Traffic class pool sizing for a satellite communications system
First Claim
1. A method for allocating bandwidth resources in a satellite communications system having a plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals being in communication with the satellite over a communication channel defined according to a channel bandwidth, the bandwidth resources defined in resource units, the method comprising:
- identifying channel resources for a defined time duration for the communication channel, the channel resources comprising a number of time slots of the channel bandwidth;
identifying a plurality of carrier groups including a first carrier group associated with a first carrier bandwidth less than the channel bandwidth and a second carrier group associated with a second carrier bandwidth different from the first carrier bandwidth;
receiving a resource request from each of at least a subset of the plurality of terminals associated with the first carrier group of the plurality of carrier groups;
determining an amount of requested resource units associated with the defined time duration for each of a plurality of traffic classes for the first carrier group based at least in part on the resource requests;
identifying a first carrier group allocation comprising a number of allocated time slots of the first carrier bandwidth for the defined time duration; and
distributing the allocated time slots of the first carrier group allocation among the plurality of traffic classes according to the amount of requested resource units for each of the plurality of traffic classes and a set of resource obligations associated with each of the plurality of traffic classes, the set of resource obligations comprising a committed information rate associated with the resource requests.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Novel satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. In some embodiments, a satellite communications system is configured to dynamically allocate bandwidth to terminals. Such a system may be made up of a satellite in communication with terminals (e.g., user terminals or gateways). The satellite or a Network Control Center (NCC) may receive and compile bandwidth request data from the terminals. In each of a series of one or more epochs, and according to the bandwidth requests, the satellite and/or NCC may allocate carrier group resources to particular traffic classes. The assignment of allocated resources to particular terminals is also described.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for allocating bandwidth resources in a satellite communications system having a plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals being in communication with the satellite over a communication channel defined according to a channel bandwidth, the bandwidth resources defined in resource units, the method comprising:
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identifying channel resources for a defined time duration for the communication channel, the channel resources comprising a number of time slots of the channel bandwidth; identifying a plurality of carrier groups including a first carrier group associated with a first carrier bandwidth less than the channel bandwidth and a second carrier group associated with a second carrier bandwidth different from the first carrier bandwidth; receiving a resource request from each of at least a subset of the plurality of terminals associated with the first carrier group of the plurality of carrier groups; determining an amount of requested resource units associated with the defined time duration for each of a plurality of traffic classes for the first carrier group based at least in part on the resource requests; identifying a first carrier group allocation comprising a number of allocated time slots of the first carrier bandwidth for the defined time duration; and
distributing the allocated time slots of the first carrier group allocation among the plurality of traffic classes according to the amount of requested resource units for each of the plurality of traffic classes and a set of resource obligations associated with each of the plurality of traffic classes, the set of resource obligations comprising a committed information rate associated with the resource requests. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A resource allocation system for allocating bandwidth resources in a satellite communications system having a plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals being in communication with the satellite over a communication channel defined according to a channel bandwidth, the bandwidth resources defined in resource units, the resource allocation system comprising:
a request processing module, operable to; receive a resource request from each of at least a subset of the plurality of terminals, the subset of the plurality of terminals associated with a first carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups; and determine an amount of requested resource units associated with the first carrier group for a defined time duration for each of a plurality of traffic classes based at least in part on the resource requests; and an allocation module, communicatively coupled with the request processing module, and operable to; identify channel resources for a defined time duration for the communication channel, the channel resources comprising a number of time slots of the channel bandwidth; identify a first carrier bandwidth associated with the first carrier group, the first carrier bandwidth less than the channel bandwidth; identify a second carrier bandwidth associated with a second carrier group, the second carrier bandwidth different from the first carrier bandwidth; identify a first carrier group allocation comprising a number of allocated time slots of the first carrier bandwidth for the defined time duration; and distribute the allocated time slots of the first carrier group allocation among the plurality of traffic classes according to the amount of requested resource units for each of the plurality of traffic classes and a set of resource obligations associated with each of the plurality of traffic classes for the first carrier group, the set of resource obligations comprising a committed information rate associated with the resource requests. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A satellite communications system comprising:
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a satellite configured to communicate over a plurality of communication channels defined according to channel bandwidths; a plurality of terminals, each terminal being in communication with the satellite over a communication channel and being associated with a first carrier group of a plurality of carrier groups; and a resource allocation device, communicatively coupled with the plurality of terminals, and comprising; a request processing module, operable to; receive a resource request from each of at least a subset of the plurality of terminals; and determine an amount of requested resource units associated with a defined time duration for each of a plurality of traffic classes based at least in part on the resource requests; and an allocation module, communicatively coupled with the request processing module, and operable to; identify channel resources for a defined time duration for the communication channel, the channel resources comprising a number of time slots of the channel bandwidth; identify a first carrier bandwidth associated with the first carrier group, the first carrier bandwidth less than the channel bandwidth; identify a second carrier bandwidth associated with a second carrier group, the second carrier bandwidth different from the first carrier bandwidth; identify a first carrier group allocation comprising a number of allocated time slots of the first carrier bandwidth for the defined time duration; and distribute the allocated time slots of the first carrier group allocation, according to the amount of requested resource units for each of the plurality of traffic classes and a set of resource obligations associated with each of the plurality of traffic classes, the set of resource obligations comprising a committed information rate associated with the resource requests. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification