# US 2021/0242932 A1 · Method for providing continuous connectivity to a device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242932 A1 - Document ID: US20210242932A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/779,098 - Filed: 2020-01-31 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31 - Assignees: Charter Communications Operating, LLC - Applicants: Charter Communications Operating, LLC - Inventors: Wael Guibene - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242932A1 ## CPC - H04B 7/18513: {Transmission in a satellite or space-based system} - H04B 7/18517: {Transmission equipment in earth stations} - H04W 28/0268: {using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24)} - H04W 36/125: {involving different types of service backbones} - H04W 36/305: {Handover due to radio link failure (control signalling for hand-off failure H04W36/0079)} - H04W 40/14: based on stability - H04W 88/16: Gateway arrangements - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A communications system, e.g. an Internet-of-Things (IoT) communications system, includes satellite gateways in addition to terrestrial gateways. High QoS end point devices utilize communications via satellite gateway to be able to communicate with a network server when communications with the network server via terrestrial gateways are unavailable or unreliable. Low QoS end point devices may communicate with the network server via terrestrial gateways but are restricted from using the satellite gateways. An additional receive window, corresponding to the satellite gateway, is used for communicating downlink signals from the satellite gateway to the high QoS end point device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communications method implemented by an end point (EP) device, the method comprising: operating the EP device to attempt to communicate, while operating in a terrestrial mode of operation, with a network server via one or more terrestrial gateways, said attempt to communicate including transmitting a packet; monitoring a first set of downlink receive windows for an acknowledgment from a terrestrial gateway following the transmission of said packet; determining, from a failure to receive an acknowledgement of the packet transmitted during said terrestrial mode of operation that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible; and in response to determining that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible switching into a satellite compatible mode of operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communications method of claim 1, further comprising: operating the end point device in satellite compatible mode of operation, wherein operating in said satellite compatible mode of operation includes: monitoring for transmission acknowledgements in a satellite downlink receive window, said satellite downlink receive window being an additional downlink which is monitored following a packet transmission in addition to said first set of downlink receive windows. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The communications method of claim 2, further comprising: prior to determining, from a failure to receive an acknowledgement that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible, performing at least one of i) increasing transmit power to a maximum EP transmit power level or ii) increasing a spreading factor (SF) to a maximum spreading factor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The communications method of claim 3, wherein said operating an EP device to attempt to communicate with a network server via one or more terrestrial gateways includes transmitting (said packet from the EP device using the maximum EP transmit power level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The communications method of claim 2, wherein during said satellite compatible mode of operation the EP device monitors more downlink receive windows for acknowledgements following a packet transmission than during a terrestrial mode of operation which is used prior to switching into the satellite compatible mode of operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The communications method of claim 3, wherein said packet is transmitted with a request for an acknowledgement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The communications method of claim 6, further comprising: storing information in said end point device indicating that said end point device is a high QoS end point device, said high QoS end point device being an end point device entitled to use satellite communication when terrestrial communication is unable to provide a desired QoS level to which the end point device is entitled. ### Claim 8 A communications method, the method comprising: receiving, at a network server, a first set of forwarded packets, said forwarded packets originating from a first end point device and being forwarded by one or more gateways; and determining, at the network server, if any packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway; and taking a transmission acknowledgement action based on said determining. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The communications method of claim 8, wherein when it is determined that a packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway said transmission acknowledgement action includes: sending a command to a first satellite gateway which forwarded at least one of the received packets to transmit acknowledgement signals to the first end point device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The communications method of claim 9, wherein when it is determined that no packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway, said transmission acknowledgement action includes: controlling a terrestrial gateway to send an acknowledgement to said first end point device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The communications method of claim 10, wherein said network server communicates with a satellite gateway via a satellite ground station; and wherein said first end point device communicates directly with the satellite gateway via wireless signals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The communications method of claim 8, wherein said satellite gateway forwards received packets from high QoS end point devices but does not forward received packets from low QoS end point devices. ### Claim 13 An end point (EP) device, comprising: a processor configured to: operate the EP device to attempt to communicate, while operating in a terrestrial mode of operation, with a network server via one or more terrestrial gateways, said attempt to communicate including transmitting a packet; operate the EP device to monitor a first set of downlink receive windows for an acknowledgment from a terrestrial gateway following the transmission of said packet; determine, from a failure to receive an acknowledgement of the packet transmitted during said terrestrial mode of operation that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible; and in response to determining that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible switch into a satellite compatible mode of operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The end point device of claim 13, wherein said processor is further configured to: operate the end point device in satellite compatible mode of operation, wherein operating in said satellite compatible mode of operation includes: operating the end point device to monitor for transmission acknowledgements in a satellite downlink receive window, said satellite downlink receive window being an additional downlink which is monitored following a packet transmission in addition to said first set of downlink receive windows. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The end point device of claim 14, wherein said processor is further configured to: prior to determining, from a failure to receive an acknowledgement that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible, operate the end point device to perform at least one of i) increasing transmit power to a maximum EP transmit power level or ii) increasing a spreading factor (SF) to a maximum spreading factor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The end point device of claim 15, wherein said processor is configured to: operate the EP device to transmit said packet from the EP device using the maximum EP transmit power level, as part of being configured to operate an EP device to attempt to communicate with a network server via one or more terrestrial gateways. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The end point device of claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to: operate the EP device to store information in said end point device indicating that said end point device is a high QoS end point device, said high QoS end point device being an end point device entitled to use satellite communication when terrestrial communication is unable to provide a desired QoS level to which the end point device is entitled. ### Claim 18 A network server comprising: a processor configured to: operate the network server to receive, at the network server, a first set of forwarded packets, said forwarded packets originating from a first end point device and being forwarded by one or more gateways; and determine, at the network server, if any packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway; and operate the network server to take a transmission acknowledgement action based on said determining. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The network server of claim 18, wherein said processor is configured to: operate the network server to send a command to a first satellite gateway which forwarded at least one of the received packets to transmit acknowledgement signals to the first end point device, as part of being configured to take a transmission acknowledgement action, when the network server determines that a packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The network server of claim 19, wherein said processor is configured to: control a terrestrial gateway to send an acknowledgement to said first end point device, as part of being configured to take a transmission acknowledgement action, when it is determined that no packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway.