WO2006132554A1 - Systeme et procede de gestion de largeur de bande de satellite - Google Patents

Systeme et procede de gestion de largeur de bande de satellite Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006132554A1
WO2006132554A1 PCT/NZ2006/000147 NZ2006000147W WO2006132554A1 WO 2006132554 A1 WO2006132554 A1 WO 2006132554A1 NZ 2006000147 W NZ2006000147 W NZ 2006000147W WO 2006132554 A1 WO2006132554 A1 WO 2006132554A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bandwidth
transponder
satellite
circuit
circuits
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ2006/000147
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Vincent Anthony Waterson
Bruce Justin Chippindale
Robert Geoffrey Wallace
Charles Frederick Schatz
Jacob Che-Chen Lin
Original Assignee
Networkadvantage Holdings Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Networkadvantage Holdings Limited filed Critical Networkadvantage Holdings Limited
Publication of WO2006132554A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006132554A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
    • H04B7/14—Relay systems
    • H04B7/15—Active relay systems
    • H04B7/185—Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
    • H04B7/18578—Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations
    • H04B7/18597—Arrangements for system physical machines management, i.e. for construction, operations control, administration, maintenance

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a satellite bandwidth management and planning system and method.
  • the invention is particularly but not solely designed for performing defragmentation on available bandwidth to minimise wasted bandwidth and thereby optimise bandwidth allocation.
  • the invention in one form provides a satellite bandwidth planning system having a plurality of transponder data sets and a plurality of circuit data sets maintained in computer memory.
  • a display is configured to display a graphical representation of one or more circuits hosted on one of the transponders.
  • a user input device is configured to enable a user to select the graphical representation of one of the circuits and to change the position of the user selected circuit of the display, the changed position representing a proposed change of frequency of the user selected circuit.
  • a bandwidth plan generator is configured to generate and output a bandwidth plan based on any proposed changes of frequency reported by user repositioning of one or more of the circuits.
  • the invention provides a satellite bandwidth planning system.
  • Transponder data sets and circuit data sets are maintained in computer memory.
  • An optimiser is configured to modify the transponder data sets and/or the circuit data sets.
  • a bandwidth plan generator is configured to generate and output a bandwidth plan based on the modified transponder data sets and circuit data sets.
  • the invention provides a method of effecting changes to one or more satellite circuits within a satellite network.
  • the method includes the steps of presenting on a display device a graphical representation of the one or more satellite circuits to a user. Changes are received from the user to the graphical representation. The changes represent changes to the one or more satellite circuits.
  • a representation of the changed satellite circuit(s) is stored in computer memory as a transponder bandwidth plan.
  • the transponder bandwidth plan is exposed to a command gateway, the command gateway configured to automatically schedule the bandwidth plan.
  • the bandwidth plan is implemented by effecting changes to one or more satellite circuits in accordance with the bandwidth plan.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a transponder grooming system
  • FIG. 2 shows the Circuits tab of a sample graphical user interface in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows the Transponders tab of the GUI of FIG 2
  • FIG. 4 shows the Customer Information tab of the GUI of FIG 2
  • FIG. 5 shows the bandwidth optimiser of the GUI of FIG. 2 before optimisation
  • FIG. 6 shows the bandwidth optimiser of FIG. 5 after optimisation
  • FIG. 7 shows a bandwidth plan before optimisation
  • FIG. 8 shows the bandwidth plan of FIG. 7 after optimisation
  • FIG. 9 shows the configuration output of the plan of FIG. 8.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a preferred form satellite service network or system 100 in which one form of the present invention may be implemented.
  • a communications satellite 102 receives uplinks and converts them into downlinks.
  • Each link occupies bandwidth which means the frequency of a link is actually a range of frequencies.
  • an uplink can have a frequency between 23.5 and 23.8 units and a downlink between 31.2 and 31.5 units. This bandwidth is then expressed as 0.3 units. This is referred to as a piece of bandwidth, the satellite being capable of servicing an entire range for example from 23 through 50.
  • Data is communicated through uplink and downlink pairs which must match in capacity.
  • the satellite can only accept one uplink on a given piece of bandwidth at any given time unless it is using CDMA. Downlinks are similarly limited, only one information stream can occupy any given piece of bandwidth. Adjacent pieces of bandwidth must be separated by a small piece of unused bandwidth in order for the links to be recognised and received separately. This unused bandwidth is referred to as a guard band.
  • Satellite access is achieved at a customer site 105 through ground hardware usually consisting of one or more satellite modems HOA or HOB, a node controller (site) 115, and a high gain antenna (not shown).
  • the antenna has to be aimed precisely so as to avoid directing a beam toward any other satellite in the region.
  • the modem(s) 110 control a frequency in the bandwidth occupied by the link.
  • the modems themselves are controlled manually or locally through a serial port or other link on the modem.
  • the node controller 115 could be located at customer premises 105 and is connected to the customer satellite modem(s) 110 with the primary objective to command the satellite modems to change frequency and power during a "transponder grooming" action. Further customer site 120 includes satellite modem 125 and node controller 130. Customer site 140 includes modem 145 and node controller 150.
  • a node controller (hub) 165 coordinates all network activity via the control paths indicated between hub 165 and node controllers 115, 130 and 150 respectively.
  • a node controller at a network hub co-ordinates network activity via one or several control paths including via tunnelled TCP/IP to modem of simple Ethernet/serial converter or dial up telephone modem or dedicated control channel, over any physical transmission medium including satellite, cable or wireless or combination thereof.
  • the system 100 also includes a command gateway 170.
  • the command gateway 170 controls satellite bandwidth allocation and system database software.
  • the command gateway 170 includes at least a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a hard drive. Typically one command gateway 170 is required per network 100.
  • CPU Central Processing Unit
  • hard drive Typically one command gateway 170 is required per network 100.
  • links can be changed without the link dropping only for a very limited set of changes of the modem parameters. Power may be adjusted without dropping the carrier. Other changes in the encoding, bandwidth or frequency will force the carrier to be dropped and reacquired. Any communications on the links at the time this happens will be lost. Modems have limitations with respect to encoding and capabilities. The size of a guard band is related to the frequencies as well as the size of the frequency band.
  • frequency bands may have to do with the site specific blockage of signals or interference from other RF activities. A piece of bandwidth may therefore be simply unusable in some places. It may also be limited by the capabilities of the RF chain at a site.
  • Satellite operators allow use of pieces of bandwidth in return for revenue. This is usually in a lease arrangement but the transaction can take other forms.
  • the users include satellite operators, telecommunication companies, teleport operators and other businesses.
  • the pieces of bandwidth managed are referred to as "bandwidth domains”. Sales agents subdivide their pieces of bandwidth into smaller pieces for specific uses and users.
  • bandwidth available to the sales agents becomes fragmented and filled with pieces of bandwidth that are too small to be useful to anyone but too large to be ignored. This is referred to as “fragmentation” and in the environment of the sales agent costs money.
  • a description of the bandwidth available to any given sales agent and its current set of allocations and subdivisions within the applicable domain can be referred to as a "bandwidth map”. Defragmentation of their bandwidth domain is desirable for economic reasons. This involves changes to the bandwidth map and actual changes to the bandwidth and satellite links sold to specific users or customers.
  • Sales agents must currently compute changes to their bandwidth map, work out what shifts are permitted given the limitations of modems, unusable bandwidth and guard band requirements. This is labour intensive and requires uncommon skill. The sales agents then have to communicate with the users and obtain permission and support at the customers site for changing the modems at the customer sites to the bandwidth map. Operators with the skills to alter modem settings and establish links are also relatively uncommon, and their time is valued highly. The modems at both ends of a satellite link must be altered to successfully effect the change. The process of making these adjustments is called “transponder grooming" in which a transponder on the satellite provides a bandwidth and it is this transponder that is "groomed”.
