FR3150668A1 - Methods of transmitting, collecting, aggregating and processing data implemented by satellites, and corresponding master, collector, aggregator and processing satellites. - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods for transmitting, collecting, aggregating and processing data implemented by satellites, and corresponding master, collector, aggregator and processing satellites. The invention concerns collaboration between several 1-1 to 3-3 satellites. The fact that the access nodes to the RAN radio access network are deployed according to different splits according to the needs of a managing operator limits the possibilities and the interest of collaboration between satellites. Indeed, in the context of such collaboration, the data collected and processed by the latter must have received the same processing. This is not systematically the case. It is then necessary to apply to the data collected by these satellites processing implemented in high layers such as level 3 or higher layers. This results in a long processing time and generates an additional traffic load. The invention allows efficient collaboration between satellites by specifying in a data collection request intended to be broadcast the minimum processing to be applied to the data collected by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 before their transmission to a master satellite 4. FIGURE FOR ABSTRACT: FIG. 1

Description

Methods of transmitting, collecting, aggregating and processing data implemented by satellites, and corresponding master, collector, aggregator and processing satellites. Field of invention

The field of the invention is that of cloud computing.

More specifically, the invention concerns the collaboration between several satellites belonging or not to the same constellation of satellites in order to improve the quality of the transmission in the uplink, that is to say, from a terminal to a satellite serving a cell of a communication network in which the terminal is located.

Prior art and its drawbacks

In recent years, the deployment of satellites, particularly in the form of satellite constellations consisting of several hundred to several thousand satellites in low orbit around the Earth, has been accelerating.

The objective of such deployment of satellite constellations is, among other things, to provide user terminals with high-speed access to a communications network when access to the latter via terrestrial radio access networks is not satisfactory.

A satellite constellation consists of a group of artificial satellites working together to provide a service, such as access to a communications network, by ensuring the most complete possible ground coverage of the Earth's surface in order to ensure continuity in the provision of this service. To this end, a satellite carries at least one access node of a radio access network interconnected to a core network whose equipment is based on the ground.

Furthermore, each satellite belonging to the same constellation circulates in an orbit chosen so that all the ground coverages of each of the satellites in the constellation complement each other.

The resources of a satellite are not used continuously over time. Indeed, a satellite may be required to fly over desert areas, aquatic surfaces, forests or agricultural areas, in which few, if any, user terminals are located. Thus, the radio communication resources of these satellites are free over many time slots.

In order to be able to exploit these radio communication resources, cooperation between several satellites of the same constellation or belonging to different constellations may be envisaged. Thus, a satellite belonging to a first constellation flying over an area in which there is no communication terminal to be served may share its radio communication resources with another satellite belonging to a second constellation located in a position in its orbit that does not allow it to optimally serve a given radio cell because its distance and/or its degree of inclination relative to the ground surface of this radio cell, and to the air zone attached to this surface, does not offer sufficient transmission conditions to guarantee an acceptable quality of service to the communication terminals located within this radio cell.

In order to increase the transmission capacity and reduce the transmission delay within a radio access network (RAN), the fifth generation of radio communications standards or 5G takes advantage of the development of virtual machines and cloud computing to propose a restructured 5G access node or gNB. More particularly, such a gNB access node is divided into three units: a first unit called RU for " radio unit ", a second unit called DU for " distributed unit " and a third unit called CU for " centralized unit ". These three units are hardware and/or software units, these implementation choices depending on the operating constraints of the radio access network operators (RAN).

Most commonly, the RU is a hardware unit designed to convert radio signals sent to and from at least one antenna into a digital signal for transmission over a packet communication network. The RU handles the functions performed by the lower layer 1 or physical layer as well as the beamforming functionality of the antenna. The RU is deployed within the network access node.

The DU is, generally speaking, a software unit deployed within a server located near the RUs. This DU performs functions of the layer 2 layers such as the RLC ( Radio Link Control ) and MAC ( Medium Access Control ) layers and sometimes part of the physical layer functions.

The RU unit and the DU unit are connected by means of a transport network called "fronthaul". The data exchanges carried out by means of this fronthaul comply with the eCPRI ( evolved Common Public Radio Interface) protocol.

Finally, the CU, which is also a software unit, performs functions of the upper layer 2 layers such as the RRC ( Radio Resource Control ), SDAP ( Service Data Adaptation Protocol ) or PDCP ( Packet Data Convergence Protocol ) layers and functions of the layer 3 layers. The CU can be deployed in the cloud to allow the RAN radio access network to benefit from the advantages offered by edge computing, which allows data to be processed as close as possible to their source or destination. A single CU can manage one or more DUs, thus reducing the deployment and maintenance costs of the RAN radio access network.

Depending on the needs of an operator managing a RAN radio access network, it is interesting to distribute the execution of the physical and/or link layer functions between the RU unit and the DU unit, or even the CU unit. Such distributions are more commonly known as " splits ".

There are many splits , each offering different benefits. For example, the 3GPP ( Third Generation Partnership Project ) standards group has defined eight splits, the most commonly used being split 7.3. In split 7.3, the cyclic prefix insertion, beamforming, IQ compression/decompression, resource element mapping, precoding, and modulation functions are performed within the RU, while scrambling , rate adaptation, and coding functions are performed by the DU.

Another example of split is split 7.2, also defined by 3GPP, in which the functions of cyclic prefix insertion, beamforming, IQ compression or decompression are performed within the RU while the functions of resource element mapping, precoding, modulation, scrambling , rate adaptation and coding are performed by the DU.

Another example of split between CU and DU is split 6, defined by 3GPP and the Small Cell Forum for short distances between DU and CU.

The fact that the access nodes to the radio access network are deployed according to different splits depending on the needs of the operator managing this radio access network RAN limits the possibilities and the interest of a collaboration between satellites. Indeed, in the context of such a collaboration between satellites, the data collected and processed by the units of the latter must have received the same processing. However, depending on the split implemented within the units of the access nodes on board the satellites intended to collaborate, this is not systematically the case. It is then necessary to apply to the data thus collected by these satellites processing implemented in high layers such as the layers of level 3 or higher. The data collected is then processed in equipment remote from the access node. This results in a longer processing time and generates an additional traffic load in the communications networks, the data collected by the satellites having to be routed to the equipment intended to process them.

There is therefore a need for a technique to facilitate collaboration between satellites which does not have all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

The invention meets this need by proposing a method for transmitting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called the master satellite, to at least one piece of equipment belonging to a communication network.

Such a data transmission method is particular in that it comprises the following steps implemented by the master satellite:

- broadcasting, to at least one second satellite, called a collector satellite, a request to collect data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said at least one collector satellite intended to be applied to the data collected prior to their transmission to the master satellite,
- collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- aggregation of said collected data and said data transmitted by said collecting satellite,
- transmission of aggregated data to said at least one device belonging to a communications network.

Such a data transmission method allows for efficient collaboration between satellites. Indeed, by specifying in the data collection request intended to be broadcast the minimum processing to be applied to the data collected by the collector satellites before their transmission to the master satellite, the latter is assured of receiving only data processed in accordance with its needs, regardless of the splits implemented within the collector satellites. Thus, the data collected by the different satellites no longer need to be processed by equipment located further upstream in the radio access network before being retransmitted, in a suitable format, to the master satellite.

The transmission method which is the subject of the present invention, by specifying the function(s) of the RU, DU and/or CU units (for example the function(s) of the physical and/or link layers) to be applied to the data collected by a satellite, makes it possible to transmit, to the master satellite, incomplete or erroneous data from the point of view of the eCPRI protocol since they may not have had all of the functions constituting the split implemented in the access node of a collector satellite applied to them. This is called a partial split.

As mentioned above, such a transmission method allows direct collaboration between satellites, with the collected data being transmitted directly between them without passing through equipment in a ground-based communication network. This has a positive impact on data collection and processing time.

By enabling direct collaboration between multiple satellites, the present invention contributes to improving the performance of the radio access network for the uplink. Indeed, it then becomes possible to take advantage of the unused resources of certain satellites, in particular those in a situation of high inclination relative to a ground surface.

The implementation of such an invention also makes it possible to reduce the transmission power of the user terminals served by the master satellite. Indeed, several satellites collaborating to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to a user terminal, the latter can limit its transmission power without risking negatively impacting the quality of the transmission. Such a reduction in the transmission power of a terminal has the corollary effect of limiting the risk of interference impacting the antennas of the master satellite and increasing the battery life of the user terminal.

Finally, the transmission method that is the subject of the invention is of particular interest when the user terminals are connected objects with high energy constraints. In order to comply with these energy constraints, it is important to limit the number of retransmissions requested from such a connected object. By aggregating the data collected by all the collecting satellites and by applying a deferred decoding of the data thus aggregated, the transmission method that is the subject of the invention makes it possible to limit the number of retransmissions.

The collection request broadcast by the master satellite may further include:

- information relating to the modulation and coding scheme of a radio signal intended to modulate said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- information relating to the type of modulation to be applied to said at least one subcarrier frequency.

The master satellite can specify precisely the parameters allowing other satellites to collaborate with it. Thus, only satellites meeting the criteria included in the collaboration request can decide to collect data carried by said at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to a user terminal.

In some cases, the collection request also includes an identifier of said at least one collecting satellite.

In some circumstances, the master satellite may not be able to directly receive the data collected by the collector satellites. In such a case, the collection request also includes:

- an identifier of at least one third satellite, called an aggregator satellite, configured to collect and aggregate said data transmitted by said at least one collector satellite, and
- at least one identifier of at least one second function of said at least one aggregator satellite intended to be applied to the aggregated data prior to their transmission to the master satellite.

In such a case, the data collected by the collector satellites have, for example, had at least one of the following functions applied to them by the master satellite: cyclic prefix insertion function, beamforming function, IQ compression function, or an IQ decompression function, and resource element mapping function. However, the master satellite can only process data that has had the precoding and modulation functions applied to it.

The aggregator satellite then applies at least one of the following functions: precoding function, modulation function to the data transmitted by the collector satellites, which it will have previously aggregated. The master satellite then receives data that it can process.

Similarly, when the master satellite is not able to directly receive the data collected by the aggregator satellite, then the collection request also includes:

- an identifier of at least one fourth satellite, called a processing satellite, configured to process said aggregated data transmitted by said at least one aggregator satellite, and
- at least one identifier of at least one third function of said at least one processing satellite intended to be applied to the data received prior to their transmission to the master satellite.

In such a case, the processing satellite then applies at least one function that has not been applied by either the collector satellite or the aggregator satellite. The master satellite then receives data that it can process with a view to transferring it to the core network.

The invention also relates to a method for collecting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called the master satellite.

Such a collection method is special in that it includes the following steps implemented by a second satellite, called a collector satellite:

- receiving, from the master satellite, a request to collect data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said collector satellite intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- processing by applying said at least one first function to said collected data,
- transmission of processed data to the master satellite.

The invention also relates to a method for aggregating data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called the master satellite.

Such an aggregation method is particular in that it includes the following steps implemented by a second satellite, called an aggregator satellite:

- reception, from the master satellite, of a request to collect data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one second function of said aggregator satellite intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collection of data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called a collector satellite, configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply to them at least one first function of said collector satellite,
- aggregation of said data collected by said at least one collecting satellite
- processing by applying said at least one second function to said aggregated data,
- transmission of processed data to the master satellite.

The invention further relates to a method for processing data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called the master satellite.

Such a processing method is particular in that it comprises the following steps implemented by a second satellite, called a processing satellite:

- reception, from the master satellite, of a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one third function of said processing satellite intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collection of data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called an aggregator satellite, configured to aggregate data transmitted by at least one fourth satellite, called a collector satellite, configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply to them at least one first function of said collector satellite,
- processing by applying said at least one third function to said collected data,
- transmission of processed data to the master satellite.

