Intra-Domain Load Balancing

• US 20090285151A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Dankberg, Mark D., Eidenschink, Thomas, Jaska, Kristi Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access

Abstract

A satellite system for broadband communication utilizing load balancing of satellite modems between physical forward sub-channels. The bandwidth requirements of the various satellite modems allocated to a domain are analyzed. Satellite modems, which can be moved between various physical forward sub-channels, are moved among physical forward sub-channels of a plurality of domains to balance loading between domains and/or physical forward sub-channels within domains. Buffering and latency are monitored in the subscriber modem termination system (SMTS) to allow dividing physical forward channel delay either uniformly or according to tiers of quality of service.

Claims

1. A satellite system for communication with a plurality of remote locations, the satellite system comprising:

a satellite configured to transmit a plurality of service spot beams including forward channels;

a gateway configured to transmit a plurality of the forward channels, each of the plurality of forward channels being transported on a carrier in one of the plurality of service spot beams, a plurality of forward sub-channels being in one of the plurality of the forward channels;

a plurality of satellite modems configured to receive the forward channels; and

a scheduler configured to allocate resources to the plurality of satellite modems over the plurality of forward sub-channels.

2. The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of domains that are independently managed, wherein:

the plurality of sub-channels are divided among the plurality of domains, and

the scheduler balances the plurality of satellite modems intra-domain.

3. The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of domains that are independently managed, wherein:

the plurality of sub-channels are divided among the plurality of domains, and

the scheduler balances the plurality of satellite modems inter-domain.

4. A satellite system for communication with a plurality of remote locations, the satellite system comprising:

a satellite configured to transmit a service spot beam;

a gateway configured to produce and send a forward channel to the satellite;

the forward channel being transported on a carrier of the service spot beam, a plurality of forward sub-channels being the forward channel;

the gateway further configured to independently manage a plurality of domains, the plurality of sub-channels being divided among the plurality of domains;

a plurality of satellite modems configured to receive the service spot beam

a scheduler of the gateway configured to allocate resources to the plurality of satellite modems over the plurality of domains.

5. The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of domains includes a first domain and a second domain, and

the scheduler moves one of the plurality satellite modems from the first domain to the second domain after an analysis of load on forward sub-channels associated with the first domain.

6. A method for controlling a plurality of satellite modems, the method comprising:

managing a plurality of forward sub-channels that share a common carrier in a service beam emitted by a satellite;

assigning the plurality of satellite modems to the plurality of forward sub-channels;

determining that a quantity of the satellite modems assigned to a first forward sub-channel exceeds a threshold; and

re-assigning at least one of the satellite modems assigned to the first forward sub-channel to a second forward sub-channel.

7. The method for controlling the plurality of satellite modems as recited in claim 6, wherein the independently controlling the satellite modems assigned to the first forward sub-channel are by a domain that is one of a plurality of domains controlling satellite modems using the plurality of forward sub-channels.

8. A satellite gateway comprising:

means for transmitting a plurality of forward channels to a satellite;

means for associating a plurality of forward sub-channels with corresponding ones of the forward channels; and

means for balancing loads of a plurality of satellite modems presently associated with the satellite over the plurality of forward sub-channels.

9. The satellite gateway of claim 8, further comprising means for independently managing a plurality of domains divided among which the plurality of forward sub-channels are divided.

10. The satellite gateway of claim 8, wherein the means for balancing is configured to balance loads intra-domain and inter-domain.

11. The satellite gateway of claim 8, further comprising means for assigning the plurality of satellite modems to the plurality of forward sub-channels, wherein the means for balancing is configured to:

determine that a quantity of satellite modems assigned to a first forward sub-channel exceeds a threshold; and

re-assign at least one of the satellite modems assigned to the first forward sub-channel to a second forward sub-channel.