The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1998
Wei Yuan, Plano, TX (US);
Sairam Subramanian, Dallas, TX (US);
Northern Telecom Limited, Montreal, CA;
Abstract
In a LEO satellite system with the implementation of a virtual network, a method and a system are proposed for arranging an optimal route for data packets to travel. The method and system will diversify the traffic between satellites, and accordingly enhance the efficient use of the entire satellite system. An intermediary satellite is first selected between a source satellite and a destination satellite. Further, an optimal route is found among a plurality of shortest paths between the source satellite and the intermediary satellite, and subsequently another optimal route is found between the intermediary satellite and the destination satellite. Once an optimal route is determined, the route information can be encoded in the header segment of data packets. The data packets will travel from the source satellite, via the intermediary satellite, and eventually to the destination satellite without requiring any satellite to transfer routing tables, and without unnecessarily over burdening the traffic along the way between the source satellite and the destination satellite. By doing so, more communication connections can be made for billable wireless services. Moreover, a randomized selection of an intermediary satellite provides an optimal route, and consequently reduces, if not eliminates, the need for traffic congestion control.