Another subject of the invention relates to a communication satellite, called a master satellite, capable of transmitting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by said master satellite, to at least one piece of equipment belonging to a communication network, said master satellite comprising at least one processor configured to:
- broadcast, to at least one second satellite, called a collector satellite, a request to collect data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said at least one collector satellite intended to be applied to the data collected prior to their transmission to the master satellite,
- collect data carried by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- aggregate said collected data and said data transmitted by said collecting satellite,
- transmit the aggregated data to said at least one device belonging to a communications network.

The invention also relates to a communication satellite, called a collector satellite, capable of collecting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one other satellite, called a master satellite, said collector satellite comprising at least one processor configured to:
- receiving, from the master satellite, a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said collector satellite intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collect data carried by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- process by applying said at least one first function to said collected data,
- transmit processed data to the master satellite.

Another subject of the invention relates to a communication satellite, called an aggregator satellite, capable of aggregating data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called a master satellite, said aggregator satellite comprising at least one processor configured to:
- receiving, from the master satellite, a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one second function of said aggregator satellite intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collect data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called a collector satellite, configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply at least one first function of said collector satellite to them,
- aggregate said data collected by said at least one collecting satellite
- process by applying said at least one second function to said aggregated data,
- transmit processed data to the master satellite.

The invention also relates to a communication satellite, called a processing satellite, capable of processing data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called a master satellite, said processing satellite comprising at least one processor configured to:
- receiving, from the master satellite, a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one third function of said processing satellite intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collect data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called an aggregator satellite, configured to aggregate data transmitted by at least one fourth satellite, called a collector satellite, configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply at least one first function of said collector satellite to them,
- process by applying said at least one third function to said collected data,
- transmit processed data to the master satellite.

The invention finally relates to computer program products comprising program code instructions for implementing the methods as described above, when executed by a processor.

The invention also relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which are recorded computer programs comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the methods according to the invention as described above.

Such a recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing programs. For example, the medium may comprise a storage medium, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording medium, for example a USB key or a hard disk.

On the other hand, such a recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means, so that the computer programs contained therein are remotely executable. The programs according to the invention may in particular be downloaded over a network, for example the Internet.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the programs are incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the aforementioned methods which are the subject of the invention.

List of figures

Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given as a simple illustrative example, and not limiting, in relation to the figures, among which:

: this figure represents a system in which the present invention is implemented.

: this figure represents a diagram of the different stages of the methods of transmission and collection of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal implemented by the different equipment constituting the access network in a first embodiment of the invention,

: this figure represents a diagram of the different stages of the methods of transmission, collection and aggregation of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal implemented by the different equipment constituting the access network in a second embodiment of the invention,

: this figure represents a diagram of the different stages of the methods of transmission, collection, aggregation and processing of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal implemented by the different equipment constituting the access network in a third embodiment of the invention,

: this figure represents a satellite capable of implementing all or part of the methods of transmission, collection, aggregation and processing of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal which is the subject of the invention.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

The general principle of the invention is based on the collaboration between several satellites, whether or not belonging to the same constellation of satellites, in order to collect data transported by a subcarrier frequency of a radio signal allocated to a terminal located in a cell of a radio access network.

More particularly, the present invention specifies in a request for collaboration issued by a first satellite intended to be broadcast to other satellites, the minimum processing to be applied to the data collected by the satellites having agreed to collaborate before their transmission to the satellite having requested the collaboration, the latter being assured of receiving only data processed in accordance with its needs.

The present invention therefore allows direct collaboration between satellites, the collected data being transmitted directly between them without passing through equipment of a communication network located on the ground. This has a positive impact on the time of data collection and processing.

By enabling direct collaboration between multiple satellites, the performance of the radio access network is improved for the uplink. Indeed, it then becomes possible to take advantage of the unused resources of certain satellites, in particular those in a situation of high inclination relative to a ground surface.

We now present, in relation to the a system in which the present invention is implemented.

Such a system comprises a radio access network RAN and a core network CORE interconnected with each other by means of a link established between at least one first satellite 4 and at least one GW equipment located on the ground.

In the example considered in , the RAN access network comprises a plurality of satellite constellations const-1, const-2, const-3 placed in orbit around the Earth or any other set of stars (e.g. Earth and moon), at different altitudes. It will be understood that a RAN access network may comprise several dozen satellite constellations.

The first constellation of const-1 satellites includes three satellites 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3. Of course, such a constellation of const-1 satellites can include up to several thousand satellites.

The second satellite constellation const-2 includes two satellites 2-1 and 2-2. Of course, such a constellation of satellites const-2 can also include up to several thousand satellites.

Finally, the third satellite constellation const-3 also includes three satellites 3-1, 3-2 and 3-3. Of course, such a constellation of satellites const-3 can, just like the constellations of satellites const-1 and const-2, include up to several thousand satellites.

The RAN radio access network also includes a fourth constellation const-4 comprising a single satellite 4. Of course, such a constellation of const-4 satellites can also comprise up to several thousand satellites.

The radio access network RAN also comprises a plurality of cells, four of which, cell 1, cell 2, cell 3, cell 4, are shown in the . Each cell 1, cell 2, cell 3, cell 4, of the radio access network RAN is served by at least one satellite belonging to the radio access network RAN, for a given duration corresponding to the time of overflight of the cell by said satellite. In the remainder of this document only cell 2 is considered for simplification purposes. Similarly, in the remainder of this document, it is considered that cell 2 is served by satellite 4.

An EU terminal, such as a smartphone, a drone, a car or even an IoT sensor for example, is located in cell-2 and has established a link with satellite 4.

In such a system, a gNB access node to the radio access network is divided into three units: a first unit called RU for " radio unit ", a second unit called DU for " distributed unit " and a third unit called CU for " centralized unit ". These three units are hardware and/or software units, these implementation choices depending on the operating constraints of the RAN radio access network operators.

