Patent ID: 6292659
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method for operating a satellite communication system, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing in said satellite communication system a system management domain segment for controlling a core global satellite network, the core global satellite network comprising means for providing bandwidth-on-demand services and a local management domain segment comprising multiple local management domains;(b) providing in a first local management domain of said local management domain segment at least one distributed virtual network (DVN);(c) adapting said first local management domain to enable said at least one DVN to access said core global satellite network such that said at least one DVN appears to operate as an independent global satellite network, thereby allowing a service provider associated with the at least one DVN to provide an individual DVN user a bandwidth-on-demand service through the at least one DVN as if the at least one DVN were an independent global satellite network;(d) adapting said system management domain segment to perform a first set of functions to support said local management domain segment by allocating capacity for said bandwidth-on-demand service to said at least one DVN and ensuring that said at least one DVN has the system resources to achieve said capacity without performing a second set of functions associated with managing the use of said capacity on behalf of individual users by said at least one DVN;step (c) comprises the step of adapting said system management domain segment to perform a set of network element management domain functions needed to support a structure of said local management domain segment; andsaid set of network element management domain functions comprises cell relay services.