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:
Feb. 21, 2006
Filed:
May. 22, 2000
Jaime L. Prieto, Jr., Torrance, CA (US);
Stuart T. Linsky, San Pedro, CA (US);
Jaime L. Prieto, Jr., Torrance, CA (US);
Stuart T. Linsky, San Pedro, CA (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for scheduling, in real-time, the order in which data packets from multiple uplink channels are organized in a downlink channel of a satellite communications network. The satellite includes uplink and downlink channels for conveying data packets over channels between user terminals, ground stations and other user terminals. Queues in the satellite collect data packets from uplinks and output the data packets to the downlink using a bandwidth that is dynamically allocated. A scheduler allocates the bandwidth to at least one queue and continuously changes the amount of bandwidth allocated to each active queue while the queue is buffering data packets between the uplinks and downlink. The scheduler allocates bandwidth based upon a priority-class packet service schedule calculated based upon traffic parameters associated with each active queue.