Efficient internet service implementation for mesh satellite networks using centralized router server for distribution of destination tables

• US 6,604,146 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Rempe, Steven P., Rao, Ashok K., Shyamsundar, Gokhale D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US09/332,971
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 709/238, 709/230, 709/217, 709/242, 709/239, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/238
• 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 7/18595 Arrangements for adapting broadband applications to satellite systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing

Abstract

A centralized route-server architecture permits Internet Protocol (IP) services to be offered over satellite mesh networks. Individual satellite terminals perform forwarding of IP traffic to destination terminals based on routing information provided by the route-server. External routers connecting to terminals exchange OSPF and BGP routing protocol packets only with the central route-server.

Claims

1. A system for offering Internet Protocol (IP) services over satellite networks, said system comprising a plurality of satellite stations communicating with one another via said satellite network, each station storing routing information and using said routing information to route IP traffic to others of said plurality of stations via said satellite network, wherein one of said stations includes a route server for centrally establishing and maintaining routing information for others of said plurality of satellite stations, and a controller for disseminating said routing information to others of said stations for their storage and use in routing IP traffic.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said route server establishes and maintains said routing information through exchanges with routers connected via said satellite stations.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein routing packets originated by said routers are conveyed transparently to said route server by the satellite stations.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the route server computes a forwarding table for each satellite station based on information sent from said routers.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein each station maintains a forwarding table derived from routing information obtained at each station from said route server.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein each router connected to a station exchanges routing information only with said route server, with IP packets being sent from the routers connected to said one station to routers connected to any other station in accordance with the content of the forwarding table at said each station.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said controller at said one station includes a master forwarding table containing information for each of said other stations.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said route server is adapted to receive IP packets from one of said other stations, forward said IP packets to another of said other stations in accordance with said master forwarding table, and send routing information to said one of said other stations for use in future forwarding of IP packets destined for said another of said other stations.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said route server communicates with said routers via Open Shortest Path Forwarding (OSPF) routing protocol.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said route server communicates with said routers via Border Gateway Protocol-4 (BGP-4) routing protocol.