Most commonly, the RU is a hardware unit designed to convert radio signals sent to and from at least one antenna into a digital signal for transmission over a packet communication network. The RU handles the functions performed by the lower layer 1 or physical layer as well as the beamforming functionality of the antenna. The RU is deployed within the network access node.

The DU is, generally speaking, a software unit deployed within a server located near the RUs. This DU performs functions of the layer 2 layers such as the RLC ( Radio Link Control ) and MAC ( Medium Access Control ) layers and sometimes part of the physical layer functions.

The RU unit and the DU unit are connected by means of a transport network called "fronthaul". The data exchanges carried out by means of this fronthaul comply with the eCPRI ( evolved Common Public Radio Interface) protocol.

Finally, the CU, which is also a software unit, performs functions of the upper layer 2 layers such as the RRC ( Radio Resource Control ), SDAP ( Service Data Adaptation Protocol ) or PDCP ( Packet Data Convergence Protocol ) layers and functions of the layer 3 layers. The CU can be deployed in the cloud to allow the RAN radio access network to benefit from the advantages offered by edge computing, which allows data to be processed as close as possible to their source or destination. A single CU can manage one or more DUs, thus reducing the deployment and maintenance costs of the RAN radio access network.

Depending on the needs of an operator managing a RAN radio access network, it is interesting to distribute the execution of the physical and/or link layer functions between the RU and the DU. Such distributions are more commonly known as " splits ".

According to a particular embodiment of the system illustrated in , satellites 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1 and 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4 carry an RU unit and/or a DU unit. The CU unit is itself carried in equipment 5 of the access network located on the ground.

There represents a diagram of the different steps of the methods of transmission and collection of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal implemented by the different equipment constituting the RAN access network in a first embodiment of the invention.

In the implementation example described below, satellite 4, called master satellite, is the satellite serving cell 2. In other words, a UE terminal located in cell 2 wishing to establish a communication with another terminal or wishing to be provided with a service, such as for example, a content delivery service (not shown in the figures) attaches to the RAN radio access network by establishing a radio link with a gNB access node of the RAN radio access network serving cell-2, in other words with the gNB access node embedded in satellite 4. As described with reference to , the master satellite 4 carries a RU unit and/or a DU unit constituting the gNB access node.

Thus, during a first step E1, the master satellite 4 obtains information relating, among other things, to a value of the transmission power of the UE terminal, to the radio environment in which the UE terminal is located, to a value of the variance of the “ shadowing ” impacting the UE terminal or to characteristic values such as the reception gain of the satellites 1-1 to 1-3. Optionally, the information provided to the master satellite 4 may indicate an optimization of at least one antenna of the UE terminal, such as for example an identifier of a cardinal sector of the antenna of the UE terminal to be favored in transmission, in order to increase the value of the power received by a satellite picking up the radio signal transmitted by the user terminal.

Finally, the information provided to the master satellite 4 further comprises an identifier of at least one FSP subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal for communicating with the master satellite and at least one index of a modulation and coding table used by the terminal UE for modulating and coding the FSP subcarrier frequency, as well as the type of modulation applied such as for example QAM ( Quadrature Amplitude Modulation in English) or QPSK ( Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying in English ) .

In order to determine whether or not the reception quality of the radio signals transmitted by the UE terminal is satisfactory, the master satellite 4 determines whether it is capable of offering the reception rate Du requested by the UE terminal for a given transmission.

To do this, master satellite 4 performs the following calculation:

let Ns be the number of antenna beams (or spots) available to the master satellite 4,

let Nc be the number of subcarrier frequencies FSP _c that an antenna beam can capture,

let Nt = Nc*Ns be the total number of FSP subcarrier frequencies _t that the master satellite 4 can capture,

let Nu be the number of FSP subcarrier frequencies _u captured by the master satellite 4,

let Nuc be the number of FSP subcarrier frequencies _uc captured by a given antenna beam,

let Nf = Nc-Nuc be the number of subcarrier frequencies that can still be captured by a beam of antennas of the master satellite 4,

let Pd be the value of the reception power of the subcarrier frequency captured by a destination antenna beam,

let Pf be the value of the reception power of the subcarrier frequency captured by an antenna beam close to the destination antenna beam,

let Doffert = W.log2(1+ Pd/Nth) be the reception rate offered tau to the UE terminal by the destination antenna beam, Nth being the value of the thermal noise,

If Doffert < Du,

SO

As long as offered< From

the master satellite 4 requests from an antenna beam neighboring the destination antenna beam the allocation of a subcarrier frequency in order to achieve the rate Du. This subcarrier frequency belongs to a subset of subcarrier frequencies allocated by the master satellite 4 to the terminal UE so that the latter can transmit data.

If an antenna beam adjacent to the destination antenna beam has a free subcarrier frequency Nf then

Allocation of this subcarrier frequency to the UE terminal:

SNRcomp = (Sum_Nf Pf + Pd)/Nth

Dcomp = W.log2(1+SNRcomp)

Doffert = Dcomp

Otherwise (an antenna beam neighboring the destination antenna beam has no free subcarrier frequency: Nf = 0)

Request rejected

FinSi

End As Long As

If Doffert < From

Connection to EU terminal

Otherwise

EU terminal connection accepted.

• une information relative à la durée de la collecte,
• un horaire de début et éventuellement un horaire de fin de la collecte,
• des informations relatives à une politique d’itinérance négociée entre l’opérateur du réseau d’accès radio et un opérateur d’un autre réseau d’accès radio auquel le terminal peut être amené à s’attacher,
• un identifiant d’une ou plusieurs fréquences sous-porteuses FSP_ique les satellites acceptant de collaborer peuvent capter,
• un identifiant d’au moins un index d’une table de modulation et de codage (Modulation and Cding Schemeen langue anglaise),et
• un type de modulation appliqué par le terminal UE à la fréquence sous-porteuse FSP destinée à être émise : NR QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, etc.

