Dynamic radio capabilities based upon available transport bandwidth

• US 8,805,390 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Swardh, Richard, Boltz, David, Sundstedt, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/348,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20130095822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 455450-453, 455/446, 4554321-444, 4554561-457, 455/509, 455/12.1, 455427-431, 370/329, 370/330
• US Class Current: 455/452.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18543 for adaptation of transmission parameters, e.g. power control for detecting or preventing errors in the information received H04L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18556 using a location database
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

A monitor and control unit is described herein which is associated with a land-based controller (e.g. base station controller) and one or more satellites, where the monitor and control unit is arranged to dynamically configure mobile-based controllers (e.g., radio base stations) located on mobile vessels (e.g., transport vessels, cruise liners) to provide bandwidth (voice and data capabilities) based at least on the number of mobile vessels being served by each of the satellites.

Claims

1. A monitor and control unit associated with a land-based controller and a plurality of satellites, where each satellite has a satellite region within which there is provided voice and data capabilities to one or more mobile vessels located in the respective satellite region, and where each mobile vessel has a mobile-based controller, the monitor and control unit is configured to:

store location information for each satellite region;

receive location information for each mobile vessel;

analyze the location information for each mobile vessel and the location information for each satellite region to determine a number of mobile vessels located in each satellite region;

determine an available transport bandwidth for each mobile vessel in each satellite region; and

interface with each mobile-based controller located on each mobile vessel through the land-based controller to dynamically configure each mobile-based controller to support a predetermined number of voice calls and a predetermined bit rate for data communications based on the respective available transport bandwidth that was determined for the respective mobile vessel.

2. The monitor and control unit of claim 1, further configured to determine the available transport bandwidth for each mobile vessel located in each satellite region based on a total transport bandwidth supported in each satellite region.

3. The monitor and control unit of claim 1, further configured to monitor when a number of mobile vessels located within one of the satellite regions decreases and then dynamically reconfigure each mobile-based controller located on each mobile vessel which is remaining within the one satellite region to have increased voice and data capabilities.

4. The monitor and control unit of claim 1, further configured to monitor when a number of mobile vessels located within one of the satellite regions increases and then dynamically reconfigure each mobile-based controller located on each mobile vessel which is remaining within the one satellite region to have decreased voice and data capabilities.

5. The monitor and control unit of claim 1, wherein the location information for each mobile vessel are Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

6. The monitor and control unit of claim 1, wherein:

the land-based controller is a base station controller; and

the mobile-based controllers are radio base station controllers.

7. The monitor and control unit of claim 1, wherein a company operates the one or more mobile vessels, wherein the available transport bandwidth for each mobile vessel located in each satellite region is determined based on a total transport bandwidth supported in each satellite region, and wherein the total transport bandwidth that is supported in each satellite region is acquired by the company.

8. The monitor and control unit of claim 7, wherein when there is one mobile vessel in one satellite region then the one mobile vessel has the corresponding mobile-based controller dynamically configured to utilize all of the total transport bandwidth supported in the one satellite region, and when there are multiple mobile vessels in the one satellite region then the multiple mobile vessels have their corresponding mobile-based controllers dynamically configured to utilize a predetermined share of the total transport bandwidth supported in the one satellite region whereby the multiple mobile vessels and their corresponding mobile-based controllers are collectively configured to utilize all of the total transport bandwidth supported in the one satellite region.

9. A method implemented by a monitor and control unit which is associated with a land-based controller and a plurality of satellites, where each satellite has a satellite region within which there is provided voice and data capabilities to one or more mobile vessels located in the respective satellite region, and where each mobile vessel has a mobile-based controller, the method comprising the following steps:

storing location information for each satellite region;

receiving location information for each mobile vessel;

analyzing the location information for each mobile vessel and the location information for each satellite region to determine a number of mobile vessels located in each satellite region;

determining an available transport bandwidth for each mobile vessel in each satellite region; and

interfacing with each mobile-based controller located on each mobile vessel through the land-based controller to dynamically configure each mobile-based controller to support a predetermined number of voice calls and a predetermined bit rate for data communications based on the respective available transport bandwidth that was determined for the respective mobile vessel.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of determining the available transport bandwidth for each mobile vessel in each satellite region based on a total transport bandwidth supported in each satellite region.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of monitoring when a number of mobile vessels located within one of the satellite regions decreases then dynamically reconfigure each mobile-based controller located on each mobile vessel which is remaining within the one satellite region to have increased voice and data capabilities.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of monitoring when a number of mobile vessels located within one of the satellite regions increases then dynamically reconfigure each mobile-based controller located on each mobile vessel which is remaining within the one satellite region to have decreased voice and data capabilities.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the location information for each mobile vessel are Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the land-based controller is a base station controller; and

the mobile-based controllers are radio base station controllers.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein a company operates the one or more mobile vessels, wherein the available transport bandwidth for each mobile vessel located in each satellite region is determined based on a total transport bandwidth supported in each satellite region, and wherein the total transport bandwidth that is supported in each satellite region is acquired by the company.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein when there is one mobile vessel in one satellite region then the one mobile vessel has the corresponding mobile-based controller dynamically configured to utilize all of the total transport bandwidth supported in the one satellite region, and when there are multiple mobile vessels in the one satellite region then the multiple mobile vessels have their corresponding mobile-based controllers dynamically configured to utilize a predetermined share of the total transport bandwidth supported in the one satellite region whereby the multiple mobile vessels and their corresponding mobile-based controllers are collectively configured to utilize all of the total transport bandwidth supported in the one satellite region.

