Dynamic bandwidth resource allocation for satellite downlinks
AssigneeViaSat, Inc.
InventorAnil Agarwal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims24
A method for allocating downlink resources in a multi-beam satellite communications network having a plurality of terminals in each of a plurality of beams, the downlink resources defined in resource units, the method comprising:
- identifying an estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams for a future defined time duration responsive to downlink traffic data for each of the plurality of beams monitored before the future defined time duration;
- identifying an amount of allocatable resource units for the future defined time duration for the multi-beam satellite communications network;
- dynamically allocating, responsive to the estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams, a subset of the amount of allocatable resource units to each of the plurality of beams to generate a per-beam downlink resource unit allocation for the future defined time duration;
- identifying, in each of the plurality of beams, an estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of a plurality of modulation and coding groups;
- and
- dynamically allocating, responsive to the estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups in each respective beam, the allocated resource units for each beam among the plurality of modulation and coding groups for the future defined time duration.
A system for allocating downlink resources in a multi-beam satellite communications network having a plurality of terminals in each of a plurality of beams, the downlink resources defined in resource units, the system comprising:
- a beam estimation module configured to identify an estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams for a future defined time duration responsive to downlink traffic data for each of the plurality of beams monitored before the future defined time duration;
- a modulation and coding group estimation module, in communication with the beam estimation module, and configured to identify an estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of a plurality of modulation and coding groups;
- and
- a resource allocation module, in communication with the beam estimation module and the modulation and coding group estimation module, and configured to:
- identify an amount of allocatable resource units for the future defined time duration for the multi-beam satellite communications network;
- dynamically allocate, responsive to the estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams, a subset of the amount of allocatable resource units to each of the plurality of beams to generate a changed per-beam downlink resource unit allocation for the future defined time duration;
- and
- dynamically allocate, responsive to the estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups in each respective beam, the allocated resource units for each beam among the plurality of modulation and coding groups for the future defined time duration.
A device for allocating downlink resources in a multi-beam satellite communications network having a plurality of terminals in each of a plurality of beams, the downlink resources defined in resource units, the device comprising:
- means for identifying an estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams for a future defined time duration responsive to downlink traffic data for each of the plurality of beams monitored before the future defined time duration;
- means for identifying an amount of allocatable resource units for the future defined time duration for the multi-beam satellite communications network;
- means for allocating, responsive to the estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams, a subset of the amount of allocatable resource units to each of the plurality of beams to generate a per-beam downlink resource unit allocation for the future defined time duration;
- means for identifying, in each of the plurality of beams, an estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of a plurality of modulation and coding groups;
- and
- means for allocating, responsive to the estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of modulation and coding groups in each respective beam, the allocated resource units for each beam among the plurality of modulation and coding groups for the future defined time duration.
A satellite communications system for allocating downlink resources in a multi-beam satellite communications network, the downlink resources defined in resource units, the system comprising:
- a plurality of terminals in each of a plurality of beams;
- and
- a resource allocator system in communication via satellite with each of the plurality of terminals in each of the plurality of beams, the resource allocator system configured to:
- identify an estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams for a future defined time duration responsive to downlink traffic data for each of the plurality of beams monitored before the future defined time duration;
- identify an amount of allocatable resource units for the future defined time duration for the multi-beam satellite communications network;
- and
- dynamically allocate, responsive to the estimated downlink resource unit demand for each of the plurality of beams, a subset of the amount of allocatable resource units to each of the plurality of beams to generate a changed per-beam downlink resource unit allocation for the future defined time duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.