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EP0026328A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Demand assignment method and system for a time division multiple access satellite communication network

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1980-08-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2000-08-27
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Abstract

Abstract in a time division multiple access satellite communication system, a reference station (3) which allocates channel capacity also regulates demand (6, 7) by the ground stations (1, 2) for that capacity. The regulation is accomplished by means (66) in the reference station (3) for transmitting limiting, blocking and revocation messagestothe ground stations and means in the ground stations responsive to these messages to regulate the processing of input service requests. The limiting messages notify the ground stations to limit their channel usage to the channels required in the last demand message transmitted but not to exceed their last channel assignment. The blocking messages instruct the ground stations to unconditionally block any new requests for service on their input ports (12, 18), rather than counting such calls as increments of demand, and thereby effectively reduce the aggregate demand in the system. When the reference station observes that a sufficient decrease in channel requirements (6, 7) occurs, resulting in an increasing spare capacity, it revokes the previously communicated blocking messages by I a revocation message.

Inventors

  • 👤 John W. Fennel, Jr.
  • 👤 Jan G. Oblonsky

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 11:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/204; H04B7/212; H04B7/2121; H04B7/2123

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim 389 words
TDMA satellite communications system including a satellite transponder (5), a reference station (3) and a plurality of ground stations (1, 2), each ground station having input ports (12, 18) for connecting asynchronous service requests for voice transmission or data transmission from a terrestrial network to the satellite transponder (5), the reference station (3) assigning a subplurality of (N I ) channels from a plurality of (N T ) time division channels to each ground station (1, 2) based upon the demand made by each respective ground station for channel capacity, the method comprising the steps of: computing in each ground station (1, 2) the channel demand based upon said port requests; transmitting by each ground station (1, 2) its channel demand (6, 7) to the reference station (3); comparing in said reference station the channel demand (6, 7) for each ground station with its corresponding existing assigned number of channels; summing the channel demands from all of said ground stations if any channel demand exceeds its corresponding existing channel assignment; transmitting from said reference station a limit command if the sum of all the channel demands is less than the total capacity (N T ), to limit the number of channels used in each ground station to the last assigned number of channels; allocating in said reference station a new channel assignment for each ground station approximately equal to said channel demand plus a portion of excess channels equal to (N T ) minus the sum of the channel demand, in proportion to the relative demand of each ground station to the total demand; transmitting from said reference station the new channel assignments (9); sending a block (64) command from said reference station if said sum of the channel commands is greater than the total channel capacity (N T ), to block voice requests at each ground station; blocking voice requests at each ground station in response to said blocking command and periodically transmitting channel demands to said reference station which decrease as the use of said ports diminishes; summing said channel demand in said reference station; assigning new channels (N I ) to that ground station requiring additional channels when the sum of the channel demands is less than the total channel capacity (NT); transmitting from said reference station a revocation message (66) to revoke said blocking message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 389 words
TDMA satellite communications system including a satellite transponder (5), a reference station (3) and a plurality of ground stations (1, 2), each ground station having input ports (12, 18) for connecting asynchronous service requests for voice transmission or data transmission from a terrestrial network to the satellite transponder (5), the reference station (3) assigning a subplurality of (N I ) channels from a plurality of (N T ) time division channels to each ground station (1, 2) based upon the demand made by each respective ground station for channel capacity, the method comprising the steps of: computing in each ground station (1, 2) the channel demand based upon said port requests; transmitting by each ground station (1, 2) its channel demand (6, 7) to the reference station (3); comparing in said reference station the channel demand (6, 7) for each ground station with its corresponding existing assigned number of channels; summing the channel demands from all of said ground stations if any channel demand exceeds its corresponding existing channel assignment; transmitting from said reference station a limit command if the sum of all the channel demands is less than the total capacity (N T ), to limit the number of channels used in each ground station to the last assigned number of channels; allocating in said reference station a new channel assignment for each ground station approximately equal to said channel demand plus a portion of excess channels equal to (N T ) minus the sum of the channel demand, in proportion to the relative demand of each ground station to the total demand; transmitting from said reference station the new channel assignments (9); sending a block (64) command from said reference station if said sum of the channel commands is greater than the total channel capacity (N T ), to block voice requests at each ground station; blocking voice requests at each ground station in response to said blocking command and periodically transmitting channel demands to said reference station which decrease as the use of said ports diminishes; summing said channel demand in said reference station; assigning new channels (N I ) to that ground station requiring additional channels when the sum of the channel demands is less than the total channel capacity (NT); transmitting from said reference station a revocation message (66) to revoke said blocking message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
TDMA satellite communication system for carrying out the method in accordance with claim 1, characterized by means (30) in each of said ground stations (1, 2) connected to said ports (12, 18), for calculating channel demands based upon port requests;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
means (28, 34) connected to said calculating means for transmitting said channel demand to said reference station (3);
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
means (28, 34) connected to said calculating means for transmitting said channel demand to said reference station (3);
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
