Method for providing continuous connectivity to a device

Abstract

A communications system, e.g. an Internet-of-Things (IoT) communications system, includes satellite gateways in addition to terrestrial gateways. High QoS end point devices utilize communications via satellite gateway to be able to communicate with a network server when communications with the network server via terrestrial gateways are unavailable or unreliable. Low QoS end point devices may communicate with the network server via terrestrial gateways but are restricted from using the satellite gateways. An additional receive window, corresponding to the satellite gateway, is used for communicating downlink signals from the satellite gateway to the high QoS end point device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communications method implemented by an end point (EP) device, the method comprising:
 transmitting, while operating the EP device in a satellite compatible mode of operation, a first packet;   monitoring for an acknowledgment corresponding to said first packet in a first set of terrestrial downlink receive windows which precedes a satellite downlink receive window; and   performing one of:   i) transitioning from said satellite compatible mode of operation to a terrestrial mode of operation when an acknowledgement corresponding to said first packet is received in the first set of terrestrial downlink receive windows; or   ii) monitoring for an acknowledgement corresponding to said first packet in the satellite downlink receive window and continuing to operate in satellite compatible mode of operation when an acknowledgement to said first packet is not received in said first set of terrestrial downlink receive windows.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein different terrestrial downlink receive windows in said set of terrestrial downlink receive windows correspond to different terrestrial gateways. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said satellite downlink receive window has a duration which is longer than individual terrestrial downlink receive windows included in said set of satellite downlink receive windows. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first packet is directed to a sever which is in communications with a satellite and multiple terrestrial gateways. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of transmitting the first packet includes:
 transmitting said first packet at a maximum transmit power.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of transmitting the first packet includes transmitting said first packet using a maximum spreading factor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating the end point device, prior to operating in satellite compatible mode of operation, in a terrestrial mode of operation.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein operating the end point device in a terrestrial mode of operation includes:
 transmitting a packet during the terrestrial mode of operation at a maximum transmit power level and using a maximum spreading factor; and   monitoring for an acknowledgment from a terrestrial gateway following transmission of said packet during said terrestrial mode of operation.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 switching from said terrestrial mode of operation to said satellite mode of operation in response to a failure to receive an acknowledgement from a terrestrial gateway to said packet transmitted during said terrestrial mode of operation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 storing information in said end point device indicating that said end point device is a high QoS end point device, said high QoS end point device being an end point device entitled to use satellite communication when terrestrial communication is unable to provide a desired QoS level to which the end point device is entitled.   
     
     
         11 . A communications end point (EP) device, comprising:
 a receiver;   a transmitter;   memory; and   a processor configured to control the communications end point to:
 transmit, while operating in a satellite compatible mode of operation, a first packet; 
 monitor for an acknowledgment corresponding to said first packet in a first set of terrestrial downlink receive windows which precedes a satellite downlink receive window; and 
 perform one of: 
 i) transitioning from said satellite compatible mode of operation to a terrestrial mode of operation when an acknowledgement corresponding to said first packet is received in the first set of terrestrial downlink receive windows; or 
 ii) monitoring for an acknowledgement corresponding to said first packet in the satellite downlink receive window and continuing to operate in satellite compatible mode of operation when an acknowledgement to said first packet is not received in said first set of terrestrial downlink receive windows. 
   
     
     
         12 . The communications EP device of  claim 11 , wherein different terrestrial downlink receive windows in said set of terrestrial downlink receive windows correspond to different terrestrial gateways. 
     
     
         13 . The communications EP device of  claim 12 , wherein said satellite downlink receive window has a duration which is longer than individual terrestrial downlink receive windows included in said set of satellite downlink receive windows. 
     
     
         14 . The communications EP device of  claim 11 , wherein said first packet is directed to a sever which is in communications with a satellite and multiple terrestrial gateways. 
     
     
         15 . The communications EP device of  claim 11 , the processor is configured to control the communications EP device, as part of being configured to control the communications EP device to transmit the first packet, to:
 transmit said first packet at a maximum transmit power.   
     
     
         16 . The communications EP device of  claim 15 , the processor is configured to control the communications EP device, as part of being configured to control the communications EP device to transmit the first packet, to:
 transmit said first packet using a maximum spreading factor.   
     
     
         17 . The communications EP device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the communications EP device to:
 operating, prior to operating in satellite compatible mode of operation, in a terrestrial mode of operation.   
     
     
         18 . The communications EP device of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the communications EP device, as part of being configured to control the communications EP device to operate in the terrestrial mode of operation, to:
 transmit a packet during the terrestrial mode of operation at a maximum transmit power level and using a maximum spreading factor; and   monitor for an acknowledgment from a terrestrial gateway following transmission of said packet during said terrestrial mode of operation.   
     
     
         19 . The communications EP device of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the communications EP device to:
 switch from said terrestrial mode of operation to said satellite mode of operation in response to a failure to receive an acknowledgement from a terrestrial gateway to said packet transmitted during said terrestrial mode of operation.   
     
     
         20 . The communications EP device of  claim 17 ,
 wherein said memory stores information indicating that said communications EP device is a high QoS end point device, said high QoS end point device being a communications EP device entitled to use satellite communication when terrestrial communication is unable to provide a desired QoS level to which the communications EP device is entitled.