US-12628029-B2 - Dynamic bandwidth allocation and jitter handling in multi-tiered satellite networks

US12628029B2US 12628029 B2US12628029 B2US 12628029B2US-12628029-B2

Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation and jitter handling in multi-tiered satellite networks such as virtual communication networks and/or physical communication networks. The system includes bandwidth distributing (BD) unit, in-route group managers (IGMs), in-route bandwidth manager (IBM). The system functions in multi-tier network entity management mode, and multi-beam management mode. The system operates by periodically collecting bandwidth reports from IGMs. The BD unit analyzes data in report and compares aggregated bandwidth demand with pre-defined thresholds. If thresholds are exceeded, system switches to multi-tier network entity management mode. In this mode, BD unit determines individual bandwidth adjustments for virtual network and beams and allocates bandwidth for individual devices within virtual network. Further, BD unit transmits this information to IBM, which applies allocations, and receives and transmits a scaling factor back to IGM indicating utilization of allocated bandwidth. Further, BD unit switches back to multi-beam management mode based on comparison result.

Inventors

Xuehong YANG
Fernando Secali De Oliveira Filho
Yuanlai Zhou
Yeqing Tang
Venkatasubramaniam Ganesan

Assignees

HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20231229

Claims (20)

1 . A system comprising: a first network path comprising a physical network environment, wherein the physical network environment comprises a first network gateway associated with the first network path; a second network path comprising a virtual network environment, wherein the virtual network environment comprises a second network gateway associated with the second network path; a bandwidth distributing (BD) unit, communicatively coupled to at least one of the first network gateway and the second network gateway, wherein the BD unit comprises a multi-tier network entity management mode, wherein the BD unit comprises: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises processor-executable instructions, which on execution, cause the processor to: retrieve, periodically, a bandwidth report from an in-route group manager (IGM) associated with each of at least one of the first network gateway and the second network gateway, wherein the bandwidth report comprises a request, from a plurality of devices, for bandwidth on at least one of the physical network environment and the virtual network environment; analyze data indicating a status of the virtual network environment and the physical network environment, wherein the status corresponds to an aggregated bandwidth demand for the virtual network environment and the physical network environment; compare a bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand, with a first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and a second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment; switch from, a multi-beam management mode corresponding to an in-route bandwidth manager (IBM) associated with the IGM, to the multi-tier network entity management mode, based on a comparison result; determine a bandwidth adjustment parameter corresponding to at least one of the virtual network environment, and a beam associated with the virtual network environment, based on switching to the multi-tier network entity management mode, wherein the bandwidth adjustment parameter is determined for the virtual network environment within at least one of the physical network environment and the virtual network environment; allocate a bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, and transmit allocated bandwidth information to an in-route bandwidth manager (IBM) associated with the IGM; trigger the IBM to apply the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment; receive, from the IBM, a scaling factor corresponding to the allocated bandwidth, upon triggering the IBM, wherein the received scaling factor is transmitted to the IGM; and switch back to the multi-beam management mode via the IBM from, the multi-tier network entity management mode, based on the comparison result, upon transmitting the scaling factor to the IGM.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to: compare an amount of time corresponding to the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, with a pre-defined time; compare the bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand with the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value; allocate progressively, bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, until a maximum throughput threshold value associated with the virtual network environment is attained, based on a comparison result; trigger the IBM to apply the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, based on the progressively allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, until the maximum throughput threshold value is attained; receive, from the IBM, a scaling factor corresponding to the progressively allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, upon triggering the IBM, wherein the received scaling factor is transmitted to the IGM; and switch back, to the multi-beam management mode via the IBM from, the multi-tier network entity management mode, based on the comparison result, upon transmitting the scaling factor to the IGM.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and the second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment are dynamically modified based on: determining, periodically, by the processor, the bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand is within the first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and the second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment; determining, by the processor, a beam adjusted value corresponding to the virtual network environment, based on determining the bandwidth demand value is within the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value; and modifying, by the processor, at least one of the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value based on: exceeding the bandwidth demand value over the second pre-defined threshold value for allocating the bandwidth, wherein the second pre-defined threshold value is modified to the beam adjusted value; and modifying, incrementally the second pre-defined threshold value for each of a pre-defined time, based on the beam adjusted value.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein, upon modifying incrementally the second pre-defined threshold value for each of the pre-defined time, the processor is to progressively shift the at least one of the virtual network environment, and a beam associated with the virtual network environment to an adjusted slot of the bandwidth allocation.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the physical network environment comprises network service providers (NSPs) and the virtual network environment comprises virtual network operators (VNOs).
