Dynamic Sub-Channel Sizing

• US 20090289839A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: McDaniel, Jeffrey M.
• Application Number:
  US12/411,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289839A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/352
• 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 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

A satellite system for broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations is described. The satellite system comprises service spot beams from a satellite. Forward channels may be transported on carriers of the service spot beams. A plurality of forward sub-channels may pass on the forward channels. They system further comprises a plurality of domains that are independently managed and a plurality of satellite modems with the service spot beams. The plurality of sub-channels may be divided among the plurality of domains. Each of the domains may correspond to a plurality of time slices. A scheduler may allocate forward channels among the plurality of domains. Each of the time slices corresponding to the plurality of domains may vary in size over time.

Claims

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

a satellite;

a service spot beam from the satellite;

a forward channel, wherein the forward channel is transported on a carrier of the service spot beam;

a plurality of forward sub-channels passing on the forward channel;

a plurality of domains that are independently managed, wherein;

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

each of the plurality of domains correspond to a plurality of time slices;

a plurality of satellite modems within the service spot beam; and

a scheduler that allocates the forward channels among the plurality of domains, wherein each of the plurality of domains respectively has a time slice that varies in size over time.

2. The satellite system for broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein the time slice changes according to a predetermined schedule.

3. The satellite system for broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein a number of sub-channels allocated to a particular domain changes over time.

4. The satellite system for broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein the time slice changes as demand changes.

5. The satellite system for broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of time slices are equal in size.

6. The satellite system for broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of time slices have a plurality of different sizes.

7. The satellite system for broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein an amount of sub-channels in a superframe remains constant.

8. A method for satellite broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations, the method comprising steps of:

providing a satellite with a service spot beam emanating from the satellite;

transporting a forward channel with a carrier of the service spot beam;

passing a plurality of forward sub-channels on the forward channel;

independently managing a plurality of satellites with a plurality of domains, wherein;

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

each of the plurality of domains correspond to a plurality of time slices; and

allocating the forward channels among the plurality of domains, wherein each of the plurality of domains respectively has a time slice that varies in size over time.

9. The method for satellite broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in claim 8, wherein the time slice changes according to a predetermined schedule.

10. The method for satellite broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in claim 8, wherein a number of sub-channels allocated to a particular domain changes over time.

11. The method for satellite broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in claim 8, wherein the time slice changes as demand changes.

12. The method for satellite broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of time slices are equal in size.

13. The method for satellite broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of time slices have a plurality of different sizes.

14. The method for satellite broadband communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in claim 8, wherein an amount of sub-channels in a superframe remains constant.