Link aware mobile data network

• US 9,036,716 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Kimmich, Kevin, Mo, Fan, Vanderaar, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/310,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20120076201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 375/240.26
• US Class Current: 375/240.26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0014 by adapting the source coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/115 Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/162 User input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/30 using hierarchical techniques, e.g. scalability H04N19/63 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/46 Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/66 involving data partitioning, i.e. separation of data into packets or partitions according to importance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/85 using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/89 involving methods or arrangements for detection of transmission errors at the decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for communicating data from multiple data terminals to an aggregator terminal over a communication link having changing link conditions. In some embodiments, source data is received at multiple data terminals, each in communication with an aggregator terminal over a communication link. For example, during a live newscast, one mobile camera may receive live video of an event from a first position while another mobile camera receives live video of the event from a second position. For various reasons (e.g., as the cameras move) each communication link may experience independently changing link conditions. Each data terminal encodes the source data (or store source data for later encoding) as a function of its respective link conditions, and transmits encoded source data over its respective communication link to the aggregator terminal.

Claims

1. A method for adaptively aggregating data received over communication links having changing link conditions, the method comprising:

receiving a first encoded data signal from a first data terminal over a first communication link, the first encoded data signal being encoded by the first data terminal using a first encoding scheme as a function of a first link condition defining a condition of the first communication link;

receiving a second encoded data signal;

aggregating at least a portion of the first encoded data signal and at least a portion of the second encoded data signal to generate an aggregate dataset;

analyzing the aggregate dataset to make a data deficiency determination;

generating a control signal as a function of the data deficiency determination; and

transmitting the control signal to the first data terminal for affecting the operation of the first data terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a second encoded data signal comprises:

receiving a second encoded data signal from a second data terminal over a second communication link, the second encoded data signal being encoded by the second data terminal using a second encoding scheme as a function of a second link condition defining a condition of the second communication link.

3. A system for adaptively aggregating data from a plurality of remote data terminals over communication links having changing link conditions, the system comprising:

a first receiver unit, configured to receive a first encoded data signal from a first data terminal over a first communication link, the first encoded data signal being encoded by the first data terminal using a first encoding scheme as a function of a first link condition defining a condition of the first communication link;

a second receiver unit, configured to receive a second encoded data signal from a second data terminal over a second communication link, the second encoded data signal being encoded by the second data terminal using a second encoding scheme as a function of a second link condition defining a condition of the second communication link; and

an analyzer unit, communicatively coupled with the first receiver unit and the second receiver unit, and configured to generate an aggregate dataset as a function of data from the first encoded data signal and data from the second encoded data signal.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a central control unit configured to transmit a control signal to the first data terminal, the control signal being configured to at least partially control operation of the first data terminal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the central control unit is communicatively coupled with the analyzer unit;

the central control unit receives a data request relating to a data deficiency in the aggregate dataset; and

the control signal is configured to at least partially control operation of the first data system as a function of the data request.

6. The system of claim 5,

wherein the analyzer unit is further configured to:

analyze the aggregate dataset to make a data deficiency determination; and

generate the data request as a function of the data deficiency determination.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a link awareness unit, configured to generate a link condition defining a condition of the first communication link,

wherein the central control unit is communicatively coupled with the link awareness unit, and

wherein the control signal is configured to at least partially control operation of the first data system as a function of the link condition.

8. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

an output unit, communicatively coupled with the analyzer unit, and configured to transmit the aggregate dataset to at least one of a data store, a data processing unit, or a network.