Upstream resource optimization
First Claim
1. A gateway for allocating capacity for upstream satellite transmissions to a plurality of user terminals, the gateway comprising:
- an upstream traffic classifier configured to;
receive requests for upstream satellite transmissions capacity from the plurality of user terminals for a time period;
identify a subset of the requested capacity with transmission specifications limiting latency and packet spacing variance; and
classify the identified subset as prioritized traffic;
an upstream resource allocator, communicatively coupled with the upstream traffic classifier, configured to;
allocate a first set of time slots within the time period for the prioritized traffic, the first set allocated according to the transmission specifications;
subsequently allocate a second set of time slots within the time period to at least a subset of the requested capacity not classified as prioritized traffic; and
generate a combined allocation for the time period for a first one of the plurality of user terminals, the combined allocation comprising a block of time slots for the time period to be used as determined by the first user terminal; and
a transmitter, communicatively coupled with the upstream resource allocator, configured to transmit the combined allocation in a broadcast signal directed at the first user terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices are described for scheduling and mapping upstream communications in a satellite communications system. The disclosure includes various channelization and frequency hopping techniques. A gateway is described to perform novel allocation of time slots on upstream frequency channels to allow frequency hopping. A subscriber terminal may perform frequency hopping according to the allocation, and the range may be limited to the transition range of a digitally controlled oscillator unit at the subscriber terminal. A gateway is described to allocate time slots on different upstream frequency channels in a prioritized manner. Subscriber terminals may receive the allocation, and then control the assignment of their upstream traffic to the time slots.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A gateway for allocating capacity for upstream satellite transmissions to a plurality of user terminals, the gateway comprising:
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an upstream traffic classifier configured to; receive requests for upstream satellite transmissions capacity from the plurality of user terminals for a time period; identify a subset of the requested capacity with transmission specifications limiting latency and packet spacing variance; and classify the identified subset as prioritized traffic; an upstream resource allocator, communicatively coupled with the upstream traffic classifier, configured to; allocate a first set of time slots within the time period for the prioritized traffic, the first set allocated according to the transmission specifications; subsequently allocate a second set of time slots within the time period to at least a subset of the requested capacity not classified as prioritized traffic; and generate a combined allocation for the time period for a first one of the plurality of user terminals, the combined allocation comprising a block of time slots for the time period to be used as determined by the first user terminal; and a transmitter, communicatively coupled with the upstream resource allocator, configured to transmit the combined allocation in a broadcast signal directed at the first user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for allocating capacity for upstream satellite transmissions among a plurality user terminals, the method comprising:
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receiving requests for upstream satellite transmissions capacity, from each of the plurality of user terminals for a time period; identifying a subset of the requested capacity with transmission specifications limiting latency and packet spacing variance; classifying the identified subset as prioritized traffic; allocating a first set of time slots within the time period for the prioritized traffic, the first set allocated according to the transmission specifications; subsequently allocating a second set of time slots within the time period to at least some of the requested capacity not classified as prioritized traffic; generating a combined allocation for the time period for each of the plurality of user terminals, the combined allocation comprising a generalized block of time slots for the time period to be used as determined by respective subscriber user terminals; and transmitting an applicable portion of the combined allocation in a broadcast signal directed at one of the respective user terminals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for allocating capacity for upstream satellite transmissions to a plurality of user terminals, the system comprising:
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a gateway configured to; receive capacity requests for the upstream satellite communications, a subset of the capacity requests including transmission specifications limiting latency and packet spacing variance; classify the identified subset as prioritized traffic; allocate a first set of time slots within a time period for the prioritized traffic, the first set allocated according to the transmission specifications; subsequently allocate a second set of time slots within the time period to at least some of the capacity requests not classified as prioritized traffic; and transmit a combined allocation for the time period for a first one of the plurality of user terminals, the combined allocation comprising a block of time slots for the time period to be used as determined by the first user terminal; and the first user terminal, communicatively coupled with the gateway via a satellite, configured to; receive the combined allocation transmitted from the gateway; classify a subset of traffic to be transmitted as prioritized user terminal traffic; assign the subset of traffic to the combined allocation according to transmission specifications limiting latency and packet spacing variance and associated with the subset of traffic; and subsequently assign the traffic not classified as prioritized user terminal traffic to the combined allocation. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A user terminal for requesting capacity for upstream satellite transmissions, the terminal comprising:
