Broadband Satellite System and Method

• US 20090059839A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comtech EF Data (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comtech EF Data (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehlers, John, Eymann, Steven, Reum, Phil
• Granted Patent: US 8,320,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/321
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access

Abstract

Implementations of broadband satellite systems may comprise systems implementing embodiments of one, two or all of the aspects of distributed leadership, distributed bandwidth allocation and distributed timing. In systems implementing distributed leadership aspects, the control and administration of the network can be effectively performed by any site. In systems implementing distributed bandwidth allocation aspects, all remote sites may act in concert by running the same algorithm on the information they have received, arriving at a harmonious conclusion. In systems implementing distributed timing aspects, time division multiple access (“TMDA”) bursts within timeslots may not require a central timing reference, a distributed high stability timing reference or a timing leader.

Claims

1. A method of establishing distributed leadership for a satellite communication network, the method comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to each of a plurality of remote sites in a communication network, each remote site configured for communication with at least one satellite;

storing bandwidth allocation parameters associated with each of the plurality of remote sites in memory at each of the plurality of remote sites;

wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites the method further comprising;

automatically searching for a communication network to join when the remote site is not actively participating in any communication network; and

automatically assuming leadership to form a new communication network if the remote site cannot find any communication network to join.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites the method further comprising:

tuning a receiver associated with the remote site to a predefined frequency to determine whether any communication network exists to join when the remote site is not actively participating in any communication network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites the method further comprising:

waiting until the remote site is asked to join the existing communication network before enabling a transmitter associated with the remote site.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites the method further comprising responding to the invitation to join after the transmitter is enabled.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites, if it finds a communication network to join, the method further comprising:

downloading a network table from a current network leader of the communication network and determining whether the remote site is to assume leadership of the communication network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites, if it finds a communication network to join, the method further comprising:

assuming leadership if the unique identifier for the remote site is lower than the unique identifier for all other remote sites participating in the communication network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites, if the remote site assumes leadership of the new communication network, the method further comprising:

identifying or loading a valid network table at the remote site;

determining whether other remote sites of the plurality of remote sites are included in the valid network table that are not currently participating in the network; and

submitting to the other remote sites not currently participating an invitation to join the new communication network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein for each of the plurality of remote sites, if any of the other remote sites not currently participating joins the new communication network, the method further comprising:

determining at the remote site whether to remain as the current network leader or relinquish leadership to one of the other remote sites of the plurality of remote sites.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein for any of the other remote sites that joins the new communication network, the method further comprising:

assuming leadership of the new communication network if the unique identifier for the remote site is lower than the unique identifier for all other remote sites participating in the communication network.

10. A method of establishing distributed leadership for a satellite communication network, the method comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to each of a plurality of remote sites in a communication network, each remote site configured for communication with at least one satellite;

storing bandwidth allocation parameters associated with each of the plurality of remote sites in memory at each of the plurality of remote sites, and storing a network table that identifies all of the remote sites expected to participate in the communication network;

establishing a first remote site of the plurality of remote sites as a current leader of the communication network, wherein each remote site is configured to assume leadership of the communication network when the leadership parameters indicate any of the remote sites is to become the current leader; and

wherein each remote site monitoring communication from each of the other remote sites expected to participate in the communication network to determine when any of the plurality of remote sites stops participating in the communication network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if one of the plurality of the other remote sites expected to participate in the communication network stops participating, the method further comprising:

determining whether the current leader is the remote site that stopped participating and if so, re-establishing a new current leader selected from among the remaining remote sites of the plurality of remote sites.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the new current leader inviting the current leader that stopped participating in the network to rejoin the network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein if one of the plurality of the other remote sites expected to participate in the communication network stops participating, the method further comprising the current leader inviting the remote site that stopped participating in the communication network to rejoin the network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein when the remote site rejoins the communication network, the method further comprising:

determining which remote site of the plurality of remote sites is to be the current leader pursuant to the leadership criteria and changing the current leader to the remote site that meets the leadership criteria.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising reestablishing which of the plurality of remote sites is the current leader when any remote site joins the communication network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein reestablishing the current leader comprises each remote site of the plurality of remote sites assuming leadership and becoming the current leader of the communication network if the unique identifier for the remote site is lower than the unique identifier for all other remote sites participating in the communication network.

17. A satellite communication network comprising:

at least one communication satellite orbiting an Earth;

a plurality of remote sites on the Earth as part of a communication network, wherein each of the remote sites comprises;

a unique identifier associated with the remote site;

memory configured to store bandwidth allocation parameters associated with the remote site and all other remote sites in the communication network;

operational parameters stored at the remote site including parameters by which the remote site is configured to both establish a communication network with the remote site as a current network leader and join an existing communication network.

18. The satellite communication network of claim 17, wherein the bandwidth allocation parameters comprise at least one of a dedicated information rate, a committed information rate and a maximum information rate.

19. The satellite communication network of claim 17, wherein the operational parameters stored at the remote site further configure each remote site to assume leadership of the existing communication network if leadership criteria are met when the remote site joins the existing communication network.

20. The satellite communication network of claim 19, wherein the leadership criteria configure each remote site to assume leadership of the existing communication network if if the unique identifier for the remote site is lower than the unique identifier for all other remote sites participating in the existing communication network.

21. The satellite communication network of claim 17, wherein the operational parameters stored at the remote site further configure each remote site to monitor communication from each of the other remote sites of the plurality of remote sites to determine when any of the plurality of remote sites stops participating in the communication network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the operational parameters stored at the remote site further configure each remote site to determine whether the current leader is the remote site that stopped participating and if so, re-establish a new current leader selected from among the remaining remote sites of the plurality of remote sites.