US-12627371-B1 - Hierarchical handover signaling

US12627371B1US 12627371 B1US12627371 B1US 12627371B1US-12627371-B1

Abstract

Technologies directed to hierarchical handover signaling methodology and systems are described. One method includes receiving, by a wireless device from a first artificial satellite, first data indicating a state of network traffic of a first set of communication channels between the first artificial satellite and each of a set of UTs at a first time. The method further includes determining second data indicating a second time, after the first time, corresponding to an upcoming event. The method may further include sending, by the wireless device to the second artificial satellite, third data indicating the first data and the second data. The third data comprises instructions that cause the second artificial satellite to allocate, based on the first state of network traffic, a second set of communication channels between the second artificial satellite and each of the set of UTs at a third time, at or subsequent to the second time.

Inventors

Srikar Rajamani
Andrew B. Dickinson
Ali Masoomzadeh
Daniel Todd Cohn

Assignees

AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220627

Claims (15)

1 . A method, comprising: receiving, by a wireless device from a first artificial satellite, first data indicating a state of network traffic of a first set of communication channels between the first artificial satellite and each of a set of user terminals (UTs) at a first time, prior to an event; determining, by the wireless device, second data indicating a second time, after the first time, wherein the second time corresponds to the event, and wherein the second data further indicates a predicted position and a predicted velocity of the first artificial satellite at the second time, wherein: the first artificial satellite is configured to exchange first data packets with a first UT of the set of UTs prior to the event; and a second artificial satellite is configured to exchange second data packets with the first UT of the set of UTs subsequent to the event; and sending, by the wireless device to the second artificial satellite, third data comprising the first data and the second data, wherein the third data comprises instructions that cause the second artificial satellite to allocate, based on the state of network traffic, a second set of communication channels between the second artificial satellite and each of the set of UTs at a third time, subsequent to the second time.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data indicates a data buffer depth of corresponding data uplinks between the first artificial satellite and each of the set of UTs at the first time.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of first data packets are communicated between the first artificial satellite and the first UT via the wireless device.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising: determining, by the wireless device, fourth data indicating at least one or more of (i) historical communication patterns of the first UT or (ii) an operational state of the first UT, wherein the instructions of the second data further cause the second artificial satellite to allocate the second set of communication channels further using the fourth data.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is the first UT of the set of UTs.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the first artificial satellite to the second artificial satellite, fourth data identifying the first UT, wherein the fourth data comprises instructions that cause the second artificial satellite to allocate a first data communication channel between the second artificial satellite and the first UT at a fourth time before the third time.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: sending by the first artificial satellite to the second artificial satellite using an intersatellite link (ISL), fifth data comprising a copy of the first data.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the wireless device from the second artificial satellite, a decryption key associated with decrypting the second data packets; and sending, by the wireless device to each of the each of the UTs at the second time, the decryption key.
9 . A wireless device, comprising: radio frequency (RF) circuitry; and one or more processors coupled to the RF circuit and executing instructions to: receive, from a first artificial satellite, first data indicating a state of network traffic of a first set of communication channels between the first artificial satellite and each of a set of user terminals (UTs) at a first time, prior to an event, wherein the first data further indicates a data buffer depth of corresponding data uplinks between the first artificial satellite and each of the set of UTs at the first time; determine second data indicating a second time, after the first time, wherein the second time corresponds to the event, wherein: the first artificial satellite is configured to exchange first data packets with a first UT of the set of UTs prior to the event; and a second artificial satellite is configured to exchange second data packets with the first UT of the set of UTs subsequent to the event; and send, to the second artificial satellite, third data indicating the first data and the second data, wherein the third data comprises instructions that cause the second artificial satellite to allocate, based on the state of network traffic, a second set of communication channels between the second artificial satellite and each of the set of UTs at a third time, subsequent to the second time.
10 . The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the second data indicates a predicted position and a predicted velocity of the first artificial satellite at the second time.
11 . The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of first data packets are communicated between the first artificial satellite and the first UT via the wireless device.
12 . The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors execute instructions to further: determine fourth data indicating at least one or more of (i) historical communication patterns of the first UT of the set of UTs or (ii) an operational state of the first UT, wherein the instructions of the second data further cause the second artificial satellite to allocate the second set of communication channels further using the fourth data.
13 . The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the wireless device is the first UT of the set of UTs.
14 . The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors execute instructions to further: receive, from the second artificial satellite, a decryption key associated with decrypting the second data packets; and send, to each of the each of the UTs at the second time, the decryption key.
15 . The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors execute instruction to further: receive, from the first artificial satellite, fourth data identifying the first UT; and send, to the second artificial satellite, the fourth data, wherein the fourth data comprises instructions that cause the second artificial satellite to allocate a first data communication channel between the second artificial satellite and the first UT at a fourth time before the third time.

Description

BACKGROUND Satellite-based communication systems can include gateways and one or more satellites to relay communication signals between the gateways and one or more user terminals (UTs). A gateway is an earth station with an antenna to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, communication satellites. A gateway provides communication links using satellites to connect a user terminal to other user terminals or to users of other communication systems, such as a public switched telephone network, the Internet, and various public and/or private networks. A satellite is an orbiting receiver and repeater used to relay information. In non-geosynchronous satellite-based systems, such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-based systems, satellites move relative to terrestrial communication devices such as gateways or user terminals. Therefore, a UT will be handed over from one satellite to another at some point. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some figures, the proportions or other aspects may be exaggerated to facilitate comprehension of particular aspects. FIG. 1 illustrates a hierarchical handover signaling system, according to some implementations. FIG. 2 illustrates a hierarchical handover signaling system, according to some implementations. FIG. 3 illustrates a hierarchical handover signaling system, according to some implementations. FIG. 4 illustrates a hierarchical handover signaling system architecture, according to some implementations. FIG. 5 illustrates a process of performing a satellite handover procedure, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a communication system that includes two satellites of a constellation of satellites, each satellite being in orbit, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of some systems associated with the satellite, according to some implementations. FIG. 8 illustrates a satellite including an antenna system that is steerable, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified schematic of an antenna, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. While implementations are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementations are not limited to the examples or figures described. It should be understood that the figures and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit implementations to the particular form disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean “including, but not limited to”. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A communications system may utilize satellites to wirelessly transfer data between user terminals (UTs) and ground stations that, in turn, connect to other networks, such as the Internet. Compared to terrestrial wireless systems, the cost to place and maintain individual satellites, the large geographic coverage area of a given satellite, and a substantial number of user terminals served by each satellite, may require precise coordination between satellites to ensure network coverage and performance are maintained across various terrestrial regions. A common procedure among satellite systems is exchanging communication responsibilities of individual satellites through a handoff or handover procedure. In telecommunications, handover, or handoff, is the process of transferring an ongoing call or data session from one channel connected to the core network to another channel. In satellite communications, it is the process of transferring ground communication responsibility from one artificial satellite to another without loss or interruption of service. Satellites provide communication services between devices, such as user terminals (UT) located on or near a body such as the Earth. For example, a first UT on a first geographic location (geolocation) on the Earth may send upstream data to a first satellite (e.g., artificial satellite, aerial vehicle, etc.) that is in range of the first UT. The first satellite may send the upstream data to a ground station, another satellite, and so forth. For example, the first satel