US5995805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Decision-theoretic satellite communications system
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1997-10-17
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Granted: 1999-11-30
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Expires: 2017-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A communications system allocates communication bandwidth to calls in such a manner for optimizing network system performance. The system uses knowledge about the state of the past and present network demand, and network resources. Predictions of future demand and future network resources are used to calculate future network performance. Allocation decisions are chosen based on network performance calculations and probabilities of achieving future network states.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary H. Ogasawara
- 👤 Timothy Ju
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18578; H04B7/18584; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18539
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A communications system, comprising: a ground node receiving calls; and a control unit maximizing a communication system expected utility function and allocating communication resources to received calls based on the communication system expected utility function; wherein, preferably, the control unit allocates communication system resources by performing at least one of assigning communication resources to calls, the communication resources including communication bandwidth, blocking calls, and preempting calls in progress; wherein the control unit maximizes the expected utility function of the communication system by identifying decisions relating to communication resource allocation, each decision d i being a different communication resource allocation decision; determining a maximum expected utility function E as: ##EQU4## wherein s j is a possible configuration of communication bandwidth assigned to individual calls, wherein C is a system context based on at least one of a present network state and a past network state, wherein p(s j |d j , C) represents a probability of achieving state s j given a decision d i and the system context C, wherein u(s j , d i ) represents a utility function based on a weighted combination of network performance characteristics; and selecting the resource allocation decision d i that maximizes the expected utility E of the communication system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A communications system, comprising: a ground node receiving calls; and a control unit maximizing a communication system expected utility function and allocating communication resources to received calls based on the communication system expected utility function; wherein, preferably, the control unit allocates communication system resources by performing at least one of assigning communication resources to calls, the communication resources including communication bandwidth, blocking calls, and preempting calls in progress; wherein the control unit maximizes the expected utility function of the communication system by identifying decisions relating to communication resource allocation, each decision d i being a different communication resource allocation decision; determining a maximum expected utility function E as: ##EQU4## wherein s j is a possible configuration of communication bandwidth assigned to individual calls, wherein C is a system context based on at least one of a present network state and a past network state, wherein p(s j |d j , C) represents a probability of achieving state s j given a decision d i and the system context C, wherein u(s j , d i ) represents a utility function based on a weighted combination of network performance characteristics; and selecting the resource allocation decision d i that maximizes the expected utility E of the communication system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communications system of claim 1, wherein said calls include call packets, and wherein said control unit allocates communication resources to the call packets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication resources that are allocated are one of time slots, frequency channels, and a combination of time slots and frequency channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit includes a memory storing information representing past caller demand and network resource information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system according to claim 4, wherein the past caller demand information includes at least one of caller demand of individual ground stations, call holding times, locations of source and destination ground nodes of individual calls, data rate requirements, error rate requirements, and priority levels of individual calls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system according to claim 5, wherein the network resource information includes at least one of network connectivity, call delay times, satellite link reliability, ground node reliability, battery capacity of individual satellites, and relative location of individual satellites.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system according to claim 6, wherein the utility function u(s j ,d i ) is a weighted combination of at least one of grade of service, percentage of blocked calls, throughput, message delay, utilization, number of satellite hops, percentage of calls preempted, quality of service, and satisfaction of higher priority call requests.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein the utility function u(s j ,d i ) is further a summation of: at least one of a past utility function, a present utility function, and a future utility function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 8, wherein each call has an associated priority level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 9, wherein each call is one of a voice call and a data call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein the control unit allocates an optimal communication resource configuration for each call request.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein the control unit allocates an optimal communication resource configuration after a predetermined number of call requests are received, by determining the maximum expected utility E of resource allocation decisions for the predetermined number of calls.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein the control unit allocates an optimal communication resource configuration periodically, with a predetermined time period, by determining the maximum expected utility E of resource allocation decisions of at least one call in that time period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein each individual call is divided into multiple packets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 11, wherein each packet is assigned a different communication resource allocation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for allocating communication resources, the method comprising the steps of: receiving call requests from a plurality of communication units; identifying possible communication resource configurations for each call request, each communication resource configuration including a communication bandwidth; determining an optimal communication resource allocation configuration by maximizing an expected utility function of the communications system; wherein the step of identifying possible communication resource configurations to each call request includes at least one of assigning unused communication bandwidth, blocking calls, and preempting calls in progress; wherein the step of determining the optimal resource allocation configuration includes the step of maximizing the following expected utility equation: ##EQU5## wherein s j is a possible configuration of communication bandwidth assigned to individual calls, wherein C is a system context of at least one of a present network state and a past network state, wherein p(s j |d j , C) represents a probability of achieving state s j given a decision d i and the system context C, wherein u(s j ,d i ) represents a utility function based on a weighted combination of network performance characteristics; and selecting the resource allocation decision d i that maximizes the expected utility E of the communication system.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for allocating communication resources, the method comprising the steps of: receiving call requests from a plurality of communication units; identifying possible communication resource configurations for each call request, each communication resource configuration including a communication bandwidth; determining an optimal communication resource allocation configuration by maximizing an expected utility function of the communications system; wherein the step of identifying possible communication resource configurations to each call request includes at least one of assigning unused communication bandwidth, blocking calls, and preempting calls in progress; wherein the step of determining the optimal resource allocation configuration includes the step of maximizing the following expected utility equation: ##EQU5## wherein s j is a possible configuration of communication bandwidth assigned to individual calls, wherein C is a system context of at least one of a present network state and a past network state, wherein p(s j |d j , C) represents a probability of achieving state s j given a decision d i and the system context C, wherein u(s j ,d i ) represents a utility function based on a weighted combination of network performance characteristics; and selecting the resource allocation decision d i that maximizes the expected utility E of the communication system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communications system of claim 16, wherein said calls include call packets, and wherein communication resources are allocated to the call packets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein the communication bandwidth includes at least one of time slots and frequency channels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 18, further including a step of storing past and present caller demand and network resource information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 19, wherein the past and present caller demand information includes at least one of: caller demand of individual ground stations, call holding times, locations of source and destination ground nodes of individual calls, data rate requirements, error rate requirements, and priority levels of individual calls.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 20, wherein the network resource information includes at least one of: network connectivity, call delay time, satellite link reliability, ground node reliability, battery capacity of individual satellites, and relative location of individual satellites.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 21, wherein the utility function u(s j |d i ) includes at least one of: grade of service, percentage of blocked calls, throughput, message delay, utilization, number of satellite hops, percentage of calls preempted, quality of service, and satisfaction of higher priority call requests.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein each incoming call has an associated priority level.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 23, wherein each call is one of a voice call and a data call.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein the control unit allocates an optimal communication resource configuration for each call request.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein the control unit allocates an optimal communication resource configuration after a predetermined number of call requests are received, by determining the maximum expected utility E of multiple sequential resource allocation decisions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method to claim 24, wherein the control unit allocates an optimal communication resource configuration periodically, with a predetermined time period, by determining the maximum expected utility E of resource allocation decisions of at least one call in that time period.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein each individual call is divided into multiple packets.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein each packet is assigned a different communication resource allocation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-29 | 2003-05-31 | 2003-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-29 | 2007-05-31 | 2007-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-29 | 2011-05-31 | 2011-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |