US-12621050-B2 - Satellites having broadband and narrowband communication hardware

Abstract

Examples are provided that relate to satellites utilizing both a narrowband communication channel and a broadband communication channel. One example provides a satellite comprising narrowband communication hardware configured to communicate on a control plane over a narrowband communication channel using an omnidirectional antenna. The satellite further comprises broadband communication hardware configured to communicate on a data plane over a broadband communication channel using a beamforming antenna.

Inventors

• Tusher Chakraborty
• Ranveer Chandra
• Vaibhav Singh

Assignees

• MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230424

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A satellite comprising: narrowband communication hardware configured to communicate on a control plane over a narrowband communication channel using an omnidirectional antenna; broadband communication hardware configured to communicate on a data plane over a broadband communication channel using a beamforming antenna; and a logic subsystem comprising a processor and a storage device comprising instructions operable by the logic subsystem to broadcast a beacon at a first frequency of the narrowband communication channel, and to broadcast the beacon at a second frequency of the narrowband communication channel after broadcasting at the first frequency.
2. 2 . The satellite of claim 1 , wherein the satellite is configured to provide broadband Internet.
3. 3 . The satellite of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further operable by the processor to communicate the beacon on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel between the satellite and an endpoint; communicate a network join request on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel between the satellite and the endpoint; and communicate data on the data plane over the broadband communication channel between the satellite and the endpoint.
4. 4 . The satellite of claim 3 , wherein the instructions further are operable to detect a signal strength of the data on the data plane over the broadband communication channel reaching a signal threshold condition, and in response, communicate a handover control message on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel.
5. 5 . The satellite of claim 4 , wherein the broadband communication channel is a first broadband communication channel, and the instructions are further operable to communicate the data on the data plane over a second broadband communication channel in response to the handover control message.
6. 6 . The satellite of claim 4 , wherein the instructions are further operable to communicate handover execution messages over an inter-satellite link between the satellite and another satellite in response to the handover control message.
7. 7 . A method comprising: communicating a beacon on a control plane over a narrowband communication channel between a satellite and an endpoint; communicating a network join request, based at least upon the beacon, on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel between the satellite and the endpoint; and communicating data on a data plane over a broadband communication channel between the satellite and the endpoint.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein communicating the beacon on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel comprises broadcasting the beacon at a frequency of the narrowband communication channel.
9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the frequency is a first frequency, and communicating the beacon on the control plane further comprises broadcasting the beacon at a second frequency of the narrowband communication channel after broadcasting the beacon at the first frequency.
10. 10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the beacon comprises an image having a plurality of pixels, and each pixel of the plurality of pixels comprises information relating a join frequency to a geographical area corresponding to the pixel.
11. 11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising communicating a network join response on the control plane after communicating the network join request on the control plane.
12. 12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising, detecting a signal strength of the data on the data plane over the broadband communication channel reaching a signal threshold condition, and in response, communicating a handover control message on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel.
13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the broadband communication channel is a first broadband communication channel, and the method further comprises communicating the data on the data plane over a second broadband communication channel in response to the handover control message.
14. 14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the satellite is a first satellite, and the method further comprises communicating handover execution messages over an inter-satellite link between the first satellite and a second satellite in response to the handover control message.
15. 15 . A device, comprising: narrowband communication hardware configured to communicate on a control plane over a narrowband communication channel with a satellite; broadband communication hardware configured to communicate on a data plane over a broadband communication channel with the satellite; a processor; and a storage device comprising instructions operable by the processor to: communicate a beacon on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel between the device and the satellite, communicate a network join request, based at least upon the beacon, on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel between the device and the satellite, and communicate data on the data plane over the broadband communication channel between the device and the satellite.
16. 16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the device comprises one or more of a phone, a tablet, or a laptop.
17. 17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the device is configured to be incorporated into a vehicle.
18. 18 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further are operable to detect a signal strength of the data on the data plane over the broadband communication channel reaching a signal threshold condition, and in response, communicate a handover control message on the control plane over the narrowband communication channel.
19. 19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the broadband communication channel is a first broadband communication channel, and the instructions are further operable to communicate the data on the data plane over a second broadband communication channel with the satellite in response to the handover control message.

Description

BACKGROUND Many satellites use broadband radio to communicate with one or more endpoint(s), such as to provide Internet connectivity. Such satellites can communicate over a plurality of broadband communication channels using a corresponding plurality of beamforming antennas. However, beamforming antennas can have a relatively narrow coverage area that move along with the satellite. As such, an endpoint can be in a coverage area of a broadband communication channel for a relatively short period of time. SUMMARY One example provides a satellite comprising narrowband communication hardware configured to communicate on a control plane over a narrowband communication channel using an omnidirectional antenna. The satellite further comprises broadband communication hardware configured to communicate on a data plane over a broadband communication channel using a beamforming antenna. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 schematically shows an example satellite communication system. FIGS. 2A-2B schematically show example movement of a satellite relative to an endpoint. FIGS. 3A-3B schematically show example movement of an endpoint relative to a satellite. FIG. 4A shows a block diagram of an example satellite. FIG. 4B shows a block diagram of an example device for use as an endpoint. FIG. 5 schematically shows an example communication diagram for a network bootstrapping protocol between an endpoint and a satellite. FIG. 6 shows an example beacon used in the network bootstrapping protocol of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 schematically shows an example communication diagram for a handover protocol between two broadband cells of a single satellite. FIG. 8 schematically shows an example communication diagram for a handover protocol between different satellites. FIG. 9 shows a flow diagram of an example method for operating a satellite with both narrowband and broadband communication channels. FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of an example computing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As previously mentioned, a communication satellite can communicate over broadband communication channels using corresponding beamforming antennas. The broadband channels can be used to implement a data plane over which the communication satellite communicates with an endpoint. However, due to movement of the satellite and/or movement of the endpoint, a coverage area of the broadband communication channel is generally within range of the endpoint for only a period of time. As such, the communication satellite can be configured to perform a handover protocol to transfer the data plane with the endpoint from the one broadband communication channel to another broadband communication channel. In the handover protocol, the communication satellite can communicate control messages on a control plane. However, communicating the control plane over the broadband communication channel presents several challenges. First, coverage areas of the different broadband communication channels may not overlap. Therefore, the broadband communication channel may be out of range of the endpoint before the handover protocol is completed. An incomplete handover protocol can result in a dropped connection between the communication satellite and the endpoint. Further, the broadband communication channel may be in range of the endpoint for around eight minutes or less. Performing handover protocols at such a frequency can lead to an unsuitably high probability of the handover protocol not completing and resulting in a dropped connection during one or more handovers. Further, while satellite communications continue to grow in popularity, the radiofrequency spectrum is a finite resource. Thus, the continuing increase in the use of satellite-based broadband communication is increasing demands on the radiofrequency spectrum. Terrestrial networks and satellite networks may use the same band of the radiofrequency spectrum. However, many of the terrestrial networks are priority users of the bands of the radiofrequency spectrum. As such, satellite networks are designed to avoid causing harmful interference to the terrestrial networks. Further, the satellite networks may not be provided protection from the terrestrial networks, such as from radio interference. As such, information on the control plane can be lost due to interference with the terrestrial network. This can disrupt a connection to a satellite network. Accordingly, examples are disclosed that relate to utilizing a narrowband communication channel for a control plane i