When the reception quality of the radio signals transmitted by the terminal UE is not satisfactory, the master satellite 4 generates, in a step E2, a collection request req-coll. Such a collection request req-coll includes, among other things:

• information relating to the duration of the collection,
• a start time and possibly an end time for the collection,
• information relating to a roaming policy negotiated between the operator of the radio access network and an operator of another radio access network to which the terminal may be required to attach itself,
• an identifier of one or more FSP _i subcarrier frequencies that satellites agreeing to collaborate can capture,
• an identifier of at least one index of a modulation and coding scheme ( Modulation and Coding Scheme in English), and
• a modulation type applied by the UE terminal to the FSP subcarrier frequency intended to be transmitted: NR QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, etc.

Once the collection request req-coll has been generated, the master satellite searches for at least one other satellite that can capture the subcarrier frequency FSP, identified in the collection request req-coll, transmitted by the terminal UE. The master satellite 4 can carry out such a search for other satellites in order to be able to collect the data transmitted by the terminal UE while another satellite belonging to the constellation const-4, to which the master satellite 4 also belongs, is in position to be able to serve the cell cell-2 in which the user terminal is located.

For this purpose, the master satellite 4 broadcasts the collection request req-coll during a step E3.

In order to ensure that the data collected by the satellites respond favourably to the req-coll collection request, the latter specifies the function(s) of the physical and/or link layer, for example, which must be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by a satellite responding favourably to the req-coll collection request before their transmission to the master satellite 4. Thus, the latter is assured of only receiving data processed in accordance with its needs, regardless of the splits implemented within the other satellites.

The fact that the master satellite 4 explicitly announces the physical and/or link layer function(s) to be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency makes it possible for the satellites responding favourably to the req-coll collection request to transmit incomplete or erroneous data from the point of view of the eCPRI protocol since they may not have had all the functions constituting the split implemented in the access node of such a satellite applied to them.

Thus, for example, the collection request req-coll broadcast by the master satellite 4 during step E3 indicates that the master satellite 4 wishes to receive data that has been processed by an IQ decompression function.

In a step E4, the different satellites 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 intercept the collection request req-coll.

In a step E5 which may be consecutive to step E4 or prior to step E1, the satellites 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 broadcast information relating to their availability such as for example a value of the charge of their battery, their flight plan, a list of subcarrier frequencies FSP _i that they can receive, etc. More particularly, the satellites 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 announce which splits or partial splits they support. Thus, the master satellite 4 has the information allowing it to know which satellite 1-1, 1-2 or 1-3 supports a partial split delivering data having been processed for example by an IQ decompression function, and therefore by all the preceding physical layer functions, i.e. the cyclic prefix insertion and beamforming functions. In the chosen example, satellites 1-1 and 1-2 support the requested partial split and can therefore meet the needs of master satellite 4. Satellites 1-1 and 1-2 are then called collector satellites.

In order to ensure that the reception rate Du requested by the UE terminal for a given transmission is reached, the master satellite performs the following calculation:

let Ns be the number of antenna beams (or spots) available to a satellite 1-1, 1-2,

let Nc be the number of subcarrier frequencies FSP _c that an antenna beam can capture,

let Nt = Nc*Ns be the total number of subcarrier frequencies FSP _t that a satellite 1-1, 1-2 can capture,

let Nu be the number of FSP subcarrier frequencies _u captured by a satellite 1-1, 1-2,

let Nuc be the number of subcarrier frequencies FSP _uc captured by a given antenna beam,

let Nms be the number of antenna beams (or spots) available to the master satellite 4,

let Nmc be the number of subcarrier frequencies FSP _c that can be captured by an antenna beam of the master satellite 4,

let Nmt = Nmc*Nms be the total number of FSP subcarrier frequencies _t that the master satellite 4 can capture,

let Nmu be the number of FSP subcarrier frequencies _u captured by the master satellite 4,

let Nmf = Nmcs-Nmu be the number of subcarrier frequencies captured by a beam of antennas of the master satellite 4,

let Nmuc be the number of FSP subcarrier frequencies _uc captured by a given antenna beam of the master satellite 4,

let Pd be the value of the reception power of the subcarrier frequency captured by a beam of destination antennas of the master satellite 4,

let Pf be the value of the reception power of the subcarrier frequency captured by a beam of antennas of one of the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2,

let Doffert = W.log2(1+ Pd/Nth) be the reception rate offered tau to the UE terminal by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 and the master satellite 4, Nth being the value of the thermal noise.

If Doffert < From

SO

As long as it is offered < From

Master satellite 4 requests allocation of additional FSP subcarrier frequencies to collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 in order to achieve throughput Du. This subcarrier frequency belongs to a subset of subcarrier frequencies allocated by the recipient to the UE terminal so that the latter can transmit data.

If one of the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 i has antenna beams that have unused subcarrier frequencies (Nr unused subcarrier frequencies):

SO

Allocation of these subcarrier frequencies

Throughput offered by master satellite 4 in cooperation with collector satellites 1-1, 1-2

Collector 1-1 = W.log2(1+ Sum_Nr (Pr)/Nth)

Collector 1-2 = W.log2(1+ Sum_Nr (Pr)/Nth)

Doffert = Doffert + Dcollector 1-1+Dcollector 1-2+…

Otherwise (the collecting satellite does not have free subcarrier frequencies: Nr = 0)

Request rejected

FinSi

End As Long As

If Doffert < From

EU terminal connection request rejected.

Otherwise

EU terminal connection request accepted

FinSi

When the master satellite 4 is assured that the throughput Du required by the UE terminal is achieved thanks to the collaboration of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2, data collection can then begin.

Thus, during a step E6, the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 and the master satellite 4 capture the FSP subcarrier frequency identified in the collection request req-coll, and then apply the FSP subcarrier frequency, in a step E7, the functions of insertion of the cyclic prefix, of beamforming, and of IQ decompression.

