IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,014,771
Granted Patent B2
US 8,014,771 · App. 12/186,137 · Granted Sep 6, 2011

Method of sharing a satellite communication system having a hub with common equipment

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,014,771
App. No.
12/186,137
Granted
Sep 6, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of sharing a satellite communication system having a common equipment includes billing a first user for sending a first message using the common equipment over a first satellite link, billing a second user for sending a second message using the common equipment over a second satellite link, wherein the first satellite link is different than the second satellite link, billing a first network operator for billing the first user, and billing a second network operator for billing the second user.

Claims (18)

1. A method of sharing a satellite communication system having a hub including common equipment, comprising:

allocating, by the hub, a first portion of the common equipment to a first network operator;

allocating, by the hub, a second portion of the common equipment to a second network operator;

determining a first user is sending a first message using the common equipment over a first satellite link;

determining a second user is sending a second message using the common equipment over a second satellite link;

determining, by the hub, to bill a first network operator for the first message sent by the first user using the first portion of the common equipment including a first modem group in a hub modem chassis;

determining, by the hub, to bill a second network operator for the second message sent by the second user using the second portion of the common equipment including a second modem group in the hub modem chassis;

granting, from a hub network operator to the first network operator, privilege to control the first portion of the common equipment;

granting, from the hub network operator to the second network operator, privilege to control the second portion of the common equipment;

granting, from a system network provider to the hub network operator, privilege to operate the common equipment; and

billing the hub network operator for the operation of the common equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

allocating a third portion of the common equipment to the first user; and

allocating a fourth portion of the common equipment to the second user.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third portion of the common equipment includes a first quality of service mechanism, and the fourth portion of the common equipment includes a second quality of service mechanism.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third portion of the common equipment includes a first communication bandwidth allocation mechanism, and the fourth portion of the common equipment includes a second communication bandwidth allocation mechanism.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the third portion of the common equipment includes a portion of a total bandwidth of the first modem group and the fourth portion of the common equipment includes a portion of a total bandwidth of the second modem group.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first satellite link is different than said second satellite link.