  • a satellite operator or service provider uses a bandwidth planner 180 to optimise the transponder bandwidth allocation.
  • the bandwidth planner 180 includes a graphical view of the transponder frequency plan as will be described below.
  • the bandwidth planner 180 includes a user input device (not shown).
  • a user input device includes a mouse, keyboard or stylus/touch sensitive screen combination.
  • the bandwidth planner 180 is a personal computer or similar on which is installed and operating software sufficient to enable the personal computer to function as a bandwidth planner.
  • the bandwidth planner is interfaced to the command gateway 170. Data manipulated on the bandwidth planner in one embodiment is stored in a database on the hard drive of the bandwidth planner 180. In another embodiment only the random access memory (RAM) of the bandwidth planner is used by the user. AU database operations are performed on data maintained in computer memory in the command gateway 170.
  • RAM random access memory
  • the operator has the ability to select part of the network and change the characteristics by for example a select and move operation using a mouse or equivalent.
  • the planner 180 has knowledge of modem and transponder constraints so that the operator cannot initiate an illegal action.
  • a mask is used to define available bandwidth and prevent access to bandwidth segments where control is not part of the system.
  • the bandwidth planner 180 may also include data such as the history of changes.
  • the operator can then save changes, print a list of affected customers, links and modem frequency changes, along with the sequence of actions. Prepared emails may be automatically sent to the affected customers notifying of the impending change and scheduled outage time.
  • the list and sequence of actions generated by the bandwidth planner 180 is able to be committed to the command gateway 170 and entered as a scheduled bandwidth change fffooorrr cc eeexxxeeecccuuutttiiiooonnn aaannnddd vvveeerrriiifffiiicccaaatttiiiooonnn...
  • the bandwidth planner is also able to provide access to and maintenance of archived records of previous transponder loading configurations.
  • FIG. 2 shows a sample graphical user interface 200 implemented and running on the bandwidth planner 180.
  • the user interface 200 includes a Circuits tab 205, a Transponders tab 210 and a Customer information tab 215.
  • the graphical user interface displays to the user a single table 220 in which each row of the table represents a single circuit. While the particular columns or fields shown in the table can be varied, it is envisaged that the data fields include at least a Circuit identifier 225 representing an identifier identifying the particular circuit.
  • the data fields could also include a Bit Rate 230 representing the bit rate in bits/second of the circuit, modulation type (not shown), FEC type 235 to be used for the circuit, FEC rate 240 and whether or not Reed Solomon (RS) 245 coding is to be used on the circuit, a power 250 or RS rate showing the encoding rate to be used for the circuit if Reed Solomon coding is to be used and a Transponder identifier 255 representing one of a plurality of transponders on which the circuit is to be hosted.
  • RS Reed Solomon
  • the data also includes the originating site and a terminating site as well as the originating modem 260 representing the modem that will be uplinking the circuit, and the terminating modem 265 representing the modem that will be downlinking the circuit.
  • Each row in the table represents a circuit data set maintained in computer memory. These circuit data sets could be stored on bandwidth planner device 180, on further storage devices interfaced to bandwidth planner device 180 or on the command gateway 170.
  • FIG. 3 shows the data displayed to a user once the Transponders tab is selected.
  • the preferred form transponder interface 300 includes a Transponder identifier 305 representing one of a plurality of transponders and a Satellite identifier 310 representing a satellite on which the transponder resides.
  • the interface may also include an Up Link Centre Frequency 315 and Down Link Centre Frequency 320 representing the centre frequency of the input and output frequencies to and from the transponder respectively.
  • the data could also include a Bandwidth 325 value of the transponder and a Notification Email Address 330 representing an email address to which the notification of changes on the transponder are sent to.
  • the transponder also display details of frequencies that may be used on the transponder.
  • Each row in table 340 represents a transponder data set maintained in computer memory. These data sets include a Start Frequency 345 and Stop Frequency 350 representing the frequency at which the usable section of the transponder should begin and end respectively.
  • These transponder data records or data sets are also maintained in computer memory, for example on bandwidth planner device 180, or on further storage devices interfaced to the bandwidth planner 180, or on the command gateway 170.