In a step E8, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 transmit data resulting from the processing of the FSP subcarrier frequency by the cyclic prefix insertion, beamforming, and IQ decompression functions, to the master satellite 4.

The FSP subcarrier frequencies transmitted by the UE terminal and received by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 may have a phase shift due for example to jitter, or linked to the Doppler effect. In order to correct these effects, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 use values of a transmission delay between the UE terminal and each of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 determined by means of control messages exchanged between the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and the UE terminal in order to correct any offsets.

In a particular embodiment, the data collected by the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 are stored in a cache memory of one of the functions of the physical and/or link layer prior to their advanced processing by the latter. This makes it possible to limit the number of retransmissions requested from the UE terminal.

Upon receipt of this data collected and processed by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2, the master satellite 4 proceeds to aggregate it with the data that it has itself collected and processed, in a step E9.

Finally, in a step E10, the master satellite 4 transmits the data thus approved to the equipment 5. The equipment 5 applies to this aggregated data functions of the level 2 layers such as the RLC ( Radio Link Control ) and MAC ( Medium Access Control ) layers before transmitting them to the GW equipment of the CORE network in a step E11.

There represents a diagram of the different stages of the methods of transmission, collection and aggregation of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal implemented by the different equipment constituting the RAN access network in a second embodiment of the invention.

Just as in the first embodiment, in the exemplary implementation described below, satellite 4, called master satellite, is the satellite serving cell 2. In other words, a UE terminal located in cell 2 wishing to establish communication with another terminal (not shown in the figures) attaches to the radio access network RAN by establishing a radio link with an access node gNB of the radio access network RAN. As described with reference to FIG. , the master satellite 4 carries a RU unit and/or a DU unit constituting the gNB access node.

In this second embodiment, at least one 2-1 satellite called an aggregator satellite participates in the collection of data transmitted by the UE terminal. The intervention of such a 2-1 aggregator satellite in the collection is of interest for example when certain collector satellites are unable to implement a given split or partial split.

Thus, during a first step F1, the master satellite 4 obtains information relating, among other things, to a value of the transmission power of the UE terminal, to the radio environment in which the UE terminal is located, to a value of the variance of the “ shadowing ” impacting the UE terminal or even and values of characteristics such as the gain in reception of the satellites 1-1 to 1-3 and 2-1, 2-2. Optionally, the information provided to the master satellite 4 can indicate an optimization of at least one antenna of the UE terminal, such as for example an identifier of a cardinal sector of the antenna of the UE terminal to be favored in transmission, in order to increase the value of the power received by a satellite picking up the radio signal transmitted by the user terminal.

Finally, the information provided to the master satellite 4 further comprises an identifier of at least one FSP subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal for communicating with the master satellite and at least one index of a modulation and coding table used by the terminal UE for modulating and coding the FSP subcarrier frequency, as well as the type of modulation applied such as for example QAM ( Quadrature Amplitude Modulation in English) or QPSK ( Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying in English ) .

• une information relative à la durée de la collecte,
• un horaire de début et un horaire de fin de la collecte,
• des informations relatives à une politique d’itinérance négociée entre l’opérateur du réseau d’accès radio et un opérateur d’un autre réseau d’accès radio auquel le terminal peut être amené à s’attacher,
• un identifiant d’une ou plusieurs fréquences sous-porteuses FSP_ique les satellites acceptant de collaborer peuvent capter,
• un identifiant d’au moins un index d’une table de modulation et de codage (Modulation and Cding Schemeen langue anglaise),et
• un type de modulation appliqué par le terminal UE à la fréquence sous-porteuse FSP destinée à être émise : NR QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, etc.

When the reception quality of the radio signals transmitted by the terminal UE is not satisfactory, the master satellite 4 generates, in a step F2, a collection request req-coll. Such a collection request req-coll comprises, among other things:

• information relating to the duration of the collection,
• a start time and an end time for the collection,
• information relating to a roaming policy negotiated between the operator of the radio access network and an operator of another radio access network to which the terminal may be required to attach itself,
• an identifier of one or more FSP _i subcarrier frequencies that satellites agreeing to collaborate can capture,
• an identifier of at least one index of a modulation and coding scheme ( Modulation and Coding Scheme in English), and
• a modulation type applied by the UE terminal to the FSP subcarrier frequency intended to be transmitted: NR QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, etc.

Once the collection request req-coll has been generated, the master satellite searches for at least one other satellite capable of capturing the subcarrier frequency FSP, identified in the collection request req-coll, transmitted by the terminal UE and at least one other satellite capable of aggregating the data collected by the collector satellites prior to their transmission to the master satellite 4. The master satellite 4 can carry out such a search while another satellite belonging to the constellation const-4, to which the master satellite 4 also belongs, is in position to be able to serve the cell cell-2 in which the user terminal is located.

To this end, the master satellite 4 broadcasts the collection request req-coll during a step F3.

In order to ensure that the data collected and then aggregated by the satellites gives a favorable response to the collection request req-coll, the latter specifies for each type of satellite, collector or aggregator, the function(s) of the physical and/or link layer, for example, which must be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by each of them before their transmission. Thus, the master satellite 4 is ensured to receive only data processed in accordance with its needs independently of the splits implemented within the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 and aggregator.

The fact that the master satellite 4 explicitly announces the physical and/or link layer function(s) to be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and then the physical and/or link layer function(s) to be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by the aggregator satellite makes it possible for the satellites responding favourably to the req-coll collection request to transmit incomplete or erroneous data from the point of view of the eCPRI protocol since they may not have had all of the functions constituting the split implemented in such a satellite applied to them.

Thus, by way of example, the collection request req-coll broadcast by the master satellite 4 during step F3 indicates that the master satellite 4 wishes to receive data having been processed, at the level of a collector satellite 1-1, 1-2 by a decompression function IQ, then having been processed, hereinafter partial split 1, at the level of the aggregator satellite, by a scrambling function, hereinafter partial split 2.

