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CA-3049210-C - HIERARCHICAL LINK QUALITY METRICS FOR A BEAM IN A SATELLITE NETWORK

CA3049210CCA 3049210 CCA3049210 CCA 3049210CCA-3049210-C

Abstract

A system and method for determining hierarchical link quality metrics in a communication system, and performing different routines to optimize operation of the communication system based on the link quality metrics. Data is collected for a predetermined interval, and a carrier link quality is determined for each terminal utilizing different carriers in the communication system. A link quality is determined for each terminal type, and a beam link quality is determined for each beam in the system. Different thresholds are set so that optimization routines can be performed based on the current link quality values.

Inventors

  • Steven Dominic Mirra
  • James Jehong JONG
  • Bhanu Durvasula

Assignees

  • HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20171220
Priority Date
20161229

Claims (20)

  1. What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising: collecting data, for a predetermined interval, in a communication system having a plurality of terminals each of a predetermined terminal type, at least one beam, and a plurality of carriers operable within each of the at least one beam; determining a carrier link quality for each terminal type on each of the plurality of carriers utilized in the communication system; determining a mean carrier link quality and standard deviation of the carrier link quality for each terminal type based, at least in part, on the determined carrier link qualities; determining a terminal type link quality for each terminal type on the plurality of carriers, based on the mean carrier link qualities and standard deviation of the carrier link qualities; generating a beam link quality for each of the at least one beam based, at least in part, on the terminal type link qualities; and performing at least one optimization routine responsive to the beam link quality.
  2. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a system link quality by combining the beam link quality for all beams in the communication system; and performing at least one optimization routine responsive to the system link quality.
  3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising outputting an alert if the beam link quality falls below a predetermined threshold.
  4. 4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein collecting data further comprises: collecting return link information regarding total burst received for each terminal type; and collecting forward link quality reports from each terminal type on each of the plurality of earners.
  5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the carrier link quality further comprises determining a burst link quality for each terminal type on each of the plurality of carriers based on the collected return link information and collected forward link quality reports.
  6. 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising applying a weight to each terminal type based, at least in part, on the collected return link information and collected forward link quality reports. 37 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-12-01
  7. 7. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein performing the at least one optimization routine comprises performing a load balancing of terminals in the communication system if the beam link quality falls below a predetermined threshold.
  8. 8. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein performing the at least one optimization routine comprises adjusting a coding and modulation scheme for the terminals based on at least one predetermined threshold value for the beam link quality.
  9. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising limiting a total bit rate of all guaranteed bit rate services based on the lowest modulation and coding scheme supported by the beam link quality.
  10. 10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein performing the at least one optimization routine compnses: examining at least one of the beam link quality and carrier link quality of beams and/or carriers utilizing the same frequencies; and outputting an alert if the examined beam link qualities and/or carrier link qualities are below a minimum threshold, wherein the minimum threshold is indicative of external frequency interference.
  11. 11. A system comprising: a plurality of terminals, each of a predetermined terminal type for communicating over a communication system having at least one beam, and a plurality of carriers operable within each of the at least one beam; and at least one base station configured to communicate with the plurality of terminals, and to monitor and control one or more operations within the communication system, the at least one base station being further configured to: collect data, for a predetermined interval, determine a carrier link quality for each terminal type on each of the plurality of carriers utilized in the communication system, determine a mean carrier link quality and standard deviation of the carrier link quality for each terminal type based, at least in part, on the determined carrier link qualities, determine a terminal type link quality for each terminal type on the plurality of carriers, based on the mean carrier link qualities and standard deviation of the carrier link qualities, generate a beam link quality for each of the at least one beam based, at least in part, on 38 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-12-01 the terminal type link qualities, and perform at least one optimization routine responsive to the beam link quality.
  12. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the base station is further configured to: generate a system link quality by combining the beam link quality for all beams in the communication system; and perform at least one optimization routine responsive to the system link quality.
  13. 13. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the base station is further configured to output an alert if the beam link quality falls below a predetermined threshold.
  14. 14. The system of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the base station is configured to collect data by: collecting return link information regarding total burst received for each terminal type; and collecting forward link quality reports from each terminal type on each of the plurality of earner.
  15. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the base station is configured to determine the carrier link quality by determining a burst link quality for each terminal type on each of the plurality of carriers based on the collected return link information and collected forward link quality reports.
  16. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the base station is further configured to apply a weight to each terminal type based, at least in part, on the collected return link information and collected forward link quality reports.
  17. 17. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the base station is configured to perform at the least one optimization by performing a load balancing of terminals in the communication system if the beam link quality falls below a predetermined threshold.
  18. 18. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the base station is configured to perform the at least one optimization by adjusting a coding and modulation scheme for the terminals based on at least one predetermined threshold value for the beam link quality.
  19. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the base station is further configured to limit a total bit rate of all guaranteed bit rate services based on the lowest modulation and coding scheme supported by the beam link quality. 39 Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-12-01
  20. 20. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the base station is configured to perform the at least one optimization by: examining at least one of the beam link quality and carrier link quality of beams and/or carriers utilizing the same frequencies; and outputting an alert if the examined beam link qualities and/or carrier link qualities are below a minimum threshold, wherein the minimum threshold is indicative of external frequency interference. Date Re9ue/Date Received 2023-12-01