  • FIG. 4 shows the customer information data displayed by the user selecting the customer information tab.
  • the interface 400 includes a customer/site information panel 405 containing a tree 410 representing the customers' sites and modems and a customer information panel 415 including for example Name, Address, Telephone details and Notification Email Addresses of individual customers.
  • the interface in one form is also configured so that when a customer is selected in the customer/site information tree 410, certain information is displayed adjacent to the tree.
  • This information could include for example a site name representing the name by which the site is to be known, and satellite representing the satellite towards which the antenna at the site is pointing.
  • the data could also include a control channel representing the name of the control channel to be used to control the node, a node hardware ID representing the hardware ID of the node for authentication purposes, and an IF to up link RF up shift representing the difference in frequency between the IF frequency of the modem and up link frequency to the satellite and the down link RF to IF down shift representing the difference between the RF down link frequency from the satellite and IF frequency of the modem.
  • a control channel representing the name of the control channel to be used to control the node
  • a node hardware ID representing the hardware ID of the node for authentication purposes
  • an IF to up link RF up shift representing the difference in frequency between the IF frequency of the modem and up link frequency to the satellite
  • the down link RF to IF down shift representing the difference between the RF down link frequency from the satellite and IF frequency of the modem.
  • the preferred form user interface also includes a bandwidth optimisation area 500.
  • Individual circuits are represented by trapezoids for example circuit representation 505.
  • the flat top 510 of the trapezoid represents the actual bandwidth used by the circuit represented by trapezoid 505 and the flat base 515 represents the total bandwidth used by the circuit including guard bands 520, 525 each side of actual bandwidth 510.
  • Unused bandwidth is shown for example at 530 and 535.
  • the user is able to hover a pointer using a mouse over a circuit resulting in the display of a "tool tip".
  • the tool tip shows the details of that circuit as entered in the circuits table.
  • a user is able to select individual circuits for example circuit 505 and reposition these circuits within bandwidth optimisation area 500.
  • the user repositions the circuit 505 for example by selecting and moving the circuit left or right.
  • the user could reallocate certain circuits so as to remove or at least reduce unusued bandwidth 520.
  • circuit 505 has been repositioned by the user, as has many other of the circuits shown and unused bandwidth has effectively been eliminated.
  • the bandwidth planner stores information about the actual users' sites, modems and conditions.
  • FIG. 7 shows the typical information stored prior to optimisation in the bandwidth planner 180, command gateway, or similar.
  • FIG. 8 shows the information following the manual repositioning of individual circuits.
  • the bandwidth planner in one form is configured to generate a bandwidth plan. Proposed changes in frequency recorded by the user form a bandwidth plan suggesting repositioning of one or more of the circuits. The user has already determined any changes that are desired and has saved the new bandwidth map which is then referred to as a bandwidth plan.
  • a typical bandwidth plan is shown in FIG. 9.
  • the command gateway receives the bandwidth plan generated by the bandwidth planner.
  • the bandwidth plan is exposed to the command gateway, for example by data transmission, or by providing read access to the command gateway for the bandwidth plan.
  • the command gateway is configured to schedule the bandwidth plan.
  • the command gateway conveys the reconfiguration data to the node controller (hub). This is one step in implementing the bandwidth plan by effecting changes to one or more satellite circuits.
  • the node controller (hub) then communicates the required new settings to all affected remote nodes.
  • the remote nodes issue the required commands to bring down the old links, alter the modem settings and establish the new links. This can be performed on a schedule agreed to between individual customers and service providers or can simply be implemented as required.
  • the above techniques provide a bandwidth planning tool that allows satellite communication links to be consolidated, controlled and/or defragmented within a specified bandwidth domain.
  • This tool could be graphics based and managed manually.
  • the tool provides data to enable remote link management, permitting satellite links to be managed in support of "transponder grooming".