In a step F4, the different satellites 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 2-1, 2-2 intercept the collection request req-coll.

In a step F5 which may be consecutive to step F4 or prior to step F1, satellites 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 broadcast information relating to their availability such as for example a value of the charge of their battery, their flight plan, a list of subcarrier frequencies FSP _i which they can receive, etc. More particularly, satellites 1-1 to 1-3 and 2-1, 2-2 announce which splits or partial splits they support. Thus, the master satellite 4 has the information allowing it to know which satellite 1-1 to 1-3 and 2-1, 2-2 supports partial splits 1 and 2. In the example chosen, satellites 1-1, 1-2 and 2-1 respectively support partial split 1 and partial split 2 and can therefore meet the needs of the master satellite 4. Satellites 1-1 and 1-2 are then called collector satellites and satellite 2-1 is called aggregator satellite.

When the master satellite 4 is assured that the throughput Du required by the terminal UE is achieved thanks to the collaboration of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 for the data collection part and thanks to the collaboration of the aggregator satellite 2-1 for the collection part and for the data aggregation part, the data collection can then begin.

Thus, during a step F6, the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2, the aggregator satellite 2-1 and the master satellite 4 capture the FSP subcarrier frequency identified in the collection request req-coll. The collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 then apply to the FSP subcarrier frequency, in a step F7, the functions of cyclic prefix insertion, beamforming, and IQ decompression.

In a step F8, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 transmit data resulting from the processing of the FSP subcarrier frequency by the cyclic prefix insertion, beamforming, and IQ decompression functions, to the aggregator satellite 2-1.

The FSP subcarrier frequencies transmitted by the UE terminal and received by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 may have a phase shift due for example to jitter, or linked to the Doppler effect. In order to correct these effects, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 use values of a transmission delay between the UE terminal and each of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 determined by means of control messages exchanged between the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and the UE terminal in order to correct any offsets.

In a particular embodiment, the data collected by the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 are stored in a cache memory of one of the functions of the physical and/or link layer prior to their processing by the latter. This makes it possible to limit the number of retransmissions requested from the UE terminal.

Upon receipt of this data collected and processed by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2, the aggregator satellite 2-1 applies to the data transmitted by the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2, the resource element mapping, precoding, modulation and scrambling functions during a step F9.

The radio signal carrying the data processed by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 may have a phase shift due for example to jitter, or linked to the Doppler effect. In order to correct these effects, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 use values of a transmission delay between each of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and the aggregator satellite 2-1 determined by means of control messages exchanged between the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and the aggregator satellite 2-1 in order to correct any offsets.

In a particular embodiment, the data received by the aggregator satellite 2-1 are stored in a cache memory of one of the functions of the physical and/or link layer prior to their processing by the latter.

In a step F10, the aggregator satellite 2-1 transmits the data aggregated and processed by the resource element mapping, precoding, modulation and scrambling functions, to the master satellite 4.

Upon receipt of this data collected and processed by the aggregator satellite 2-1, the master satellite 4 proceeds to aggregating it with the data that it has itself collected and processed, in a step F11.

Finally, in a step F12, the master satellite 4 transmits the data thus approved to the equipment 5. The equipment 5 applies to this aggregated data functions of the level 2 layers such as the RLC ( Radio Link Control ) and MAC ( Medium Access Control ) layers before transmitting them to the GW equipment of the CORE network in a step F13.

There represents a diagram of the different steps of the methods of transmission, collection, aggregation and processing of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal implemented by the different equipment constituting the RAN access network in a third embodiment of the invention.

As in the first and second embodiments, in the exemplary implementation described below, satellite 4, called the master satellite, is the satellite serving cell 2. In other words, a UE terminal located in cell 2 wishing to establish communication with another terminal (not shown in the figures) attaches to the radio access network RAN by establishing a radio link with an access node gNB of the radio access network RAN. As described with reference to FIG. , the master satellite 4 carries a RU unit and/or a DU unit constituting the gNB access node.

In this third embodiment, in addition to the satellite 2-1 called the aggregator satellite, at least one satellite, called the processing satellite, participates in the collection of data transmitted by the terminal UE. The intervention of such a processing satellite in the collection is of interest for example when certain collector and aggregator satellites are unable to implement a given split or partial split.

Thus, during a first step G1, the master satellite 4 obtains information relating, among other things, to a value of the transmission power of the UE terminal, to the radio environment in which the UE terminal is located, to a value of the variance of the “ shadowing ” impacting the UE terminal or even and characteristic values such as the reception gain of the satellites 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2 and 3-1 and 3-3. Optionally, the information provided to the master satellite 4 can indicate an optimization of at least one antenna of the UE terminal, such as for example an identifier of a cardinal sector of the antenna of the UE terminal to be favored in transmission, in order to increase the value of the power received by a satellite picking up the radio signal transmitted by the user terminal.

Finally, the information provided to the master satellite 4 further comprises an identifier of at least one FSP subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal for communicating with the master satellite and at least one index of a modulation and coding table used by the terminal UE for modulating and coding the FSP subcarrier frequency, as well as the type of modulation applied such as for example QAM ( Quadrature Amplitude Modulation in English) or QPSK ( Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying in English ) .

• une information relative à la durée de la collecte,
• un horaire de début et un horaire de fin de la collecte,
• des informations relatives à une politique d’itinérance négociée entre l’opérateur du réseau d’accès radio et un opérateur d’un autre réseau d’accès radio auquel le terminal peut être amené à s’attacher,
• un identifiant d’une ou plusieurs fréquences sous-porteuses FSP_ique les satellites acceptant de collaborer peuvent capter,
• un identifiant d’au moins un index d’une table de modulation et de codage (Modulation and Cding Schemeen langue anglaise),et
• un type de modulation appliqué par le terminal UE à la fréquence sous-porteuse FSP destinée à être émise : NR QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, etc.