17. A method implemented by a monitor and control unit which is associated with a land-based controller and a plurality of satellites, where each satellite has a satellite region within which there is provided voice and data capabilities to one or more mobile vessels located in the respective satellite region, and where each mobile vessel has a mobile-based controller, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving location information for one of the mobile vessels which has located thereon a mobile-based controller;

determining if the mobile vessel is already being monitored;

when the result of the first determining step is no, then initiating a monitoring process which results in dynamically configuring the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and other mobile-based controllers of other mobile vessels if any which are located in same satellite region to provide voice and data capabilities based on an available transport bandwidth that was determined for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels;

when the result of the first determining step is yes, then determining if the mobile vessel has an active cellular service;

when the result of the second determining step is no, then ending process; and

when the result of the second determining step is yes, then determining if the mobile vessel has moved from an old satellite region to a new satellite region;

when the result of the third determining step is no, then ending process; and

when the result of the third determining step is yes, then initiating a modifying monitor process to perform the following steps;

dynamically configuring the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and other mobile-based controllers of other mobile vessels if any which are located in the new satellite region to provide voice and data capabilities based on an available transport bandwidth that was determined for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels if any located in the new satellite region; and

dynamically configuring other mobile-based controllers of other mobile vessels if any which are located in the old satellite region to provide voice and data capabilities based on an available transport bandwidth that was determined for the other mobile vessels if any located in the old satellite region.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the monitoring process comprises the steps of:

identifying the satellite region in which the mobile vessel is currently located;

incrementing a supported number of mobile vessels in the identified satellite region;

determining the available transport bandwidth for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels if any located in the identified satellite region;

determining a configuration for the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels if any located in the identified satellite region;

initiating the determined configuration in the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel;

determining if other mobile vessels are active in the identified satellite region and when no then end and when yes then initiating the determined configuration in the mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels active in the identified satellite region.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the modifying monitor process further comprises the steps of:

determining the available transport bandwidth for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels if any located in the new satellite region;

determining a configuration for the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels if any located in the new satellite region;

initiating the determined configuration in the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel located in the new satellite region;

determining the available transport bandwidth for the other mobile vessels if any located in the old satellite region;

determining a configuration for the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels if any located in the old satellite region based on the determined available transport bandwidths;

determining if the other mobile vessels in the new satellite region are active;

when there are other mobile vessels in the new satellite region which are active, then initiating the determined configuration in the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels which are active and located in the new satellite region; and

when there are no other mobile vessels in the new satellite region which are active or after the initiating the determined configuration in the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels which are active and located in the new satellite region, then determining if the other mobile vessels in the old satellite region are active and when no then end and when yes then initiating the determined configuration in the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels which are active and located in the old satellite region.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the land-based controller is a base station controller; and

the mobile-based controllers are radio base station controllers.

21. A monitor and control unit associated with a land-based controller and a plurality of satellites where each satellite has a satellite region within which there is provided voice and data capabilities to one or more mobile vessels located in the respective satellite region, each mobile vessel has a mobile-based controller, the monitor and control unit is configured to:

receive location information for one of the mobile vessels which has located thereon a mobile-based controller;

determine if the mobile vessel is already being monitored;

when the result of the first determine operation is no, then initiate a monitoring process which results in dynamically configuring the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and other mobile-based controllers of other mobile vessels if any which are located in same satellite region to provide voice and data capabilities based on an available transport bandwidth that was determined for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels;

when the result of the first determine operation is yes, then determine if the mobile vessel has an active cellular service

when the result of the second determine operation is no, then end process; and

when the result of the second determine operation is yes, then determine if the mobile vessel has moved from an old satellite region to a new satellite region;

when the result of the third determine operation is no, then end process; and

when the result of the third determine operation is yes, then initiating a modifying monitor process to perform following operations;

dynamically configuring the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and other mobile-based controllers of other mobile vessels if any which are located in the new satellite region to provide voice and data capabilities based on an available transport bandwidth that was determined for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels if any located in the new satellite region; and

dynamically configure other mobile-based controllers of other mobile vessels if any which are located in the old satellite region to provide voice and data capabilities based on an available transport bandwidth that was determined for the other mobile vessels if any located in the old satellite region.

22. The monitor and control unit of claim 21, further configured to perform the monitoring process as follows:

identify the satellite region in which the mobile vessel is currently located;

increment a supported number of mobile vessels in the identified satellite region;

determine the available transport bandwidth for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels if any located in the identified satellite region;

determine a configuration for the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels if any located in the identified satellite region;

initiate the determined configuration in the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel;

determine if other mobile vessels are active in the identified satellite region and when no then end and when yes then initiate the determined configuration in the mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels active in the identified satellite region.

23. The monitor and control unit of claim 21, further configured to perform the modifying monitor process as follows:

determine the available transport bandwidth for the mobile vessel and the other mobile vessels if any located in the new satellite region;

determine a configuration for the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel and the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels if any located in the new satellite region;

initiate the determined configuration in the mobile-based controller of the mobile vessel located in the new satellite region;

determine the available transport bandwidth for the other mobile vessels if any located in the old satellite region;

determine a configuration for the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels if any located in the old satellite region based on the determined available transport bandwidths;

determine if the other mobile vessels in the new satellite region are active

when there are other mobile vessels in the new satellite region which are active then initiate the determined configuration in the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels which are active and located in the new satellite region; and

when there are no other mobile vessels in the new satellite region which are active or after the initiating of the determined configuration in the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels which are active and located in the new satellite region, then determine if the other mobile vessels in the old satellite region are active and when no then end and when yes then initiate the determined configuration in the other mobile-based controllers of the other mobile vessels which are active and located in the old satellite region.

24. The monitor and control unit of claim 21, wherein:

the land-based controller is a base station controller; and

the mobile-based controllers are radio base station controllers.