Mobile network node routing

• US 10,264,509 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Torres, Robert, Choquette, George Joseph, Eagling, Trevor Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US15/281,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20180092020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18519 Operations control, administration or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18584 Arrangements for data networking, i.e. for data packet routing, for congestion control data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/021 Ensuring consistency of routing table updates, e.g. by using epoch numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/18 based on predicted events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A telecommunication system includes a resource manager programmed to determine a future location of a first mobile node and a future location of a second mobile node. The resource manager updates a routing table with the future location of the first mobile node and the future location of the second mobile node and transmits the routing table for upload to the first mobile node and the second mobile node.

Claims

1. A resource manager computer for a telecommunication system, the resource manager computer comprising:

a memory; and

a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory, wherein, as a result of executing the instructions, the processor;

determines a future location of a first mobile node, wherein the future location of the first mobile node is a location of the first mobile node at a future time,

determines a future location of a second mobile node, wherein the future location of the second mobile node is a location where the second mobile node will be in communication with the first mobile node at the future time,

associates the future location of the first mobile node and the future location of the second mobile node to the future time,

determines a routing path that includes communication between the first mobile node and the second mobile node at the future time,

updates a routing table with the routing path, and

transmits the routing table for upload to the first mobile node and the second mobile node.

2. The resource manager computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the routing table for upload to the first mobile node and the second mobile node prior to the future time.

3. The resource manager computer of claim 1, wherein the first and second mobile nodes are incorporated into satellites and wherein the processor is programmed to determine the future locations of the first and second mobile nodes based on an orbit path associated with each of the first and second mobile nodes.

4. The resource manager computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to determine a ground coverage associated with each of the first and second mobile nodes at the future locations of the first and second mobile nodes and generate the routing table based at least in part on the future locations and ground coverage of each of the first and second mobile nodes.

5. The resource manager computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to determine a plurality of future locations of the first mobile node and a plurality of future locations of the second mobile node, associate each future location with a future time, and generate the routing table based at least in part on the plurality of future locations of the first mobile node, the plurality of future locations of the second mobile node, and the future time that the first and second mobile nodes will be at each of the future locations.

6. The resource manager computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the routing table to a system gateway programmed to upload the routing table to the first and second mobile nodes.

7. A method comprising:

determining, via a resource manager of a telecommunication system, a future location of a first mobile node, wherein the future location of the first mobile node is a location of the first mobile node at a future time;

determining a future location of a second mobile node, wherein the future location of the second mobile node is a location where the second mobile node will be in communication with the first mobile node at the future time;

associating the future location of the first mobile node and the future location of the second mobile node to the future time;

determining a routing path that includes communication between the first mobile node and the second mobile node at the future time;

updating a routing table with the routing path; and

transmitting the routing table for upload to the first mobile node and the second mobile node.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the routing table for upload to the first mobile node and the second mobile node includes transmitting the routing table prior to the future time.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the future locations of the first and second mobile nodes is based at least in part on an orbit path associated with each of the first and second mobile nodes.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining a ground coverage associated with each of the first and second mobile nodes at the future locations of the first and second mobile nodes; and

generating the routing table based at least in part on the future locations and ground coverage of each of the first and second mobile nodes.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the future locations of the first mobile node and the second mobile node include determining a plurality of future locations of the first mobile node and a plurality of future locations of the second mobile node, and the method further comprising:

associating each future location with a future time; and

generating the routing table based at least in part on the plurality of future locations of the first mobile node, the plurality of future locations of the second mobile node, and the future time that the first and second mobile nodes will be at each of the future locations.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the routing table includes transmitting the routing table to a system gateway programmed to upload the routing table to the first and second mobile nodes.

13. A telecommunication system comprising:

a first satellite following a first orbit;

a second satellite following a second orbit different from the first orbit;

a system gateway in periodic communication with the first satellite and the second satellite; and

a resource manager programmed to determine a future location of a first satellite, determine a future location of a second satellite, wherein the future location of the first satellite is a location of the first satellite at a future time and wherein the future location of the second satellite is a location where the second satellite will be in communication with the first satellite at the future time,

wherein the resource manager is further programmed to associate the future location of the first satellite and the future location of the second satellite to the future time, determine a routing path that includes communication between the first satellite and the second satellite at the future time, update a routing table with the routing path, and transmit the routing table to the system gateway,

wherein the system gateway is programmed to upload the routing table to the first satellite and to the second satellite, and

wherein the first satellite and second satellite are programmed to communicate in accordance with the routing path at the future time.

14. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein the resource manager is programmed to transmit the routing table to the system gateway prior to the future time, wherein the system gateway is programmed to upload the routing table to the first satellite and the second satellite prior to the future time.

15. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein the resource manager is programmed to determine a ground coverage associated with each of the first and second satellites at the future locations of the first and second satellites and generate the routing table based at least in part on the future locations and ground coverage of each of the first and second satellites.

16. The telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein the resource manager is programmed to determine a plurality of future locations of the first satellite and a plurality of future locations of the second satellite, associate each future location with a future time, and generate the routing table based at least in part on the plurality of future locations of the first satellite, the plurality of future locations of the second satellite, and the future time that the first and second satellites will be at each of the future locations.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 13, further comprising a ground-based node at a fixed location, wherein the resource manager is programmed to generate the routing table according to the future location of the first satellite, the future location of the second satellite, and the fixed location of the ground-based node.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 13, wherein the resource manager is programmed to incorporate at least one alternative routing path into the routing table, associate each alternative routing path to a predetermined characteristic, and wherein at least one of the first satellite and the second satellite is programmed to select the alternative routing path in accordance with the predetermined characteristic.