Dynamic bandwidth resource allocation for satellite downlinks

• US 9,749,036 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Agarwal, Anil
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis, Vinncelas
• Application Number:
  US14/805,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20160050014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18539 Arrangements for managing radio, resources, i.e. for establishing or releasing a connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2123 Variable assignment, e.g. demand assignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/22 Scatter propagation systems , e.g. ionospheric, tropospheric or meteor scatter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0096 Indication of changes in allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system is configured to dynamically allocate bandwidth among different downlink beams. The satellite may receive and compile traffic measurements and terminal parameters. The satellite may be configured with different downlink beam coverage areas, and may dynamically allocate downlink bandwidth and particular frequency channels to different beam coverage areas based on the measurements and parameters. The satellite may also assign frequency channels and time slots based on such measurements and parameters.

Claims

1. A system for assigning downlink frequency channels in a multi-beam satellite communications system, the system comprising:

a frequency channel eligibility processor configured to identify a number of eligible downlink frequency channels for each of a plurality of modulation and coding groups;

a resource estimation processor configured to estimate downlink resource unit demand for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups by identifying a cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups and a measured downlink traffic rate in excess of the cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for a past defined time period; and

a frequency channel assignment processor, in communication with the frequency channel eligibility processor and the resource estimation processor, and configured to select the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for frequency channel assignment in an order corresponding to at least one of the number of eligible downlink frequency channels or the estimated downlink resource unit demand for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups, wherein the frequency channel assignment processor is further configured to;

assign first frequency channel time slots to the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups to fulfill the cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups; and

assign second frequency channel time slots, subsequent to the first frequency channel time slot assignment, to the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups to fulfill the measured downlink traffic rate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein,

the frequency channel eligibility processor is further configured to identify a number of eligible downlink frequency channel sizes for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups;

and

the frequency channel assignment processor is further configured to select the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for frequency channel assignment in an order corresponding to the number of eligible downlink frequency channel sizes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the resource estimation processor is configured to estimate the downlink resource unit demand by measuring a downlink traffic load for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for a past defined time period.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency channel assignment processor is configured to assign a frequency channel and time slot to the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the frequency channel assignment processor is configured to identify the frequency channel for assignment by identifying an eligible frequency channel with a largest time allocation remaining among eligible frequency channels.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the frequency channel assignment processor is configured to identify the frequency channel for assignment by identifying an eligible frequency channel with fewer modulation and coding group assignments than other eligible frequency channels.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the frequency channel eligibility processor is configured to identify the number of eligible downlink frequency channels responsive to a beam reuse pattern constraint.

8. A method for assigning downlink frequency channels in a multi-beam satellite communications system, the method comprising:

identifying a number of eligible downlink frequency channels for each of a plurality of modulation and coding groups;

estimating downlink resource unit demand for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups, wherein the estimating comprises identifying a cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups and a measured downlink traffic rate in excess of the cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for a past defined time period;

selecting the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for frequency channel assignment in an order corresponding to at least one of the number of eligible downlink frequency channels or the estimated downlink resource unit demand for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups;

assigning first frequency channel time slots to the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups to fulfill the cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups; and

assigning second frequency channel time slots, subsequent to the first frequency channel time slot assignment, to the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups to fulfill the measured downlink traffic rate.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a number of eligible downlink frequency channel sizes for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups, wherein the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups are further selected for frequency channel assignment in an order corresponding to the number of eligible downlink frequency channel sizes identified for each group.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the estimating comprises:

measuring a downlink traffic load for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for a past defined time period.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

assigning a time slot within a selected frequency channel to the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying the frequency channel for assignment by identifying an eligible frequency channel with a largest contiguous time allocation remaining among eligible frequency channels.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying the frequency channel for assignment by identifying an eligible frequency channel with fewer modulation and coding group assignments than other eligible frequency channels.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying the number of eligible downlink frequency channels is based at least in part on a beam reuse pattern constraint.

15. A device for assigning downlink frequency channels in a multi-beam satellite communications system, the device comprising:

means for identifying a number of eligible downlink frequency channels for each of a plurality of modulation and coding groups;

means for estimating downlink resource unit demand for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups, wherein the means for estimating further comprises;

means for identifying a cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups; and

means for identifying a measured downlink traffic rate in excess of the cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for a past defined time period;

means for selecting the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for frequency channel assignment in an order corresponding to at least one of the number of eligible downlink frequency channels or the estimated downlink resource unit demand for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups;

means for assigning first frequency channel time slots to the of the plurality of modulation and coding groups to fulfill the cumulative guaranteed downlink rate for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups; and

means for assigning second frequency channel time slots, subsequent to the first frequency channel time slot assignment, to the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups to fulfill the measured downlink traffic rate.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for estimating comprises:

means for measuring a downlink traffic load for the each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups for a past defined time period.