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a resource requester configured to generate capacity requests for each of a plurality of streams, at least a subset of the capacity requests associated with transmission specifications including limitations on latency and packet spacing variance; an upstream mapper configured to; receive, in response to the capacity requests, an allocation of time slots for a time period for the user terminal, the allocation comprising a block of time slots unassigned to particular streams of the plurality of streams; classify a subset of data traffic to be transmitted in the time period by the user terminal as prioritized user terminal traffic, the classification based at least in part on the limitations on latency and packet spacing variance; assign the prioritized user terminal traffic to a first set of time slots of the allocation of time slots; and subsequently assign the data traffic not classified as prioritized user terminal traffic to a second set of time slots of the allocation of time slots; and a transmitter communicatively coupled with the upstream mapper and resource requester, configured to; transmit the capacity requests upstream for scheduling; and transmit the upstream traffic according to the assignments to the first set of time slots and the second set of time slots. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of assigning time slots for upstream satellite communications, the method comprising:
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transmitting capacity requests for each of a plurality of different streams, at least a subset of the capacity requests is associated with transmission specifications including limitations on latency and packet spacing variance; receiving, in response to the capacity requests, an allocation of time slots for a time period, the allocation comprising a block of time slots unassigned to particular streams of the plurality of different streams; identifying a subset of data traffic to be transmitted in the time period as prioritized user terminal traffic, the identifying based at least in part on a determination that the subset includes limitations on latency and packet spacing variance that exceed a threshold level; assigning the prioritized user terminal traffic to a first set of time slots of the allocation of time slots; subsequently assigning the data traffic not classified as prioritized user terminal traffic to a second set of time slots of the allocation of time slots; and transmitting the traffic to be transmitted upstream according to the assignments to the first set of time slots and the second set of time slots. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A device for allocating capacity for upstream satellite transmissions among a plurality of user terminals, the device comprising:
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means for receiving requests for upstream satellite transmissions capacity from the plurality of user terminals for a time period; means for identifying a subset of the requested capacity with transmission specifications limiting latency and packet spacing variance; means for classifying the identified subset as prioritized traffic; means for allocating a first set of time slots within the time period for the prioritized traffic, the first set allocated according to the transmission specifications; means for subsequently allocating a second set of time slots within the time period to at least some of the capacity not classified as prioritized traffic; and means for generating a combined allocation for the time period for each of the plurality of user terminals, the combined allocation comprising a block of time slots for the time period to be used as determined by respective user terminals.
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31. A device for assigning time slots for upstream satellite communications, the device comprising:
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means for transmitting capacity requests for each of a plurality of different streams, at least a subset of the capacity requests associated with transmission specifications including limitations on latency and packet spacing variance; means for receiving, in response to the capacity requests, an allocation of time slots for a time period, the allocation comprising a block of time slots unassigned to particular streams of the plurality of different streams; means for identifying a subset of data traffic to be transmitted in the time period as prioritized user terminal traffic, the identifying based at least in part on a determination that the subset includes limitations on latency and packet spacing variance that exceed a threshold level; means for assigning the prioritized user terminal traffic to a first set of time slots of the allocation of time slots; means for subsequently assigning the data traffic not classified as prioritized user terminal traffic to a second set of time slots of the allocation of time slots; and means for transmitting the traffic to be transmitted upstream according to the assignments to the first set of time slots and the second set of time slots.
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Specification