System and method for managing return channel bandwidth in a two-way satellite system

• US 20020004369A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kelly, Frank, Kloper, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,650,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18528 Satellite systems for providing two-way communications service to a network of fixed stations, i.e. fixed satellite service or very small aperture terminal [VSAT] system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access
• 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 7/18597 Arrangements for system physical machines management, i.e. for construction, operations control, administration, maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2125 Synchronisation

Abstract

A system for managing return channel bandwidth in a two-way satellite communication network is disclosed. A plurality of transceivers are configured to transmit backlog information over a return channel via a satellite. The backlog information specifies an amount of queued traffic for the respective transceivers. A hub is configured to receive the backlog information and to allocate a predetermined amount of return channel bandwidth to each of the plurality of transceivers. The hub determines whether additional return channel bandwidth is available to accommodate a remaining backlog such that a bandwidth allocation amount is set to a level associated with one of the plurality of transceivers having the largest backlog. The hub selectively identifies a transceiver among the plurality of transceivers having a next largest backlog based upon the determined available return channel bandwidth. The hub selectively adjusts the bandwidth allocation amount to a level associated with the transceiver with the next largest backlog. The hub allocates the additional return channel bandwidth to the plurality of transceivers based upon the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount if the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount reduces at least a portion of the backlog of the plurality of transceivers.

Claims

1. A method for managing return channel bandwidth in a two-way satellite communication system, the method comprising:

receiving backlog information corresponding to a plurality of transceivers, each of the transceivers being configured to transmit respective backlog information over a return channel via a satellite, the backlog information specifying an amount of queued traffic for the respective transceivers;

allocating a predetermined amount of return channel bandwidth to each of the plurality of transceivers;

determining whether additional return channel bandwidth is available to accommodate a remaining backlog such that a bandwidth allocation amount is set based upon a level associated with one of the plurality of transceivers having the largest backlog;

selectively identifying a transceiver among the plurality of transceivers having a next largest backlog based upon the determining step;

selectively adjusting the bandwidth allocation amount based upon a level associated with the transceiver with the next largest backlog; and

allocating the additional return channel bandwidth to the plurality of transceivers based upon the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount if the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount reduces at least a portion of the backlog of the plurality of transceivers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving an inroute packet from each of the plurality of transceivers, wherein the backlog information is contained in a Backlog field of the inroute packet.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the Backlog field in the inroute packet in the receiving step specifies in bytes the amount of backlog.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting an inroute acknowledgement packet in response to the received inroute packet.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the steps of allocating comprises transmitting a bandwidth allocation packet that specifies a respective bandwidth allocation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the return channel in the receiving step supports communication with a hub that is connected to packet switched network.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transceivers are grouped as inroute groups.

9. A system for managing return channel bandwidth in a two-way satellite communication network, the system comprising:

a plurality of transceivers configured to transmit backlog information over a return channel via a satellite, the backlog information specifying an amount of queued traffic for the respective transceivers; and

a hub configured to receive the backlog information and to allocate a predetermined amount of return channel bandwidth to each of the plurality of transceivers,

wherein the hub determines whether additional return channel bandwidth is available to accommodate a remaining backlog such that a bandwidth allocation amount is set based upon a level associated with one of the plurality of transceivers having the largest backlog, the hub selectively identifying a transceiver among the plurality of transceivers having a next largest backlog based upon the determined available return channel bandwidth and selectively adjusting the bandwidth allocation amount based upon a level associated with the transceiver with the next largest backlog, the hub allocating the additional return channel bandwidth to the plurality of transceivers based upon the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount if the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount reduces at least a portion of the backlog of the plurality of transceivers.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of transceivers is configured to transmit an inroute packet having a Backlog field containing the backlog information.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the Backlog field in the inroute packet specifies in bytes the amount of backlog.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the hub is configured to transmit an inroute acknowledgement packet in response to the received inroute packet.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the hub transmits a bandwidth allocation packet that specifies a respective bandwidth allocation.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the hub that is connected to packet switched network.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of transceivers are grouped as inroute groups.

17. A system for managing return channel bandwidth in a two-way satellite communication network, the system comprising:

means for receiving backlog information corresponding to a plurality of transceivers, each of the transceivers being configured to transmit respective backlog information over a return channel via a satellite, the backlog information specifying an amount of queued traffic for the respective transceivers;

means for allocating a predetermined amount of return channel bandwidth to each of the plurality of transceivers;

means for determining whether additional return channel bandwidth is available to accommodate a remaining backlog such that a bandwidth allocation amount is set based upon a level associated with one of the plurality of transceivers having the largest backlog;

means for selectively identifying a transceiver among the plurality of transceivers having a next largest backlog based upon the determined additional return channel bandwidth;

means for selectively adjusting the bandwidth allocation amount based upon a level associated with the transceiver with the next largest backlog; and

means for allocating the additional return channel bandwidth to the plurality of transceivers based upon the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount if the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount reduces at least a portion of the backlog of the plurality of transceivers.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the receiving means is configured to receive an inroute packet from each of the plurality of transceivers, wherein the backlog information is contained in a Backlog field of the inroute packet.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the Backlog field in the inroute packet specifies in bytes the amount of backlog.

20. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for transmitting an inroute acknowledgement packet in response to the received inroute packet.

21. The system according to claim 17, further comprises means for transmitting a bandwidth allocation packet that specifies a respective bandwidth allocation.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the return channel supports communication with a hub that is connected to packet switched network.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of transceivers are grouped as inroute groups.

25. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for managing return channel bandwidth in a two-way satellite communication system, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving backlog information corresponding to a plurality of transceivers, each of the transceivers being configured to transmit respective backlog information over a return channel via a satellite, the backlog information specifying an amount of queued traffic for the respective transceivers;

allocating a predetermined amount of return channel bandwidth to each of the plurality of transceivers;

determining whether additional return channel bandwidth is available to accommodate a remaining backlog such that a bandwidth allocation amount is set based upon a level associated with one of the plurality of transceivers having the largest backlog;

selectively identifying a transceiver among the plurality of transceivers having a next largest backlog based upon the determining step;

selectively adjusting the bandwidth allocation amount based upon a level associated with the transceiver with the next largest backlog; and

allocating the additional return channel bandwidth to the plurality of transceivers based upon the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount if the adjusted bandwidth allocation amount reduces at least a portion of the backlog of the plurality of transceivers.

26. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving an inroute packet from each of the plurality of transceivers, wherein the backlog information is contained in a Backlog field of the inroute packet.

27. The computer-readable medium according to claim 26, wherein the Backlog field in the inroute packet in the receiving step specifies in bytes the amount of backlog.

28. The computer-readable medium according to claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting an inroute acknowledgement packet in response to the received inroute packet.

29. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein each of the steps of allocating comprises transmitting a bandwidth allocation packet that specifies a respective bandwidth allocation.

30. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein the return channel in the receiving step supports communication with a hub that is connected to packet switched network.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of transceivers are grouped as inroute groups.