Low power mode in a satellite-based broadcast data service

• US 10,425,890 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Jr., James William, Miller, Corey Alan, Topping, Thomas Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Talukder, MD K
• Application Number:
  US15/444,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20170171808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/426 Receiver side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0203 in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A satellite system controller for a satellite system can comprise a receiving module, an interval selector, an epoch selector, and a scheduler. The receiving module can receive, from a transmission originator device, a set interval request message requesting the satellite system controller set a transmission interval and an epoch time for a satellite receiver, the transmission interval being an amount of time the satellite receiver is to remain in a sleep mode between expected transmissions and the epoch time being an instant at which the satellite receiver is to expect a satellite transmission. The interval selector can determine, based on the transmission interval, a sleep mode cycle for the satellite receiver. The epoch selector can select the epoch time according to the sleep mode cycle and the scheduler can schedule the satellite transmission with the satellite system at approximately the epoch time and according to the sleep mode cycle.

Claims

1. A satellite receiver, comprising:

a satellite receiver controller to retrieve a transmission interval and an epoch time from a wakeup list, select a next wakeup time, enter a sleep mode according to said transmission interval, exit said sleep mode according to said transmission interval, and receive a satellite transmission according to said epoch time;

wherein said transmission interval is an amount of time said satellite receiver is to remain in said sleep mode between expected transmissions and said epoch time is an instant, after the satellite receiver awakes from the sleep mode, at which said satellite receiver expects broadcasts to be transmitted.

2. The satellite receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reception module to receive a satellite transmission including said transmission interval and said epoch time;

wherein said satellite receiver controller enters said transmission interval and said epoch time in said wakeup time list.

3. The satellite receiver according to claim 1, wherein an epoch selector at a remote broadcast controller determines a least-loaded epoch time as a basis for selecting said epoch time.

4. The satellite receiver according to claim 3, wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time based on a number of broadcast groups utilizing said epoch time.

5. The satellite receiver according to claim 3, wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time based on an intersection of available epoch times according to said transmission interval and one or more in-use epoch times.

6. The satellite receiver according to claim 3, wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time for a broadcast group.

7. The satellite receiver according to claim 1, wherein an interval selector at a remote broadcast controller determines said sleep mode cycle based on a native time scale of said satellite system.

8. A satellite receiver communication method, comprising:

retrieving, with a satellite receiver controller of said satellite receiver, a transmission interval and an epoch time from a wakeup list, said transmission interval being an amount of time said satellite receiver is to remain in a sleep mode between expected transmissions and said epoch time being an instant, after the satellite receiver awakes from the sleep mode, at which said satellite receiver expects broadcasts to be transmitted;

entering said sleep mode according to said transmission interval;

exiting said sleep mode according to said transmission interval; and

receiving a satellite transmission according to said epoch time.

9. The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a satellite transmission including said transmission interval and said epoch time; and

entering said transmission interval and said epoch time in said wakeup time list.

10. The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 8, further comprising determining, via a remote broadcast controller, a least-loaded epoch time as a basis for selecting said epoch time.

11. The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 8, wherein said epoch time is selected based on a number of broadcast groups utilizing said epoch time.

12. The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 8, wherein said epoch time is selected based on an intersection of available epoch times according to said transmission interval and one or more in-use epoch times.

13. The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 8, wherein said epoch time is selected for a broadcast group.

14. The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 8, further comprising determining said sleep mode cycle based on a native time scale of said satellite system.