Description

WO 2018/125718 PCT/0S2017/067646 HIERARCHICAL LINK QUALITY METRICS FOR A BEAM IN A SATELLITE NETWORK BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0001] Modern communication systems allow consumers to maintain connectivity, regardless of their location. Many consumers are capable of utilizing different types of terminals (e.g., mobile phones, satellite phones, etc.) while traveling or moving through different geographic locations. Satellite communication systems are at least one type of communication system which facilitate such mobility to consumers. As the number of consumers and desired content increases, it also becomes necessary to monitor system status in order to maintain appropriate quality of service. [0002] Communication systems, such as satellite communication systems, are extremely complicated and incorporate a large number of subsystems which must be properly integrated for proper functionality. Such systems can include multiple beams and multiple terminals operating within the beams. The system typically provides individual link quality metrics for each terminal, including energy per symbol to noise power spectral density ratio (EJN0 ) and transmit power. In order to quickly assess overall system status, it is necessary to obtain, observe, and analyze various operational metrics associated with key systems and subsystems. [0003] Conventional system monitoring typically requires data collection from var10us systems/terminals and off-line analysis thereof. Oftentimes, however, results of the data analysis are obtained after certain problems have persisted over extended periods of time. Furthermore, the communication system may experience intermittent and/or temporal complications that occur WO 2018/125718 PCT/0S2017/067646 at various points during the day. Although such complications can severely affect the overall system functionality, they cannot be easily observed and/or addressed through offline analysis. Furthermore, such complications can affect subscriber communication and result in dissatisfaction. [0004] While a system operator can examine the link quality metrics of components such as individual terminals, it is useful to obtain and examine beam metrics which encompass more than one terminal in a beam. These beam metrics can be hierarchical in nature, and range from a metric which comprises all terminals of one type on a single carrier in a beam, to a metric which comprises all terminals of different types in a beam. Such metrics can be used to assess link quality in a beam in real-time, and dynamically modify various parameters to improve and/or optimize system performance. 2 WO 2018/125718 PCT/0S2017/067646 BRIEF SUMMARY [0005] A system and method are described for determining hierarchical link quality metrics in a communication system, and performing different optimizations based on the link quality metrics. According to an embodiment, the method includes: collecting data, for a predetermined interval, in a communication system having at least one beam and a plurality of carriers operable within each of the at least one beam; determining a carrier link quality for each terminal type on each of the plurality of carriers utilized in the communication system; determining a mean carrier link quality and standard deviation of the carrier link quality for each terminal type based, at least in part, on the determined carrier link qualities; determining a terminal type link quality for each terminal type on the plurality of carriers, based on the mean carrier link qualities and standard deviation of the carrier link qualities; generating a beam link quality for each of the at least one beam based, at least in part, on the terminal type link qualities; and performing at least one optimization routine responsive to the beam link quality. [0006] According to another embodiment, the system includes: a plurality of terminal of predetermined types for communicating over a communication system having at least one beam and a plurality of carriers operable within each of the at least one beams; and at least one base station configured to communicate with the plurality of terminal types, and to monitor and control one or more operations within the communication system. The at least one base station being further configured to: collect data, for a predetermined interval, determine a carrier link quality for each terminal type on each of the plurality of carriers utilized in the communication system, determine a mean carrier link quality and standard deviation of the carrier link quality for each terminal type based, at least in part, on the determined carrier link qualities, determine a 3 WO 2018/125718 PCT/0S2017/067646 terminal type link quality for each terminal type on the plurality of carriers, based on the mean carrier link qualities and standard deviation of the carrier link qualities, generate a beam link quality for each of the at least one beam based, at least in part, on the terminal type link qualities, and per