Abstract: A real-time multicast scheduler method and apparatus is presented, to facilitate multicasting of real-time constant bit rate data in wireless ad-hoc networks. Constant bit rate traffic cannot tolerate delay jitter. However, a small amount of packet losses may be tolerable. In order to ensure the provisioning of a desired level of quality of service, bandwidth is reserved on the multicast structure. A goal of the real-time multicast scheduler is to avoid packet collisions and to facilitate color re-use, where “color” is defined as a channel selected as a combination of time-division multiple access, frequency-division multiple access, and code-division multiple access schemes. The real-time multicast scheduler provides a self-healing network which corrects for disconnections caused by node movement and nodes moving out of range of each other, while accounting for colors already assigned for data transmission in order to prevent packet collisions.

Abstract: A real-time multicast scheduler method and apparatus is presented, to facilitate multicasting of real-time variable bit rate data in wireless ad-hoc networks. Variable bit rate traffic cannot tolerate delay jitter. However, a small amount of packet losses may be tolerable. In order to ensure the provisioning of a desired level of quality of service, bandwidth is reserved on the multicast structure. A goal of the real-time multicast scheduler is to avoid packet collisions and to facilitate color re-use, where “color” is defined as a channel selected as a combination of time-division multiple access, frequency-division multiple access, and code-division multiple access schemes. The real-time multicast scheduler provides a self-healing network which corrects for disconnections caused by node movement and nodes moving out of range of each other, while accounting for colors already assigned for data transmission in order to prevent packet collisions.

Abstract: A predictive routing scheme for broad band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations is presented. The predictive routing scheme may be used to provide Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees for both Constant Bit-Rate (CBR) and Variable Bit-Rate (VBR) traffic types. The predictive routing scheme takes advantage of the predictable qualities of a LEO constellation, such as constant satellite footprint, constant satellite velocity, and predictable satellite trajectory. By using this information, combined with satellite-fixed cells which are divided into a set of equal-sized slots, along with user information such as the location of each particular user as well as the geographic concentrations of user traffic, each satellite may cooperate with surrounding satellites which have recently passed through the area into which they are entering, in order to receive predictive information regarding their future load.