means (46) in said reference station for receiving said transmitted channel demands for each of said ground stations;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
means (46) in said reference station for receiving said transmitted channel demands for each of said ground stations;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
means (52) connected to said receiving means for comparing the channel demand from each ground station with its corresponding channel assignment (in 48);
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
means (52) connected to said receiving means for comparing the channel demand from each ground station with its corresponding channel assignment (in 48);
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
means (50) connected to said comparison means (52) for summing all of said channel demands if any channel demand is greater than its corresponding existing channel assignment;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
means (50) connected to said comparison means (52) for summing all of said channel demands if any channel demand is greater than its corresponding existing channel assignment;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
means (54) connected to said comparison means (52) for sending a limit command to said ground stations if the sum of said channel demand is less than said total channel capacity (NT);
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 32 words
means (54) connected to said comparison means (52) for sending a limit command to said ground stations if the sum of said channel demand is less than said total channel capacity (NT);
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 13 words
means (66) in each of said ground stations for receiving said limit command;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 13 words
means (66) in each of said ground stations for receiving said limit command;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
means connected to said receiving means in said ground station for limiting the channels used to the last channel assignment, in response to the reception of said limit command;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 29 words
means connected to said receiving means in said ground station for limiting the channels used to the last channel assignment, in response to the reception of said limit command;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 63 words
means (68) in said reference station connected to said comparison means, for allocating new channels for each of said ground stations equal to the corresponding channel demand plus a portion of excess channels equal to (N T ) minus the sum of the channel demands, in proportion to the relative demand of the respective ground station with respect to the total channel demand;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 63 words
means (68) in said reference station connected to said comparison means, for allocating new channels for each of said ground stations equal to the corresponding channel demand plus a portion of excess channels equal to (N T ) minus the sum of the channel demands, in proportion to the relative demand of the respective ground station with respect to the total channel demand;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
means (44) in said reference station for transmitting the new channel assignments to said ground station;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
means (44) in said reference station for transmitting the new channel assignments to said ground station;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 33 words
means (44) in said reference station connected to said comparison means, for sending a blocking command to said ground station if the sum of the channel demands are greater than (N T );
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 33 words
means (44) in said reference station connected to said comparison means, for sending a blocking command to said ground station if the sum of the channel demands are greater than (N T );
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 11 words
means (66) in each ground station for receiving said blocking command;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 11 words
means (66) in each ground station for receiving said blocking command;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 22 words
means in each ground station connected to said blocking reception means for blocking additional voice requests in response to said blocking command;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 22 words
means in each ground station connected to said blocking reception means for blocking additional voice requests in response to said blocking command;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 19 words
means in each ground station for periodically transmitting channel demands which decrease as the usage of said ports diminish;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 19 words
means in each ground station for periodically transmitting channel demands which decrease as the usage of said ports diminish;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 10 words
means in said reference station for summing said channel demands;
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 10 words
means in said reference station for summing said channel demands;
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 32 words
means in said reference station for allocating new channels (N I ) for the station in need of additional channel capacity, when the sum of the channel demand is less than (NT);
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 32 words
means in said reference station for allocating new channels (N I ) for the station in need of additional channel capacity, when the sum of the channel demand is less than (NT);
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 19 words
means (66) in said reference station for transmitting the new assignments and a revocation message revoking said blocking command.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 19 words
means (66) in said reference station for transmitting the new assignments and a revocation message revoking said blocking command.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 46 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for calculating channel demand is further characterized by means for allocating the proper number of communication channels necessary to provide the required level of service based upon the number of active ports and their individual voice activity factors.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 38 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, further characterized by means for calculating an activity parameter A as the average ratio of the number of channels required per frame to the total number of voice ports being served per frame.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 69 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further characterized by means (14) in each of said ground stations for storing on a first-in-first-out basis, new requests for data transmission during the period when said blocking command is in effect, whereby, under heavy network load, the calling party will not hang up when spare channel capacity can be made available within a short period of time after the data call was initiated.

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