QUEUE MANAGEMENT FOR PACKET TRANSMISSION IN SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

1 . A method of managing queues for transmission of protocol data units (PDUs) in a satellite communication system, the method comprising:

receiving the PDUs at a gateway, the gateway having a first set of queues each corresponding to a different class of service (CoS) and a second set of queues each corresponding to a different modulation and coding (Modcod) scheme;

loading the PDUs into the first set of queues in accordance with a set of CoS assignments for the PDUs;

allocating an available bandwidth in the second set of queues amongst the first set of queues;

releasing the PDUs from the first set of queues in accordance with the allocated available bandwidth;

loading the PDUs into the second set of queues in accordance with a set of Modcod scheme assignments for the PDUs; and

releasing the PDUs from the second set of queues for transmission in the satellite communication system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein allocating the available bandwidth in the second set of queues amongst the first set of queues includes counting a number of guaranteed PDUs that are stored in each of the first set of queues, wherein the available bandwidth in the second set of queues is allocated proportionally amongst the first set of queues based on the number of guaranteed PDUs and their respective sizes in each of the first set of queues.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a CoS to each of the PDUs to generate the set of CoS assignments for the PDUs.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining applicable service level guarantees for the PDUs.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the applicable service level guarantees for the PDUs are determined based on MEF Carrier Ethernet service definitions.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the available bandwidth in the second set of queues based on a number of the PDUs and their respective sizes that are stored in each of the second set of queues.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a Modcod scheme to each of the PDUs to generate the set of Modcod scheme assignments for the PDUs, wherein each of the set of Modcod scheme assignments includes one or both of a modulation scheme assignment or a coding rate assignment.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the set of Modcod scheme assignments are generated based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of a communication channel between the gateway and one or more terminals.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after releasing the PDUs from the second set of queues, encapsulating the PDUs to produce baseband frames.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

modulating the baseband frames to produce digital waveforms;

digitizing the digital waveforms to produce analog signals; and

transmitting the analog signals to one or more terminals via a satellite.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for managing queues for transmission of protocol data units (PDUs) in a satellite communication system, the operations comprising:

receiving the PDUs at a gateway, the gateway having a first set of queues each corresponding to a different class of service (CoS) and a second set of queues each corresponding to a different modulation and coding (Modcod) scheme;

loading the PDUs into the first set of queues in accordance with a set of CoS assignments for the PDUs;

allocating an available bandwidth in the second set of queues amongst the first set of queues;

releasing the PDUs from the first set of queues in accordance with the allocated available bandwidth;

loading the PDUs into the second set of queues in accordance with a set of Modcod scheme assignments for the PDUs; and

releasing the PDUs from the second set of queues for transmission in the satellite communication system.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein allocating the available bandwidth in the second set of queues amongst the first set of queues includes counting a number of guaranteed PDUs and their respective sizes that are stored in each of the first set of queues, wherein the available bandwidth in the second set of queues is allocated proportionally amongst the first set of queues based on the number of guaranteed PDUs and their respective sizes in each of the first set of queues.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

assigning a CoS to each of the PDUs to generate the set of CoS assignments for the PDUs.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining the available bandwidth in the second set of queues based on a number of the PDUs and their respective sizes that are stored in each of the second set of queues.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

assigning a Modcod scheme to each of the PDUs to generate the set of Modcod scheme assignments for the PDUs, wherein each of the set of Modcod scheme assignments includes one or both of a modulation scheme assignment or a coding rate assignment.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the set of Modcod scheme assignments are generated based on an estimated signal-to-noise ratio of a communication channel between the gateway and one or more terminals.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

after releasing the PDUs from the second set of queues, encapsulating the PDUs to produce baseband frames.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:

modulating the baseband frames to produce digital waveforms;

digitizing the digital waveforms to produce analog signals; and

transmitting the analog signals to one or more terminals via a satellite.

19 . A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for managing queues for transmission of protocol data units (PDUs) in a satellite communication system, the operations comprising:

receiving the PDUs at a gateway, the gateway having a first set of queues each corresponding to a different class of service (CoS) and a second set of queues each corresponding to a different modulation and coding (Modcod) scheme;

loading the PDUs into the first set of queues in accordance with a set of CoS assignments for the PDUs;

allocating an available bandwidth in the second set of queues amongst the first set of queues;

releasing the PDUs from the first set of queues in accordance with the allocated available bandwidth;

loading the PDUs into the second set of queues in accordance with a set of Modcod scheme assignments for the PDUs; and

releasing the PDUs from the second set of queues for transmission in the satellite communication system.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein allocating the available bandwidth in the second set of queues amongst the first set of queues includes counting a number of guaranteed PDUs that are stored in each of the first set of queues, wherein the available bandwidth in the second set of queues is allocated proportionally amongst the first set of queues based on the number of guaranteed PDUs and their respective sizes in each of the first set of queues.