Multipath Satellite Backbone Traffic Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite communication systems lack efficient resource usage and congestion control across multiple paths, failing to maximize throughput and resiliency due to lack of transport and link awareness in their backbone solutions.
Innovation Solution
A policy-based, transport and link-aware multipath satellite backbone system that dynamically selects and manages traffic across multiple communication paths, utilizing sub-backbone flows to optimize resource allocation and congestion management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single satellite backbone path is used, then the system complexity is low, but the resource efficiency and throughput are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backbone traffic flow into multiple sub-backbone flows that can be simultaneously transmitted over different satellite paths. Each sub-flow is independently managed and routed through selected paths based on current network conditions, enabling parallel transmission and increasing overall throughput while maintaining manageable complexity through modular flow handling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic path selection and traffic distribution where the backbone continuously adapts to changing network conditions. The system dynamically adjusts which paths are used and how traffic is distributed across them based on real-time metrics such as link quality, congestion levels, and satellite availability, maximizing throughput without requiring a fixed complex multi-path architecture
2Reliability
If multiple satellite paths are used without transport awareness, then the resiliency is improved, but the congestion control and resource usage efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the backbone monitors transport metrics and link conditions on each satellite path in real-time. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts traffic distribution across paths, avoiding congested routes and prioritizing paths with better performance, thereby achieving both high resiliency through multiple paths and efficient resource usage through intelligent routing decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes routing parameters and traffic distribution weights based on observed network conditions. When link quality or congestion levels change, the system adjusts the parameters controlling path selection and traffic splitting ratios, enabling adaptive resource allocation that maintains resiliency while optimizing resource efficiency under varying operational conditions
3Productivity
If prior art bonding solutions are used, then the throughput increase is achieved, but the transport and link awareness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends bonding concepts by making the traffic distribution dynamic and adaptive to transport conditions. Rather than static load balancing, the system continuously monitors transport metrics and link state, dynamically adjusting how traffic is split across bonded paths to maintain both high throughput and awareness of underlying transport characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback loops that monitor transport metrics and link conditions on each bonded path. This feedback enables the bonding mechanism to adaptively adjust traffic distribution, maintaining throughput optimization while preserving transport awareness through continuous observation and response to network conditions
4Ease of operation
If congestion control is not implemented across multiple paths, then the ease of operation is high, but the resource usage efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service congestion control where the backbone automatically monitors its own transport metrics and link conditions, and autonomously adjusts traffic distribution across multiple paths without external intervention. This self-managing approach maintains operational simplicity while achieving efficient resource usage through automated congestion avoidance and load balancing
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for providing a multipath satellite backbone is disclosed. The method includes: creating sub-backbone flows over multipaths between a first peer and a second peer, wherein each of the sub-backbone flows is associated with one of the multipaths; retrieving a policy corresponding to each of the multipaths, the first peer and the second peer; receiving a transport metric for at least one of the multipaths; calculating distribution weights for the sub-backbone flows based on the policy and the transport metric; and transporting traffic over the sub-backbone flows based on the distribution weights, wherein at least one of the multipaths is relayed by a satellite.