Scheduling and queue servicing in a satellite terminal for bandwidth allocations in a broadband satellite communications system

摘要

An approach for scheduling packets within a terminal (300) used in a satellite communications system (100) is disclosed. A hub, in conjunction with a satellite (101), controls bandwidth allocations to a plurality of terminals (300), which are configured to issue bandwidth allocation requests to the satellite (101). Each of the terminals (300) comprises a plurality of queues (403) that are configured to store the packets; these queues (403) are prioritized. A bandwidth-on-demand control logic (405) prepares a schedule plan for transmitting the stored packets based upon current bandwidth allocations and the prioritization of the queues (403). The current bandwidth allocations are based upon prior bandwidth allocation and the stored packets. The schedule plan assigns the stored packets to packet transmission opportunities associated with the current bandwidth allocations. <IMAGE>