Patent · US Expired

Optimal packet routing method and system for low earth orbit satellite communication system

US6178163A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
4References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 1998
Grant dateJan 23, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B7/18584
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a LEO satellite system with the implementation of a virtual network, a method and a system are proposed for arranging an optimal route for data packets to travel. The method and system will diversify the traffic between satellites, and accordingly enhance the efficient use of the entire satellite system. An intermediary satellite is first selected between a source satellite and a destination satellite. Further, an optimal route is found among a plurality of shortest paths between the source satellite and the intermediary satellite, and subsequently another optimal route is found between the intermediary satellite and the destination satellite. Once an optimal route is determined, the route information can be encoded in the header segment of data packets. The data packets will travel from the source satellite, via the intermediary satellite, and eventually to the destination satellite without requiring any satellite to transfer routing tables, and without unnecessarily over burdening the traffic along the way between the source satellite and the destination satellite. By doing so, more communication connections can be made for billable wireless services. Moreover, a randomized se…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.