Multi-band hybrid satellite communication systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026074781-A1
Application number	US-202519394191-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2025
Priority date	Jul 28, 2023
Publication date	Mar 12, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for outroute load balancing in a multi-band hybrid satellite communication system include comparing the load metric of each of code rate organizers (CROs) to a threshold value; placing each CRO in one of a surplus load balancing set and a deficit balancing set based on a value of the load metric; and determining a probability metric for each satellite terminal associated with each of the CROs in the surplus load balancing set. The probability metric indicates a probability of the terminal moving to one of the CROs in the deficit load balancing set. At least one satellite terminal associated with one of the CROs in the surplus load balancing set is then caused to switch to one of the CROs in the deficit load balancing set based on the probability metric of the at least one satellite terminal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for outroute load balancing using a load balancing system in a multi-band hybrid satellite communication system, the method comprising:
determining a current congestion level of code rate organizers (CROs) of the load balancing system; determining a load metric of each of the CROs, the load metric being different for different congestion levels of the CROs; comparing the load metric of each of the CROs to a threshold value; when the load metric of a CRO is greater than the threshold value, placing the CRO in a surplus load balancing set; when the load metric of the CRO is less than the threshold value, placing the CRO in a deficit load balancing set; and determining a probability metric for each satellite terminal associated with each of the CROs in the surplus load balancing set, the probability metric indicating a probability of the terminal moving to one of the CROs in the deficit load balancing set.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing at least one satellite terminal associated with one of the CROs in the surplus load balancing set to switch to one of the CROs in the deficit load balancing set based on the probability metric of the at least one satellite terminal, wherein the congestion level of a CRO is determined based on an average utilization of the CRO or average utilization of an outroute associated with the CRO.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the current congestion level is one of heavily congested, medium congested, and lightly congested,
wherein, when the average utilization of the CRO or the average utilization of the outroute associated with the CRO is greater than a threshold value, the CRO is considered heavily congested, wherein, when the average utilization of the CRO or the average utilization of the outroute associated with the CRO is less than the threshold value and the average utilization of any individual CRO or the average utilization of the outroute associated with any individual CRO is greater than the threshold value, the CRO is considered medium congested, and wherein, when the average utilization of all CROs or the average utilization of the outroutes associated with all the CROs is less than the threshold value, the CROs are considered lightly congested.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein, when the current congestion level of the CROs of the load balancing system is heavily congested, the load metric is a load ratio of each of the CROs, and
wherein, when the congestion level is medium congested, the load metric is an active plan rate of each of the CROs.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the load balancing system performs load balancing of first frequency band resources and second frequency band resources separately, and
wherein a first surplus load balancing set and a first deficit load balancing set are used for load balancing of the first frequency band resources and a second surplus load balancing set and a second deficit load balancing set are used load balancing of the second frequency band resources, wherein terminals of CROs in the first surplus loading balancing set are only allowed to switch to CROs in the first deficit load balancing set, and wherein terminals of CROs in the second surplus loading balancing set are only allowed to switch to CROs in the second deficit load balancing set.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first frequency band resources are Ka-band resources and the second frequency band resources are Q-band resources, and
wherein, when there are more Ka-only terminals than multi-band terminals, determining the probability metric for the satellite terminals includes determining the probability metric such that multi-band terminal movement is biased toward CROs associated with Q-band outroutes.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an upper limit threshold for each of the CROs in the deficit load balancing set, the upper limit threshold for each of the CROs being determined based on a total plan rate density of each of the CROs, and wherein, when the total plan rate density of a CRO in the deficit load balancing set is greater than an average CRO plan rate density by a predetermined margin, the CRO in the deficit load balancing set is designated a non move-in CRO and terminals are not allowed to switch to the non move-in CRO.

8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein, when the CROs are lightly congested, a terminal is not allowed to switch to another CRO when (i) a utilization of a CRO with which the terminal is associated is lower than an average CRO utilization of the CROs, (ii) a total plan rate density of the CRO with which the terminal is associated is less than or equal to an average CRO total plan rate density of the CROs, and (iii) any one of (a) a utilization of an Internet Protocol Gateway (IPGW) associated with the CRO for the terminal is less than equal to a first threshold, (b) an average utilization of all IPGWs connected with the CRO for the terminal is less than or equal to the first threshold, (c) an average utilization of IPGWs connected with the CRO for the terminal is less than or equal to an overall average IPGW utilization, and (d) a utilization of all IPGWs connected with the CRO for the terminal is greater than a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold.

9 . A data processing device for a load balancing system of a multi-band hybrid satellite communication system, the data processing device comprising:
a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the processor alone or in combination with other processors, cause the processor to perform functions of: determining a current congestion level of code rate organizers (CROs) of the load balancing system; determining a load metric of each of the CROs, the load metric that is determined being different for different congestion levels of the CROs; comparing the load metric of each of the CROs to a threshold value; placing each CRO in one of a surplus load balancing set and a deficit balancing set based on a value of the load metric; and determining a probability metric for each satellite terminal associated with each of the CROs in the surplus load balancing set, the probability metric indicating a probability of the terminal moving to one of the CROs in the deficit load balancing set.

10 . The data processing device of claim 9 , further comprising causing at least one satellite terminal associated with one of the CROs in the surplus load balancing set to switch to one of the CROs in the deficit load balancing set based on the probability metric of the at least one satellite terminal, wherein the congestion level of a CRO is determined based on an average utilization of the CRO or average utilization of an outroute associated with the CRO.

11 . The data processing device of claim 10 , wherein the current congestion level is one of heavily congested, medium congested, and lightly congested,
wherein, when the average utilization of the CRO or the average utilization of the outroute associated with the CRO is greater than a threshold value, the CRO is considered heavily congested, wherein, when the average utilization of the CRO or the average utilization of the outroute associated with the CRO is less than the threshold value and the average utilization of any individual CRO or the average utilization of the outroute associated with any individual CRO is greater than the threshold value, the CRO is considered medium congested, and wherein, when the average utilization of all CROs or the average utilization of the outroutes associate

Assignees

• Hughes Network Systems Llc

Inventors

• Roy Satyajit
• Choquette George

Classifications

• H04W28/0958

  based on metrics or performance parameters · CPC title

• H04W28/0867 Primary

  among entities in the downlink · CPC title

• H04B7/18513

  Transmission in a satellite or space-based system · CPC title

• H04B7/18586 Primary

  Arrangements for data transporting, e.g. for an end to end data transport or check · CPC title