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the status of the virtual network environment and the physical network environment corresponds to at least one of the aggregated bandwidth demand for the virtual network environment and the physical network environment, a throughput for the virtual network environment and the physical network environment, and an available bandwidth for each of the virtual network environment and the physical network environment.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein switching from the multi-beam management mode to the multi-tier network entity management mode, is based on determining a traffic value associated with a traffic in the allocated bandwidth for the plurality of devices, is greater than a traffic threshold value.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the allocation of bandwidth to the plurality of devices is based on determining at least one of a bandwidth demand value, an assigned weighted value to each of plurality of devices, service level agreements (SLAs), a resource availability, traffic characteristics, network conditions, historical usage patterns of the plurality of devices, and priority levels for the plurality of devices.
9 . A method comprising: retrieving, by a processor associated with a bandwidth distributing (BD) unit, periodically, a bandwidth report from an in-route group manager (IGM) associated with each of at least one of a first network gateway associated with a first network path and a second network gateway associated with a second network path, wherein the bandwidth report comprises a request, from a plurality of devices, for bandwidth on at least one of a physical network environment associated with the first network path and a virtual network environment associated with the second network path, and wherein the BD unit is communicatively coupled to at least one of the first network gateway and the second network gateway; analyzing, by the processor, data indicating a status of the virtual network environment and the physical network environment, wherein the status corresponds to an aggregated bandwidth demand for the virtual network environment and the physical network environment; comparing, by the processor, a bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand, with a first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and a second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment; switching, by the processor, from a multi-beam management mode corresponding to an in-route bandwidth manager (IBM) associated with the IGM, to a multi-tier network entity management mode associated with the BD unit, based on a comparison result; determining, by the processor, a bandwidth adjustment parameter corresponding to at least one of the virtual network environment, and a beam associated with the virtual network environment, based on switching to the multi-tier network entity management mode, wherein the bandwidth adjustment parameter is determined for the virtual network environment within at least one of the physical network environment and the virtual network environment; allocating, by the processor, a bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, and transmit allocated bandwidth information to an in-route bandwidth manager (IBM) associated with the IGM; triggering, by the processor, the IBM to apply the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment; receiving, by the processor, from the IBM, a scaling factor corresponding to the allocated bandwidth, upon triggering the IBM, wherein the received scaling factor is transmitted to the IGM; and switching, by the processor, back to the multi-beam management mode via the IBM from the multi-tier network entity management mode, based on the comparison result, upon transmitting the scaling factor.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprises: comparing, by the processor, an amount of time corresponding to the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, with a pre-defined time; comparing, by the processor, the bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand with the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value; allocating, by the processor, progressively, bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, until a maximum throughput threshold value associated with the virtual network environment is attained, based on a comparison result; triggering, by the processor, the IBM to apply the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, based on the progressively allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, until the maximum throughput threshold value is attained; receiving, by the processor, from the IBM, a scaling factor corresponding to the progressively allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, upon triggering the IBM, wherein the received scaling factor is transmitted to the IGM; and switching, by the processor, back to the multi-beam management mode via the IBM from the multi-tier network entity management mode, based on the comparison result, upon transmitting the scaling factor.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and the second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment are dynamically modified based on: determining, by the processor, periodically, the bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand, is within the first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and the second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment; determining, by the processor, a beam adjusted value corresponding to the virtual network environment, based on determining the bandwidth demand value is within the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value; and modifying, by the processor, at least one of the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value based on: exceeding the bandwidth demand value over the second pre-defined threshold value for allocating the bandwidth, wherein the second pre-defined threshold value is modified to the beam adjusted value; and modifying, by the processor, incrementally the second pre-defined threshold value for each of a pre-defined time, based on the beam adjusted value.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein, upon modifying incrementally the second pre-defined threshold value for each of the pre-defined time, the processor is to progressively shift the at least one of the virtual network environment, and a beam associated with the virtual network environment to an adjusted slot of the bandwidth allocation.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the physical network environment comprises network service providers (NSPs), and the virtual network environment comprises virtual network operators (VNOs).
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the status of the virtual network environment and the physical network environment corresponds to at least one of the aggregated bandwidth demand for the virtual network environment and the physical network environment, a throughput for the virtual network environment and the physical network environment, and an available bandwidth for each of the virtual network environment and the physical network environment.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein switching from the multi-beam management mode to the multi-tier network entity management mode, is based on determining, by the processor, a traffic value associated with a traffic in the allocated bandwidth for the plurality of devices, is greater than a traffic threshold value.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the allocation of bandwidth to the plurality of devices is based on determining, by the processor, at least one of a bandwidth demand value, an assigned weighted value to each of plurality of devices, service level agreements (SLAs), a resource availability, traffic characteristics, network conditions, historical usage patterns of the plurality of devices, and priority levels for the plurality of devices.
17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions that are executable by a processor to: retrieve, via a bandwidth distributing (BD) unit, periodically, a bandwidth report from an in-route group manager (IGM) associated with each of at least one of a first network gateway associated with a first network path and a second network gateway associated with a second network path, wherein the bandwidth report comprises a request, from a plurality of devices, for bandwidth on at least one of a physical network environment associated with the first network path and a virtual network environment associated with the second network path, and wherein the BD unit is communicatively coupled to at least one of the first network gateway and the second network gateway; analyze data indicating a status of the virtual network environment and the physical network environment, wherein the status corresponds to an aggregated bandwidth demand for the virtual network environment and the physical network environment; compare a bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand, with a first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and a second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment; switch, from a multi-beam management mode corresponding to an in-route bandwidth manager (IBM) associated with the IGM, to a multi-tier network entity management mode associated with the BD unit, based on a comparison result; determine a bandwidth adjustment parameter corresponding to at least one of the virtual network environment, and a beam associated with the virtual network environment, based on switching to the multi-tier network entity management mode, wherein the bandwidth adjustment parameter is determined for the virtual network environment within at least one of the physical network environment and the virtual network environment; allocate a bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, and transmit allocated bandwidth information to an in-route bandwidth manager (IBM) associated with the IGM; trigger the IBM to apply the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment; receive, from the IBM, a scaling factor corresponding to the allocated bandwidth, upon triggering the IBM, wherein the received scaling factor is transmitted to the IGM; and switch, by the processor, back, to the multi-beam management mode via the IBM from the multi-tier network entity management mode, based on the comparison result, upon transmitting the scaling factor.
18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , the processor is to: compare an amount of time corresponding to the allocated of bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, with a pre-defined time; compare the bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand with the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value; allocate progressively, bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, until a maximum throughput threshold value associated with the virtual network environment is attained, based on a comparison result; trigger the IBM to apply the allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices associated with the virtual network environment, based on the progressively allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, until the maximum throughput threshold value is attained; receive, from the IBM, a scaling factor corresponding to the progressively allocated bandwidth for each of the plurality of devices, upon triggering the IBM, wherein the received scaling factor is transmitted to the IGM; and switch back to the multi-beam management mode via the IBM from the multi-tier network entity management mode, based on the comparison result, upon transmitting the scaling factor.
19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and the second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment are dynamically modified based on: determining, by the processor, periodically the bandwidth demand value associated with the aggregated bandwidth demand, is within the first pre-defined threshold value associated with the physical network environment and the second pre-defined threshold value associated with the virtual network environment; determining, by the processor, a beam adjusted value corresponding to the virtual network environment, based on determining the bandwidth demand value is within the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value; and modifying, by the processor, at least one of the first pre-defined threshold value and the second pre-defined threshold value based on: exceeding the bandwidth demand value over the second pre-defined threshold value for allocating the bandwidth, wherein the second pre-defined threshold value is modified to the beam adjusted value; and modifying incrementally the second pre-defined threshold value for each of a pre-defined time, based on the beam adjusted value.
20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein, upon modifying incrementally the second pre-defined threshold value for each of the pre-defined time, the processor is to progressively shift the at least one of the virtual network environment, and a beam associated with the virtual network environment to an adjusted slot of the bandwidth allocation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This patent application is directed to satellite communication systems and, more specifically, to systems and methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation and jitter handling in multi-tiered satellite networks such as virtual communication networks and/or physical communication networks. BACKGROUND Generally, satellite communication networks are evolving towards greater complexity, with a plurality of service providers offering different levels of service to a diverse range of customers. In a multi-tiered service agreement, a network operator may enter into a service level agreement (SLA) with a service provider that procures bulk access to infrastructure of a network operator. In turn, the service provider may enter into agreements with various entities that desire to obtain access to the network via the service provider. Such a hierarchical arrangement can be complicated to manage, especially because each of the various service providers and the entities may desire different levels of service. The entities may include entities that either subdivide their allocated uplink and downlink throughput among additional entities or provide such uplink and downlink throughput to satellite terminals. For example, network service providers (NSP) and virtual network operators (VNOs) represent types of entities, which provide service to end users. It should be understood that the terms NSP and VNO are arbitrary and are merely used herein to distinguish between entities that are part of a multi-tier of satellite network provider. One challenge in managing such multi-tiered networks is ensuring efficient and equitable bandwidth allocation. Different entities may have different bandwidth requirements and priorities, and it can be difficult to balance these needs while also ensuring that the network remains stable and reliable. Several bandwidth flow control mechanisms have been implemented for parallel use in multi-tiered satellite networks. Once such bandwidth flow control mechanism may involve use of an in-route group managers (IGMs) and an in-route bandwidth manager (IBM). Communications sent from a satellite terminal are referred to as in-route transmissions, and communications received by a satellite terminal are referred as out-route transmissions. In a scenario, the IGM may monitor bandwidth statistics of each entity under respective management policy and report the bandwidth statistics to IBM. The IBM then allocates bandwidth to each entity based on various factors, such as respective reported usage, maximum subscription, and overall available bandwidth in the network. Additionally, the IGMs also allocate bandwidth to each entity based on the various factors. Another such bandwidth flow control mechanism may include multi-tier NSP/VNO bandwidth sharing techniques. This technique may manage bandwidth at different levels, such as an NSP/beam level, a VNO system-wide level, and a NSP system-wide level. This ensures that each NSP and VNO remains within their allocated bandwidth limits, and any unused bandwidth can be redistributed by the IBM. Though existing bandwidth flow control mechanisms may effectively manage bandwidth consumption, the existing mechanisms may also introduce jitter into the network. The jitter occurs when the total requested bandwidth for a particular entity exceeds respective allocated limits, and the IBM may not adjust the bandwidth allocation immediately. When any of the limits are exceeded, the IBM may adjust the bandwidth allocation to ensure that each entity and beam remains within assigned bandwidth quota. However, the adjustment process may be disruptive and lead to fluctuations in the available bandwidth, which may negatively impact the performance of applications and services that rely on consistent bandwidth. Additionally, the problem of jitter can be exacerbated if the bandwidth adjustment mechanism does not apply to the IBM itself. In such cases, the entity or the beam may be able to achieve respective configured maximum bandwidth limit, even if the entity or the beam exceeds allocated quota. This can result in drastic fluctuations in the available bandwidth, causing significant jitter and impacting network performance and user experience. Consequently, there may be a need in the art to provide improved systems and methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation and jitter handling in multi-tiered satellite networks such as virtual communication networks and/or physical communication networks, and to address at least the aforementioned issues. Such systems and method may need to be able to efficiently and equitably allocate bandwidth while also reducing jitter and ensuring high network performance. SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simple manner, which is further described in the detailed description of the disclosure. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the subject matter nor to determine t