Viasat, Inc.

Telebit Corporation

Kristi Ann Jaska

Mark D Dankberg

Mark J Miller

Robert Wilson

Dennis Patrick Connors

James N Esserman

Thomas Eidenschink

Xiao Wu

Matthew John Freier

James Edward Deveau

Anil K Agarwal

Steven R Hart

Gary Allen Anwyl

Jim Esserman

Keven Lippert

Dwight W Decker

Stephen R Hart

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for allocating network capacity over a communication channel of a network. The systems and methods determine a transmission profile for each of a plurality of service flow types. The systems and methods then iteratively perform the following steps for allocating network capacity: selecting, for each service flow type, the network capacity allocation parameters in each service flow type's transmission profile associated with a current network capacity allocation cycle; determining amounts of data to transmit for each of the plurality of service flow types based at least in part on the selected network capacity allocation parameters; and transmitting, over the communication channel, the determined amounts for each of the plurality of service flow types for the current network capacity allocation cycle.

Methods and systems for multi-level network capacity allocation

Methods and systems for allocation of network capacity are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes, determining a transmission profile for each of a plurality of service flow types, each transmission profile defining at least three different network capacity allocation parameters for a set of at least three different ordered network capacity allocation cycles, for each of the at least three ordered network capacity allocation cycles: selecting, for each service flow type, the network capacity allocation parameters in each service flow types transmission profile associated with a current network capacity allocation cycle of the at least three ordered network capacity allocation cycles, determining amounts of data to transmit for each of the plurality of service flow types based, at least in part, on the selected network capacity allocation parameters for the current network capacity allocation cycle, and transmitting the determined amounts over a communication network.

Systems and methods are described for source-aware shaping of network traffic in a communications system. Embodiments can manage resource congestion within a communications network by preferentially adjusting certain types of traffic on a per-subscriber and/or per-application basis. For example, a subscriber can receive various types of traffic in respective streams, and the streams can be identified according to whether they carry adaptive traffic. When a congestion condition is detected, one or more of the identified streams can be squeezed or expanded, which can cause an associated content source to automatically adapt communication of the adaptive traffic (e.g., its quality) to the reduced or expanded capacity. Selectively squeezing those streams identified as adaptive can appreciably mitigate congestion, while maintaining a desired level of network performance for the subscriber.

Source-aware network shaping

Methods, apparatus, and systems manage use of shared network resources among subscribers to a data communication service. In some implementations, a first metric is computed representing a subscriber's utilization of the shared network resources. If the subscriber's utilization exceeds a first threshold, the subscriber's network traffic over the shared network resources may be filtered to allow use of the shared network resources only with a first set of capabilities. When the subscriber's data is filtered, their upload or download speed may be unaffected. If the subscriber's utilization exceeds a second threshold, the subscriber's data download speed may be limited. In some implementations, the second threshold is larger than the first threshold.

System, method and apparatus for filtering subscriber network traffic

A method is presented for communicating data in multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel. A plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink feeder beam and at least one downlink feeder beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink feeder beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel. The at least one downlink feeder beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel.

Frequency re-use for service and gateway beams

A method is presented for transmitting data in a satellite system having multiple spot beams comprising (1) sending a broadband signal in a forward direction from a gateway terminal to a communications satellite for relay to at least one subscriber terminal, (2) receiving the broadband signal at the communications satellite, wherein the communications satellite comprises a bent pipe repeater having a plurality of satellite-based transmission amplifiers, (3) using one of the plurality of satellite-based transmission amplifiers to amplify the broadband signal and no other broadband signal from the gateway terminal, to produce an amplified broadband signal, (4) sending the amplified broadband signal as one of a plurality of service spot beams to the at least one subscriber terminal, and (5) receiving and retrieving data from the amplified broadband signal at the at least one subscriber terminal.

Placement of gateways away from service beams

A method is presented for communicating data in a multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel. A plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink feeder beam and at least one downlink feeder beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink feeder beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel. The at least one downlink feeder beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel.

Satellite architecture

Adaptive use of satellite uplink bands

A method is presented for communicating data in a multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel, and a plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink service beam and at least one downlink service beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink service beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel, and the at least one downlink service beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel.

In a data over satellite system, preallocation of upstream channel resources is provided by a scheduler at the gateway satellite modem termination system (SMTS) in response from the user terminal, wherein the user terminal detects web browser and/or bulk transfers involving large amounts of data transfer from users via the upstream channel. A type length value (TLV) field is included with data packets transmitted to the gateway SMTS, at which excess transfer capability is allocated to the user terminal in anticipation of load requirements.

Web-bulk transfer preallocation of upstream resources in a satellite communication system

A satellite system for broadband communication utilizing load balancing of satellite modems between physical forward sub-channels. The bandwidth requirements of the various satellite modems allocated to a domain are analyzed. Satellite modems, which can be moved between various physical forward sub-channels, are moved among physical forward sub-channels of a plurality of domains to balance loading between domains and/or physical forward sub-channels within domains. Buffering and latency are monitored in the subscriber modem termination system (SMTS) to allow dividing physical forward channel delay either uniformly or according to tiers of quality of service.

Intra-domain load balancing

A satellite system for broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations is described. The system includes a satellite and a plurality of service spot beams from the satellite. A plurality of forward channels are transported on carriers in the service spot beams. A plurality of sub-channels pass on the plurality of forward channels. The system further includes a plurality of independently managed domains, wherein the plurality of sub-channels are divided among the plurality of domains. The system may further include a plurality of satellite modems addressed by a plurality of service identifiers. Each of the plurality of service identifiers may be exclusively addressable within one of the plurality of domains.

Multiple MAC domains

A satellite modem for broadband communication. The satellite modem receives a satellite signal on a single carrier from a satellite. The satellite signal is divided by time division multiplexing into physical sub-channels encapsulating logical downstreams. The satellite modem includes a filter which removes a subset of the physical sub-channels intended for the subscriber terminal. The satellite modem includes a demodulator, a decoder, and a medium access channel. The MAC processes the logical downstreams.

High data rate multiplexing satellite stream to low data rate subscriber terminals

Use of multi-user detection (MUD) with a frequency-multiplexed satellite return link (scheduling algorithms, etc) is described. The satellite return link may utilize multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA). The satellite return link may include a plurality of return sub-channels, wherein one or more of the return sub-channels may operate in a contention mode during some time periods and a non-contention mode at different time periods.

Growing community of inventors

Encinitas, CA, United States of America

Kristi Ann Jaska