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Radio Relay Systems (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé permettant de réaliser des changements au niveau d'au moins un circuit de satellite au sein d'un réseau satellitaire. Ce procédé consiste à présenter à un utilisateur sur un dispositif d'affichage une représentation graphique d'au moins un circuit de satellite. Des modifications sont reçues de l'utilisateur en vue de la représentation graphique. Ces modifications représentent des modifications apportées au circuit de satellite. Une représentation du circuit de satellite pourvu de modifications est stockée dans une mémoire d'ordinateur en tant que plan de largeur de bande du transpondeur. Ledit plan de largeur de bande de transpondeur est exposé à une grille de commande configurée pour programmer automatiquement le plan de largeur de bande. Ce dernier est implémenté par réalisation de modifications au niveau d'au moins un circuit de satellite, en fonction dudit plan. La présente invention a aussi pour objet des systèmes associés de planification de largeur de bande.
PCT/NZ2006/000147 2005-06-10 2006-06-12 Systeme et procede de gestion de largeur de bande de satellite WO2006132554A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ54065005A NZ540650A (en) 2005-06-10 2005-06-10 Satellite bandwidth management system and method
NZ540650 2005-06-10

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WO2006132554A1 true WO2006132554A1 (fr) 2006-12-14

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2920931A1 (fr) * 2007-09-11 2009-03-13 Thales Sa Procede d'optimisation des ressources utilisees dans un systeme de telecommunications par satellite ou aeronef
EP2575269A3 (fr) * 2011-09-28 2015-06-03 Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. Méthode d'équilibrage de charge dans un système de communications par satellite
US10560941B2 (en) 2017-12-29 2020-02-11 Hughes Network Systems, Llc Dynamically adjusting communication channel bandwidth

Citations (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5613232A (en) * 1993-03-12 1997-03-18 Alinco Incorporated Receiver apparatus comprising display means for displaying signal strengths of signals having a plurality of frequencies, and display apparatus for use in receiver apparatus
US6285688B1 (en) * 1996-02-22 2001-09-04 Mci Communications Corporation Network management system
EP1205837A2 (fr) * 2000-10-11 2002-05-15 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Commande pour interface utilisateur graphique ayant des variables couplées et méthode pour sa mise en oeuvre
US20040122923A1 (en) * 2002-12-19 2004-06-24 Kamenetsky Mark L. Systems and methods for improved multisite management of converged communication systems and computer systems
US6839070B2 (en) * 2001-04-20 2005-01-04 General Instrument Corporation Real-time display of bandwidth utilization in a transport multiplexer

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5613232A (en) * 1993-03-12 1997-03-18 Alinco Incorporated Receiver apparatus comprising display means for displaying signal strengths of signals having a plurality of frequencies, and display apparatus for use in receiver apparatus
US6285688B1 (en) * 1996-02-22 2001-09-04 Mci Communications Corporation Network management system
EP1205837A2 (fr) * 2000-10-11 2002-05-15 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Commande pour interface utilisateur graphique ayant des variables couplées et méthode pour sa mise en oeuvre
US6839070B2 (en) * 2001-04-20 2005-01-04 General Instrument Corporation Real-time display of bandwidth utilization in a transport multiplexer
US20040122923A1 (en) * 2002-12-19 2004-06-24 Kamenetsky Mark L. Systems and methods for improved multisite management of converged communication systems and computer systems

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2920931A1 (fr) * 2007-09-11 2009-03-13 Thales Sa Procede d'optimisation des ressources utilisees dans un systeme de telecommunications par satellite ou aeronef
US8095066B2 (en) 2007-09-11 2012-01-10 Thales Method of optimizing the resources used in a satellite or aircraft telecommunications system
EP2575269A3 (fr) * 2011-09-28 2015-06-03 Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. Méthode d'équilibrage de charge dans un système de communications par satellite
US10560941B2 (en) 2017-12-29 2020-02-11 Hughes Network Systems, Llc Dynamically adjusting communication channel bandwidth
US11071112B2 (en) 2017-12-29 2021-07-20 Hughes Network Systems, Llc Dynamically adjusting communication channel bandwidth

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