Web-bulk transfer preallocation of upstream resources in a satellite communication system

• US 8,218,473 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Connors, Dennis Patrick, Freier, Matthew John, Deveau, James Edward, Jaska, Kristi Ann, Wu, Xiao
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boakye, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/409,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 370/316, 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/392, 370/230.1, 370/412, 370/468, 370/395.2, 370/395.21, 370/395.4, 370/299, 455/427, 455/411, 455/461
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18586 Arrangements for data transporting, e.g. for an end to end data transport or check
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2123 Variable assignment, e.g. demand assignment

Abstract

In a data over satellite system, preallocation of upstream channel resources is provided by a scheduler at the gateway satellite modem termination system (SMTS) in response from the user terminal, wherein the user terminal detects web browser and/or bulk transfers involving large amounts of data transfer from users via the upstream channel. A type length value (TLV) field is included with data packets transmitted to the gateway SMTS, at which excess transfer capability is allocated to the user terminal in anticipation of load requirements.

Claims

1. A method performed at a user terminal of a data over satellite system, the method comprising:

detecting a state indicating one of (i) bulk transfers involving amounts of data transfer from a user terminal that exceed a preset threshold and (ii) web transfers from the user terminal via an upstream channel;

determining a packet bandwidth for the state;

transmitting an indication of the state and a request for preallocation of packet bandwidth that is generated in response to the state;

receiving a bandwidth allocation indication corresponding to the state and the request for preallocation of packet bandwidth; and

allocating by a scheduler of the gateway, in accordance with the indication of the state and the request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth, excess bandwidth to the user terminal in response to the indication of the state and the request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a value field.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a type length value (TLV) field.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting step includes sensing transfer rate and backlog amount for detecting bulk transfers.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting step includes sensing access to ports associated with web queries for detecting at least web transfers.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said detecting step includes sensing packet size, transfer rate and backlog amount for detecting bulk transfers.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said preallocation determining step includes specifying a preselected preallocation bandwidth for web transfers.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said preallocation determining step includes using backlog history to specify preallocation bandwidth for bulk transfers.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said allocating step includes dropping web preallocation requests of said user terminal if channel congestion exceeds a threshold.

10. A data over satellite system for preallocation of upstream channel resources, the system comprising:

a user terminal configured to;

detect a state indicating one of (i) bulk transfers involving amounts of data transfer from the user terminal that exceed a preset threshold and (ii) web transfers from the user terminal via an upstream channel,

determine a packet bandwidth for the state and to generate a request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth, and

transmit an indication of the state and the request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth from the user terminal to a satellite; and

a gateway having a scheduler configured to allocate, in response to receiving the indication of the state and the request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth excess bandwidth to the user terminal.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a value field.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit a type length value (TLV) field.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said detecting operation includes sensing transfer rate and backlog amount to recognize bulk transfers.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein said detecting operation includes sensing access to ports associated with web queries to recognize at least web transfers.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said detecting operation includes sensing packet size, transfer rate and backlog amount to recognize bulk transfers.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein said preallocation request operation includes specifying a preselected preallocation bandwidth for web transfers.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein said preallocation request operation includes using backlog history to specify preallocation bandwidth for bulk transfers.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein said user terminal is configured for a causing an allocating at a gateway of an amount of excess transfer capability to said user terminal in response to the state and the request for preallocation, the allocating including dropping of web preallocation requests of said user terminal if channel congestion exceeds a threshold.

19. A data over satellite system for preallocation of upstream channel resources the system, comprising:

detecting means at a user terminal for detecting a state indicating one of (i) bulk transfers involving amounts of data transfer from the user terminal that exceed a preset threshold and (ii) web transfers from the user terminal via an upstream channel;

determining means, communicatively coupled to the detecting means, at the user terminal for determining a packet bandwidth for the state and for generating a request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth;

transmitting means, communicatively coupled to the determining means, at the user terminal for transmitting an indication of the state and the request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth from the user terminal to a satellite; and

means for allocating, in response to receiving the indication of the state and the request for preallocation of the packet bandwidth, excess bandwidth to the user terminal.

20. In a data over satellite system, a method for preallocation of upstream channel resources comprising:

providing a scheduler at a gateway Satellite Modem Termination System (SMTS) for use in response to a request from a user terminal;

detecting at the user terminal one of bulk transfers involving large amounts of data transfer from the user terminal and web transfers from the user terminal via the upstream channel;

thereupon

determining requests for preallocation of packet bandwidth;

thereafter

transmitting a state and said requested preallocation of packet bandwidth from the user terminal to the gateway SMTS, and

allocating at said gateway SMTS excess transfer capability to said user terminal in anticipation of load requirements.

21. In a data over satellite system, a system for preallocation of upstream channel resources comprising:

a scheduler at a gateway Satellite Modem Termination System (SMTS) for use in response to a request from a user terminal;

a processor at the user terminal;

for detecting one of bulk transfers involving large amounts of data transfer from the user terminal and web transfers from the user terminal via the upstream channel;

thereupon

for determining requests for preallocation of packet bandwidth;

thereafter

for transmitting a state and said requested preallocation of packet bandwidth from the user terminal to the gateway SMTS, and

for allocating at said gateway SMTS excess transfer capability to said user terminal in anticipation of load requirements.