputs of the first RF splitter are connected to the corresponding n inputs Rx of the first group of modems, n outputs Tx of which are connected to the corresponding n inputs Tx of the first RF switch, and n outputs of the third RF switch are connected to n inputs of satellite receivers, n outputs of which are connected with the corresponding n inputs of the group of modulators, while the modulators are connected according to the scheme, the output of the previous one to the second input of the next one, and from the output of the last n modulator, the formed television multiplex goes to the consumer, the second input/output of which is connected through the fifth communication channel to the first input/output WI- FI access point, the second input / output of which is associated with the fourth input 1 - m 1 - k inputs / outputs of the router are connected to 1 - m 1 - k inputs / outputs of the first and second groups of n modems, respectively, and the fifth input / output is connected to the third input / output of the on-board computer, the first the second and third outputs of which are connected to the corresponding control inputs of the first, second and third RF switches, the second controller is connected by its Rx output to the Rx input of the second RF splitter, n Rx outputs of which are connected to the corresponding n Rx inputs of the second group of modems, n outputs Tx of which are connected to corresponding to n Tx inputs of the second RF switch, moreover, satellite controllers and antennas have a network identifier NID system, which is guaranteed to determine the pointing to a given satellite. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second antennas are mounted on water transport, taking into account the exclusion of zones of their simultaneous shading, while the router, on-board computer with special software and operation algorithm and a group of modems with the corresponding Internet services when changing service platforms after the vessel moves from the coverage area of one repeater satellite to the coverage area of another, ensure the operation of the system as a whole in automatic mode, in addition, remote and manual access to the system is provided, and if the capture signal on the modem is lost, the system blocks the radiation mode. 3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that when the first and second antennas are in the coverage area of one or more satellites and, accordingly, there are several communication channels, the system allows you to combine several physical channels into one logical one, which increases the throughput and reliability of the channel , proportionally distributing network traffic.

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