Dynamic bandwidth resource allocation for satellite downlinks
First Claim
1. A method for modulator balancing in a multi-beam satellite communications network, the method comprising:
- monitoring a traffic load on a first modulator of a plurality of modulators on a satellite, the first modulator serving a plurality of beams of the satellite;
determining that the traffic load exceeds a load threshold for the first modulator;
identifying, responsive to the determination that the traffic load exceeds the load threshold, one or more of the plurality of beams served by the first modulator that may be moved to a second modulator of the plurality of modulators while maintaining a traffic load on the second modulator below a load threshold for the second modulator; and
selecting a beam of the one or more of the plurality of beams to be moved to the second modulator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system is configured to dynamically allocate bandwidth among different downlink beams. The satellite may receive and compile traffic measurements and terminal parameters. The satellite may be configured with different downlink beam coverage areas, and may dynamically allocate downlink bandwidth and particular frequency channels to different beam coverage areas based on the measurements and parameters. The satellite may also assign frequency channels and time slots based on such measurements and parameters.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for modulator balancing in a multi-beam satellite communications network, the method comprising:
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monitoring a traffic load on a first modulator of a plurality of modulators on a satellite, the first modulator serving a plurality of beams of the satellite; determining that the traffic load exceeds a load threshold for the first modulator; identifying, responsive to the determination that the traffic load exceeds the load threshold, one or more of the plurality of beams served by the first modulator that may be moved to a second modulator of the plurality of modulators while maintaining a traffic load on the second modulator below a load threshold for the second modulator; and selecting a beam of the one or more of the plurality of beams to be moved to the second modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for modulator balancing in a multi-beam satellite communications network, comprising:
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means for monitoring a traffic load on a first modulator of a plurality of modulators on a satellite, the first modulator serving a plurality of beams of the satellite; and means for determining that the traffic load exceeds a load threshold for the first modulator; means for determining whether one or more of the plurality of beams served by the first modulator may be moved to a second modulator of the plurality of modulators while maintaining a traffic load on the second modulator below a load threshold for the second modulator; and means for selecting a beam of the one or more of the plurality of beams to be assigned to the second modulator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for modulator balancing in a multi-beam satellite communications network, the method comprising:
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monitoring a traffic load on a first modulator of a plurality of modulators on a satellite, the first modulator serving a plurality of beams of the satellite; determining that the traffic load exceeds a load threshold for the first modulator; determining, responsive to the determination that the traffic load exceeds the load threshold, whether one or more modulation and coding groups of a beam of the plurality of beams served by the first modulator may be reassigned to a second modulator of the plurality of modulators while maintaining a traffic load on the second modulator below a load threshold for the second modulator; and rebalancing beam assignments for at least a subset of the plurality of modulators, wherein the rebalancing comprises assigning the one or more modulation and coding groups of the beam of the plurality of beams served by the first modulator to the second modulator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for modulator balancing in a multi-beam satellite communications network, comprising:
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means for monitoring a traffic load on a first modulator of a plurality of modulators on a satellite, the modulator serving a plurality of beams; means for determining that the traffic load exceeds a load threshold for the first modulator; and means for determining, responsive to the determination that the traffic load exceeds the load threshold, whether one or more modulation and coding groups of a beam of the plurality of beams served by the first modulator may be moved to a second modulator of the plurality of modulators while maintaining a traffic load on the second modulator below a load threshold for the second modulator; and means for rebalancing beam assignments for at least a subset of the plurality of modulators, wherein the rebalancing comprises assigning the one or more modulation and coding groups of the beam of the plurality of beams served by the first modulator to the second modulator. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification