IP Library Granted Patent US 12,726,262
Granted Patent B2
US 12,726,262 · App. 18/120,032 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Generating satellite assignment instructions for fulfilling connection requests during a mass gathering event

Inventors: Kushal S. Patel (Pune, IN); Gandhi Sivakumar (Bentleigh, AU); Sarvesh S. Patel (Pune, IN)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04B7/18513
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,726,262
App. No.
18/120,032
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes obtaining satellite information associated with a plurality of satellites, and using the satellite information to determine physical parameters associated with the satellites as the satellites pass over geographical areas. The method further includes determining, from data associated with a plurality of internet based resources, a future gathering event at a first geographical area in which a plurality of connection requests will be output from user devices located at a first geographical area. Furthermore, the method includes generating, based on the physical parameters and the data, assignment instructions that specify which of the satellites is to accept the plurality of connection requests from the first geographical area during the gathering event. The assignment instructions are output for preventing the connection requests from going unfulfilled during the gathering event.

Claims (54)

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining by a connection manager, satellite information associated with a plurality of satellites, the connection manager having components configured to determine physical parameters associated with the satellites;

using, by the connection manager, the satellite information to determine the physical parameters associated with the satellites as the satellites pass over geographical areas;

determining, by the connection manager, from data associated with a plurality of internet based resources, a future gathering event at a first geographical area in which a plurality of direct connection requests will be output from cellular user devices of users on Earth's surface within the first geographical area,

wherein the determining, by the connection manager, from the data associated with the plurality of internet based resources, the future gathering event comprises: using sentiment analysis and entity extraction on the data associated with a plurality of internet based resources to extract insights about the future gathering event, wherein the future gathering event is determined based on the extract insights;

determining, by the connection manager, from the data, which of the satellites have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event;

generating, by the connection manager, based on the physical parameters and the data, assignment instructions that specify which of the satellites is to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the future gathering event;

outputting, by the connection manager, the assignment instructions for preventing the direct connection requests from going unfulfilled during the future gathering event, wherein the cellular user devices remain located at the first geographical area throughout a defined timeline of the future gathering event; and

in response to a determination that none of the satellites have an associated trajectory that passes over the first geographical area during the future gathering event, outputting, by the connection manager, a notification to a user device associated with an administrator that is responsible for overseeing connection requests of the first geographical area,

wherein the notification indicates alternate suggestions of hardware configurations to use to accommodate and fulfill connection requests during the future gathering event,

wherein the alternate suggestions of hardware configurations include recruiting of repeater components and hardline-signal based components.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the satellites is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the physical parameters are selected from the group consisting of: a current altitude, orbital plane information and an average moving speed.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the assignment instructions includes: determining whether satellites determined to have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event have at least a predetermined threshold of available resources for processing direct connection requests, and comprising: incorporating by the connection manager, the satellites determined to have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event and determined to have at least the predetermined threshold of available resources for processing direct connection requests into the assignment instructions.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein only a first of the satellites is determined to have a trajectory that passes over the first geographical area during the future gathering event, wherein the assignment instructions instruct the first satellite to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the gathering event.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein at least a first of the satellites and a second of the satellites are determined to have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event and are determined to have at least the predetermined threshold of available resources for processing direct connection requests.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein generating the assignment instructions includes: determining which of the first satellite and the second satellite will be able to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the gathering event for a relatively longer period of time, and causing the assignment instructions to specify the one of first satellite and the second satellite determined to be able to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the gathering event for the relatively longer period of time to thereby reduce direct connection request handovers during the gathering event.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein a determination is made that a trajectory of the first satellite positions the first satellite to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area for a first temporal portion of the gathering event, wherein a determination is made that a trajectory of the second satellite positions the second satellite to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area for a second temporal portion of the gathering event, and comprising: based on the trajectory determinations, causing, by the connection manager, the assignment instructions to specify that the first satellite accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area for the first temporal portion of the gathering event.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , comprising: causing, by the connection manager, the first satellite to handoff the plurality of direct connection requests to the second satellite at the second temporal portion of the gathering event, wherein the gathering event is selected from the group consisting of: a car show, a school gathering, a parade, a speaking event, a sports game, and a reunion.

10 . A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a computer to cause the computer to:

obtain, by the computer, satellite information associated with a plurality of satellites;

use, by the computer, the satellite information to determine physical parameters associated with the satellites as the satellites pass over geographical areas;

determine, by the computer, from data associated with a plurality of internet based resources, a future gathering event at a first geographical area in which a plurality of direct connection requests will be output from cellular user devices of users on Earth's surface within the first geographical area,

wherein the determining, by the computer, from the data associated with the plurality of internet based resources, the future gathering event comprises: using sentiment analysis and entity extraction on the data associated with a plurality of internet based resources to extract insights about the future gathering event, wherein the future gathering event is determined based on the extract insights;

determining, by the connection manager, from the data, which of the satellites have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event;

generate, by the computer, based on the physical parameters and the data, assignment instructions that specify which of the satellites is to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the future gathering event;

output, by the computer, the assignment instructions for preventing the direct connection requests from going unfulfilled during the future gathering event, wherein the cellular user devices remain located at the first geographical area throughout a defined timeline of the future gathering event; and

in response to a determination that none of the satellites have an associated trajectory that passes over the first geographical area during the future gathering event, output, by the computer, a notification to a user device associated with an administrator that is responsible for overseeing connection requests of the first geographical area,

wherein the notification indicates alternate suggestions of hardware configurations to use to accommodate and fulfill connection requests during the future gathering event,

wherein the alternate suggestions of hardware configurations include recruiting of repeater components and hardline-signal based components.

11 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the satellites is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite.

12 . The computer program product of claim 10 ,

wherein the physical parameters are selected from the group consisting of: a current altitude, orbital plane information and an average moving speed.

13 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein generating the assignment instructions includes: determining whether satellites determined to have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event have at least a predetermined threshold of available resources for processing direct connection requests, and the program instructions readable and/or executable by a computer to cause the computer to: incorporate, by the computer, the satellites determined to have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event and determined to have at least the predetermined threshold of available resources for processing direct connection requests into the assignment instructions.

14 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein only a first of the satellites is determined to have a trajectory that passes over the first geographical area during the future gathering event, wherein the assignment instructions instruct the first satellite to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the gathering event.

15 . The computer program product of claim 13 , wherein at least a first of the satellites and a second of the satellites are determined to have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event and are determined to have at least the predetermined threshold of available resources for processing direct connection requests.

16 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein generating the assignment instructions includes: determining which of the first satellite and the second satellite will be able to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the gathering event for a relatively longer period of time, and causing the assignment instructions to specify the one of first satellite and the second satellite determined to be able to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the gathering event for the relatively longer period of time to thereby reduce direct connection request handovers during the gathering event.

17 . The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein a determination is made that a trajectory of the first satellite positions the first satellite to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area for a first temporal portion of the gathering event, wherein a determination is made that a trajectory of the second satellite positions the second satellite to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area for a second temporal portion of the gathering event, and comprising: the program instructions readable and/or executable by the computer to cause the computer to: based on the trajectory determinations, cause, by the computer, the assignment instructions to specify that the first satellite accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area for the first temporal portion of the gathering event.

18 . The computer program product of claim 17 , comprising: the program instructions readable and/or executable by the computer to cause the computer to: cause, by the computer, the first satellite to handoff the plurality of direct connection requests to the second satellite at the second temporal portion of the gathering event, wherein the gathering event is selected from the group consisting of: a car show, a school gathering, a parade, a speaking event, a sports game, and a reunion.

19 . A system, comprising:

a connection manager having components configured to determine physical parameters associated with a plurality of satellites,

wherein the connection manager includes a processor; and

logic integrated with the processor, executable by the processor, or integrated with and executable by the processor, the logic being configured to:

obtain satellite information associated with a plurality of satellites;

use the satellite information to determine physical parameters associated with the satellites as the satellites pass over geographical areas;

determine, from data associated with a plurality of internet based resources, a future gathering event at a first geographical area in which a plurality of direct connection requests will be output from cellular user devices of users on Earth's surface within the first geographical area,

wherein the determining from the data associated with the plurality of internet based resources, the future gathering event comprises: using sentiment analysis and entity extraction on the data associated with a plurality of internet based resources to extract insights about the future gathering event, wherein the future gathering event is determined based on the extract insights;

determine, from the data, which of the satellites have trajectories that pass over the first geographical area during the future gathering event;

generate, based on the physical parameters and the data, assignment instructions that specify which of the satellites is to accept the plurality of direct connection requests from the first geographical area during the future gathering event;

output the assignment instructions for preventing the direct connection requests from going unfulfilled during the future gathering event, wherein the cellular user devices remain located at the first geographical area throughout a defined timeline of the future gathering event; and

in response to a determination that none of the satellites have an associated trajectory that passes over the first geographical area during the future gathering event, outputting, by the connection manager, a notification to a user device associated with an administrator that is responsible for overseeing connection requests of the first geographical area,

wherein the notification indicates alternate suggestions of hardware configurations to use to accommodate and fulfill connection requests during the future gathering event,

wherein the alternate suggestions of hardware configurations include recruiting of repeater components and hardline-signal based components.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the satellites is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2023
From: PATEL, KUSHAL S.; SIVAKUMAR, GANDHI; PATEL, SARVESH S.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062945/0452 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240305362A1 · Sep 12, 2024
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