Patent ID: 6243580
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
In a satellite network system including a satellite antenna for receiving and transmitting messages via a satellite and satellite beams to and from feederlink earth stations (FESs) connected to at least one land line communications network and mobile earth terminals (METs) of a mobile communication system; a satellite communication switching office connected to said antenna and coupled through a satellite interface system to a central controller; and a network operations center (NOC) for managing and controlling resources of the satellite network system, the NOC communicating with various internal and external entities via a control network, said NOC transmitting and receiving information with other components of the NOC, allocating system resources, updating network functions, enabling monitoring of customer usage, detecting fault conditions, and transmitting system information to an operator station, a priority and preemption system performing the functions of:(a) satisfying a resource acquisition request from a reserve pool for an external system;(b) replenishing the reserve pool with power and frequencies received from at least one of a frequency controller, a data hub and an independent operations controller leasing the frequencies;(c) when the resource acquisition request cannot be satisfied from the reserve pool, requesting additional unused frequencies, and when the additional unused frequencies are not available, requesting to preempt active calls; and(d) replenishing the power and the frequencies received from the at least one of the frequency controller, the data hub and the independent operations controller when the frequencies are no longer needed by the priority and preemption system, thereby replenishing the reserve pool in an ordered way that minimizes replenishment time while minimizing possible disruption to other networks.