Task delegation in a satellite network

A method comprising:

• determining, by a resource negotiation function (RNF) located at one or both of a first solar powered satellite and a second solar powered satellite, that the first solar powered satellite has a capacity limitation relative to a satellite-to-ground communication task, the capacity limitation being due to at least a power limitation of the first solar powered satellite to perform the satellite-to-ground communication task, the power limitation due at least in part to a limitation in solar energy at the first solar powered satellite;
• and
• subsequently migrating the satellite-to-ground communication task from the first solar powered satellite toward said second solar powered satellite;
• wherein migrating the task comprises instructing the first solar powered satellite to transmit data to be communicated in the satellite-to-ground communication task to the second solar powered satellite and instructing the second solar powered satellite to transmit the data toward a ground station for terrestrial routing toward a destination, the ground station being out of communication range of the first solar powered satellite.

A solar powered satellite comprising:

• at least one network interface;
• at least one processor;
• a non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the satellite to:
• determine, by a resource negotiation function (RNF) located at one or both of the satellite and another solar powered satellite, that the satellite has a power limitation relative to a computing task, the power limitation due at least in part to a limitation in solar energy at the satellite;
• and
• subsequently migrate, by the RNF, the computing task from the satellite toward the other solar powered satellite;
• wherein migrating the data processing task comprises instructing the solar powered satellite to transmit data for the computing task to the another solar powered satellite and instructing the another solar powered satellite to perform the computing task on the data and communicate a result of the computing task to the solar powered satellite.

A solar powered satellite comprising:

• at least one network interface;
• at least one processor;
• a non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the satellite to:
• determine, by a resource negotiation function (RNF) located at one or both of the satellite and another solar powered satellite, that the satellite has a capacity limitation relative to a satellite-to-ground communication task, the capacity limitation being due to at least a power limitation of the satellite to perform said satellite-to-ground communication task, said power limitation due at least in part to a limitation in solar energy;
• and
• subsequently migrate the satellite-to-ground communication task from the satellite toward the another satellite;
• wherein migrating the task comprises instructing the satellite to transmit data to be communicated in the satellite-to-ground communication task to the other satellite and instructing the another satellite to transmit the data toward a ground station for terrestrial routing toward a destination, the ground station being out of communication range of the satellite.