IP Library Granted Patent US 10,932,285
Granted Patent B2
US 10,932,285 · App. 16/590,158 · Granted Feb 23, 2021

Cyclical obstruction communication system

Inventors: Donald Wilcoxson (Carlsbad, CA); John O'Neill (Carlsbad, CA); Daniel Chester (Carlsbad, CA); Brian Sleight (Carlsbad, CA); Changping Li (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Viasat Inc.
H04W72/1257H04B7/18586H04L1/0002H04L1/0009H04L1/0034H04L1/0051H04L1/08H04W76/10H04B7/18506
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,932,285
App. No.
16/590,158
Granted
Feb 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for improving data rates at mobile terminals that are subject to periodic channel interruptions in a beyond-line-of-sight communication system are disclosed, including improved encoding and decoding systems that identify blockages and modify receiver operation during blockages to reduce data errors. In certain embodiments, encoding, symbol mapping, interleaving, and use of unique periodic identifiers function to enable a series of packets that may be received in a blockage impaired channel with reduced errors.

Claims (22)

1. A method, comprising:

establishing a communication session with a terminal for transmission of one or more data packets via a wireless communication system;

identifying that a communication channel used for communication with the terminal is intermittently obstructed;

fragmenting the one or more data packets into a plurality of packet fragments, wherein a size of the plurality of packet fragments is determined based at least in part on obstruction characteristics of the intermittently obstructed communication channel; and

transmitting the plurality of packet fragments to the terminal over the intermittently obstructed communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the size of the plurality of packet fragments is determined based at least in part on an unobstructed portion of a blockage period of the intermittently obstructed communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fragmenting is performed at an Internet Protocol (IP) layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fragmenting is performed at a protocol layer below an Internet Protocol (IP) layer in a transmission layer stack.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the plurality of packet fragments comprises transmitting each of the plurality of packet fragments followed by a respective duplicate packet fragment.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the plurality of packet fragments comprises transmitting a sequence identifier with each of the plurality of packet fragments.

7. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a transport processor configured to:

establish a communication session with a terminal for transmission of one or more data packets via a wireless communication system;

identify that a communication channel used for communication with the terminal is intermittently obstructed; and

fragment the one or more data packets into a plurality of packet fragments, wherein a size of the plurality of packet fragments is determined based at least in part on obstruction characteristics of the intermittently obstructed communication channel; and

a modulator configured to modulate the plurality of packet fragments for transmission to the terminal over the intermittently obstructed communication channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the size of the plurality of packet fragments is determined based at least in part on an unobstructed portion of a blockage period of the intermittently obstructed communication channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the fragmenting is performed at an Internet Protocol (IP) layer.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the fragmenting is performed at a protocol layer below an Internet Protocol (IP) layer in a transmission layer stack.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

a delay buffer configured to generate to a respective duplicate packet fragment for each of the plurality of packet fragments for transmission following the each of the plurality of packet fragments.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the transport processor is further configured to include a sequence identifier with each of the plurality of packet fragments.

Assignments (6)
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 19, 2023
From: VIASAT, INC.
To: MUFG BANK, LTD., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 064948/0379 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2023
From: LI, CHANGPING
To: VIASAT, INC.
Reel/Frame 064327/0448 →
SUPPLEMENTAL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 29, 2023
From: VIASAT, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 064176/0566 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 1, 2023
From: VIASAT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 063822/0446 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2022
From: VIASAT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059332/0558 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 24, 2020
From: WILCOXSON, DONALD; O'NEILL, JOHN; CHESTER, DANIEL; SLEIGHT, BRIAN
To: VIASAT, INC.
Reel/Frame 052213/0397 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 16024435 · Jun 29, 2018
Continuation 15292355 · Oct 13, 2016
Continuation 14986197 · Dec 31, 2015
Continuation 14610679 · Jan 30, 2015
Continuation 13540541 · Jul 2, 2012
Continuation In Part 12446170
Provisional Application 60862452 · Oct 22, 2006
Related Publication 20200154460A1 · May 14, 2020