WEATHER DETECTION USING SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SIGNALS

• US 20140300510A1
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Mills, Raymond L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,091,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/26.A
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/955 mounted on satellite
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/04 giving only separate indications of the variables measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 taking into account received signal strength

Abstract

Disclosed is a satellite weather detection system that uses atmospheric precipitation density data. Subscribers detect the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio of signals that are transmitted from the satellite. Upstream transmit power data is also collected, which is needed to achieve a given SNR at a gateway. The values of the downstream signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio data as well as the upstream transmit power data are normalized and compared with current atmospheric data. The data can be color coded and graphically displayed to show weather patterns. Location and velocity of high precipitation density cells can be tracked to predict movement of storms.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method for mitigation of service disruptions related to atmospheric conditions in a satellite communication system performed by a satellite control system, the method comprising:

receiving downstream signal level data based on signals transmitted from a satellite and received at a plurality of subscriber stations in a service area of a satellite;

processing the downstream signal level data to generate precipitation density information for each of a plurality of cells of the service area for each of a plurality of time periods;

calculating velocity and direction of movement of a storm based on the precipitation density information for the plurality of cells over the plurality of time periods to obtain predicted precipitation density information for the storm for at least one time period that is subsequent to the plurality of time periods;

predicting, for the at least one time period, that the storm will cause a service disruption for one or more subscriber stations of the plurality of subscriber stations; and

performing a mitigation action related to service for the one or more subscriber stations based on the predicted service disruption for the at least one time period.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the predicted service disruption comprises a disruption to communication of subscriber data between a gateway and the satellite based on the predicted precipitation density information for the storm; and

performing the mitigation action comprises routing, for the at least one time period, the subscriber data for communication between at least one other gateway and the satellite for communication with the one or more subscriber stations.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the predicted service disruption comprises a loss of service for the one or more subscriber stations; and

performing the mitigation action comprises sending alerts to the one or more subscriber stations indicating when the predicted loss of service will occur, the duration of the predicted loss of service, or a combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the downstream signal level data comprises at least one of signal-to-noise ratio data of the signals transmitted from the satellite and received at the plurality of subscriber stations, signal strength data of the signals transmitted from the satellite and received at the plurality of subscriber stations, or a combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein identifying cells of high precipitation density comprises:

normalizing the downstream signal level data by averaging the downstream signal level data over the plurality of time periods to produce averaged downstream signal level data;

comparing the downstream signal level data for a current time period with the averaged downstream signal level data to generate differential downstream signal level data that is representative of atmospheric precipitation density.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

identifying one of a plurality of atmospheric precipitation density levels for each of the plurality of cells for one or more of the plurality of time periods based on the differential downstream signal level data.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

graphically displaying the differential downstream signal level data to produce a graphical representation of the atmospheric precipitation density.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein normalizing the downstream signal level data further comprises:

averaging the averaged downstream signal level data for at least one of the plurality of cells with other average signal-to-noise ratio values for adjacent cells.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

processing, for each of the plurality of time periods, upstream signal level data to generate the precipitation density information for each of the plurality of cells of the satellite beam coverage area.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the precipitation density information is further based on differences of attenuation between the downstream signal level data and upstream signal level data.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein performing the mitigation action comprises conveying information related to movement of the storm to the one or more subscriber stations.

38. A system for mitigation of service disruptions related to atmospheric conditions in a satellite communication system, comprising:

a satellite control system configured to;

receive downstream signal level data based on signals transmitted from a satellite and received at a plurality of subscriber stations in a service area of a satellite;

process the downstream signal level data to generate precipitation density information for each of a plurality of cells of the service area for each of a plurality of time periods;

calculate velocity and direction of movement of a storm based on the precipitation density information for the plurality of cells over the plurality of time periods to obtain predicted precipitation density information for the storm for at least one time period that is subsequent to the plurality of time periods;

predict, for the at least one time period, that the storm will cause a service disruption for one or more subscriber stations of the plurality of subscriber stations; and

perform a mitigation action related to service for the one or more subscriber stations based on the predicted service disruption for the at least one time period.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the predicted service disruption comprises a disruption to communication of subscriber data between a gateway and the satellite based on the predicted precipitation density information for the storm, and wherein the satellite control system is configured to route, for the at least one time period, the subscriber data for communication between at least one other gateway and the satellite for communication with the one or more subscriber stations.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the predicted service disruption comprises a loss of service for the one or more subscriber stations, and wherein the satellite control system is configured to send alerts to the one or more subscriber stations indicating when the predicted loss of service will occur, the duration of the predicted loss of service, or a combination thereof.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the downstream signal level data comprises at least one of signal-to-noise ratio data of the signals transmitted from the satellite and received at the plurality of subscriber stations, signal strength data of the signals transmitted from the satellite and received at the plurality of subscriber stations, or a combination thereof.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the satellite control system is configured to:

normalize the downstream signal level data by averaging the downstream signal level data over the plurality of time periods to produce averaged downstream signal level data;

compare the downstream signal level data for a current time period with the averaged downstream signal level data to generate differential downstream signal level data that is representative of atmospheric precipitation density.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the satellite control system is configured to:

identify one of a plurality of atmospheric precipitation density levels for each of the plurality of cells for one or more of the plurality of time periods based on the differential downstream signal level data.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the satellite control system is configured to:

graphically display the differential downstream signal level data to produce a graphical representation of the atmospheric precipitation density.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the satellite control system is configured to:

average the averaged downstream signal level data for at least one of the plurality of cells with other average signal-to-noise ratio values for adjacent cells.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the satellite control system is configured to:

process, for each of the plurality of time periods, upstream signal level data to generate the precipitation density information for each of the plurality of cells of the satellite beam coverage area.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the precipitation density information is further based on differences of attenuation between the downstream signal level data and upstream signal level data.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the satellite control system is configured to convey information related to movement of the storm to the one or more subscriber stations.