Low Power Mode In A Satellite-Based Broadcast Data Service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016353372-A1
Application number	US-201514726416-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A satellite system controller for a satellite system can comprise a receiving module, an interval selector, an epoch selector, and a scheduler. The receiving module can receive, from a transmission originator device, a set interval request message requesting the satellite system controller set a transmission interval and an epoch time for a satellite receiver, the transmission interval being an amount of time the satellite receiver is to remain in a sleep mode between expected transmissions and the epoch time being an instant at which the satellite receiver is to expect a satellite transmission. The interval selector can determine, based on the transmission interval, a sleep mode cycle for the satellite receiver. The epoch selector can select the epoch time according to the sleep mode cycle and the scheduler can schedule the satellite transmission with the satellite system at approximately the epoch time and according to the sleep mode cycle.

First claim

1 . A satellite system controller for a satellite system, comprising:
a receiver to receive, from a transmission originator device, a set interval request message requesting said satellite system controller set a transmission interval and an epoch time for a satellite receiver, said transmission interval being an amount of time said satellite receiver is to remain in a sleep mode between expected transmissions and said epoch time being an instant at which said satellite receiver is to expect a satellite transmission; an interval selector to determine, based on said transmission interval, a sleep mode cycle for said satellite receiver; an epoch selector to select said epoch time according to said sleep mode cycle; and a scheduler to schedule said satellite transmission with said satellite system according to said epoch time and said sleep mode cycle.

2 . The satellite system controller for a satellite system according to claim 1 , wherein said epoch selector determines all available epoch times according to said transmission interval, sorts said available times by a number of groups assigned to each epoch time regardless of said transmission interval, and selects a least-loaded epoch time according to said transmission interval.

3 . The satellite system controller for a satellite system according to claim 1 , wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time based on a number of broadcast groups utilizing said epoch time.

4 . The satellite system controller for a satellite system according to claim 1 , wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time based on an intersection of available epoch times according to said transmission interval and one or more in-use epoch times.

5 . The satellite system controller for a satellite system according to claim 1 , wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time for a broadcast group.

6 . The satellite system controller for a satellite system according to claim 1 , wherein said interval selector determines said sleep mode cycle based on a native time scale of said satellite system.

7 . The satellite system controller for a satellite system according to claim 1 , further comprising an output handler to send a broadcast burst to said satellite system, said broadcast burst comprising said selected epoch time and said determined sleep mode cycle.

8 . A satellite system communication method, comprising:
receiving, at a transmission controller from a transmission originator device, a set interval request message requesting said transmission controller set a transmission interval and an epoch time for a satellite receiver, said transmission interval being an amount of time said satellite receiver is to remain in a sleep mode between expected transmissions and said epoch time being an instant at which said satellite receiver is to expect a satellite transmission; determining, based on said transmission interval, a sleep mode cycle for said satellite receiver; selecting said epoch time according to said sleep mode cycle; and scheduling, at said transmission controller, a satellite transmission of said satellite system according to said epoch time and said sleep mode cycle.

9 . The satellite system communication method according to claim 8 , wherein said selecting said epoch time comprises determining all available epoch times according to said transmission interval, sorting said available times by a number of groups assigned to each epoch time regardless of said transmission interval, and selecting a least-loaded epoch time according to said transmission interval.

10 . The satellite system communication method according to claim 8 , wherein said epoch time is selected based on a number of broadcast groups utilizing said epoch time.

11 . The satellite system communication method according to claim 8 , wherein said epoch time is selected based on an intersection of available epoch times according to said transmission interval and one or more in-use epoch times.

12 . The satellite system communication method according to claim 8 , wherein said epoch time is selected for a broadcast group.

13 . The satellite system communication method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining a cycle when to enter said sleep mode based on a native time scale of said satellite system.

14 . The satellite system communication method according to claim 8 , further comprising sending a broadcast burst to said satellite system, said broadcast burst comprising said selected epoch time and said determined sleep mode cycle.

15 . A satellite receiver, comprising:
a satellite receiver controller to retrieve a transmission interval and an epoch time from a wakeup list, select a next wakeup time, enter a sleep mode according to said transmission interval, exit said sleep mode according to said transmission interval, and receive a satellite transmission according to said epoch time; wherein said transmission interval is an amount of time said satellite receiver is to remain in said sleep mode between expected transmissions and said epoch time is an instant at which said satellite receiver is to expect said satellite transmission.

16 . The satellite receiver according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a reception module to receive a satellite transmission including said transmission interval and said epoch time; wherein said satellite receiver controller enters said transmission interval and said epoch time in said wakeup time list.

17 . The satellite receiver according to claim 15 , wherein an epoch selector at a remote broadcast controller determines a least-loaded epoch time as a basis for selecting said epoch time.

18 . The satellite receiver according to claim 17 , wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time based on a number of broadcast groups utilizing said epoch time.

19 . The satellite receiver according to claim 17 , wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time based on an intersection of available epoch times according to said transmission interval and one or more in-use epoch times.

20 . The satellite receiver according to claim 17 , wherein said epoch selector selects said epoch time for a broadcast group.

21 . The satellite receiver according to claim 15 , wherein an interval selector at a remote broadcast controller determines said sleep mode cycle based on a native time scale of said satellite system.

22 . A satellite receiver communication method, comprising:
retrieving, with a satellite receiver controller of said satellite receiver, a transmission interval and an epoch time from a wakeup list, said transmission interval being an amount of time said satellite receiver is to remain in a sleep mode between expected transmissions and said epoch time being an instant at which said satellite receiver is to expect said satellite transmission; entering said sleep mode according to said transmission interval; exiting said sleep mode according to said transmission interval; and receiving a satellite transmission according to said epoch time.

23 . The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 22 , further comprising:
receiving a satellite transmission including said transmission interval and said epoch time; and entering said transmission interval and said epoch time in said wakeup time list.

24 . The satellite receiver communication method according to claim 22 , further comprising determining, via a remote broadcast controller, a lea

Assignees

• Exelis Inc

Inventors

• Bishop Jr James William
• Miller Corey Alan
• Topping Thomas Russell

Classifications

• H04W72/30

  Resource management for broadcast services · CPC title

• H04W52/0216

  using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame · CPC title

• H04H60/06

  Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services · CPC title

• H04H20/426

  Receiver side · CPC title

• H04H20/74

  of satellite networks · CPC title