Patent ID: 7948963
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing to a network of sites, sharing a time-division multiple-access (TDMA) satellite link, a dedicated bandwidth for priority traffic and a shared dynamic bandwidth for high flow traffic, the method comprising: providing to each site a dedicated bandwidth for priority traffic by assigning to each site at least one dedicated sub-frame, said sub-frame being a time-slot during which the site transmits, and said sub-frame being one of a series of sequential sub-frames organized in a time-repeating sequence called a frame, said frame further comprising in its time sequence a burst sub-frame corresponding to the shared bandwidth available for high flow traffic; providing to each site, at a regular time interval, a reservation micro time-slot during which the site can transmit a reservation for the burst sub-frame of a frame to come; at each site determining when the reservation is to be sent as a function of an assignment protocol and a buffer status and transmitting the reservation; assigning at each site, as a function of said reservations and according to said assignment protocol, the burst sub-frame to a corresponding site that will be allowed to transmit during said burst sub-frame, therefore providing to the network a dynamic bandwidth for high flow traffic; and at said corresponding site determining when high flow traffic data is to be sent as a function of said reservations and said assignment protocol and transmitting the high flow traffic data.