When the reception quality of the radio signals transmitted by the terminal UE is not satisfactory, the master satellite 4 generates, in a step G2, a collection request req-coll. Such a collection request req-coll comprises, among other things:

• information relating to the duration of the collection,
• a start time and an end time for the collection,
• information relating to a roaming policy negotiated between the operator of the radio access network and an operator of another radio access network to which the terminal may be required to attach itself,
• an identifier of one or more FSP _i subcarrier frequencies that satellites agreeing to collaborate can capture,
• an identifier of at least one index of a modulation and coding scheme ( Modulation and Coding Scheme in English), and
• a modulation type applied by the UE terminal to the FSP subcarrier frequency intended to be transmitted: NR QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, etc.

Once the collection request req-coll has been generated, the master satellite 4 searches for at least one other satellite capable of capturing the subcarrier frequency FSP, identified in the collection request req-coll, sent by the terminal UE, at least one other satellite capable of aggregating the data collected by the collector satellites and at least one other satellite capable of processing the data aggregated by the aggregator satellite, prior to their transmission to the master satellite 4. The master satellite 4 can carry out such a search while another satellite belonging to the constellation const-4, to which the master satellite 4 also belongs, is in position to be able to serve the cell cell-2 in which the user terminal is located.

For this purpose, the master satellite 4 broadcasts the collection request req-coll during a step G3.

In order to ensure that the data collected and then aggregated and processed by the satellites give a favorable response to the req-coll collection request, the latter specifies for each type of satellite, collector, aggregator or processing, the function(s) of the physical and/or link layer, for example, to be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by each of them before their transmission. Thus, the master satellite 4 is ensured to receive only data processed in accordance with its needs independently of the splits implemented within the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2, aggregator 2-1 and processing.

The fact that the master satellite 4 explicitly announces the physical and/or link layer function(s) to be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2, then the physical and/or link layer function(s) to be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by the aggregator satellite and finally the physical and/or link layer function(s) to be applied to the FSP subcarrier frequency by the processing satellite, makes it possible for the satellites responding favourably to the req-coll collection request to transmit incomplete or erroneous data from the point of view of the eCPRI protocol since they may not have had all of the functions constituting the split implemented in such a satellite applied to them.

Thus, by way of example, the collection request req-coll broadcast by the master satellite 4 during step G3 indicates that the master satellite 4 wishes to receive data having been processed, at the level of a collector satellite 1-1, 1-2 by a decompression function IQ, then having been processed, hereinafter partial split 1, at the level of the aggregator satellite, by a modulation function, hereinafter partial split 2, and at the level of the processing satellite, by a scrambling function, hereinafter partial split 3.

In a G4 step, the different satellites 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 – intercept the collection request req-coll.

In a step G5 which may be consecutive to step G4 or prior to step G1, satellites 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2 and 3-1 to 3-3 broadcast information relating to their availability such as for example a value of the charge of their battery, their flight plan, a list of subcarrier frequencies FSP _i that they can receive, etc. More particularly, satellites 2-1, 2-2 and 3-1 to 3-3 announce which splits or partial splits they support. Thus, the master satellite 4 has the information allowing it to know which satellite 2-1, 2-2 and 3-1 to 3-3 supports the partial splits 1, 2 and 3. In the example chosen, the satellites 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 3-1 respectively support the partial split 1, the partial split 2 and the partial split 3 can therefore meet the needs of the master satellite 4. The satellites 1-1 and 1-2 are then called collector satellites, the satellite 2-1 is called aggregator satellite and the satellite 3-1 is called processing satellite.

When the master satellite 4 is assured that the throughput Du required by the terminal UE is achieved thanks to the collaboration of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 for the data collection part and thanks to the collaboration of the aggregator satellite 2-1 for the collection part and for the data aggregation part and by the processing satellite 3-1 for the collection part and for the processing part, the data collection can then begin.

Thus, during a step G6, the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2, the aggregator satellite 2-1, the processing satellite 3-1 and the master satellite 4 capture the FSP subcarrier frequency identified in the collection request req-coll. The collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 then apply to the FSP subcarrier frequency, in a step G7, the functions of cyclic prefix insertion, beamforming, and IQ decompression.

In a step G8, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 transmit data resulting from the processing of the FSP subcarrier frequency by the cyclic prefix insertion, beamforming, and IQ decompression functions, to the aggregator satellite 2-1.

The FSP subcarrier frequencies transmitted by the UE terminal and received by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 may have a phase shift due for example to jitter, or linked to the Doppler effect. In order to correct these effects, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 use values of a transmission delay between the UE terminal and each of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 determined by means of control messages exchanged between the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and the UE terminal in order to correct any offsets.

In a particular embodiment, the data collected by the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 are stored in a cache memory of one of the functions of the physical and/or link layer prior to their processing by the latter. This makes it possible to limit the number of retransmissions requested from the UE terminal.

Upon receipt of this data collected and processed by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2, the aggregator satellite 2-1 applies to the data transmitted by the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2, the functions of mapping the resource elements, precoding, and modulation during a step G9.

The radio signal carrying the data processed by the collector satellites 1-1, 1-2 may also have a phase shift due for example to jitter, or linked to the Doppler effect. In order to correct these effects, the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 use values of a transmission delay between each of the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and the aggregator satellite 2-1 determined by means of control messages exchanged between the collector satellites 1-1 and 1-2 and the aggregator satellite 2-1 in order to correct any offsets.

In a particular embodiment, the data received by the aggregator satellite 2-1 are stored in a cache memory of one of the functions of the physical and/or link layer prior to their processing by the latter.

In a step G10, the aggregator satellite 2-1 transmits the data aggregated and processed by the resource element mapping, precoding, and modulation functions, to the processing satellite 3-1.

Upon receipt of this data collected and processed by the aggregator satellite 2-1, the processing satellite 3-1 proceeds to aggregating it with the data that it has itself collected and processed, in a step G11.

Then, in a step G12, the processing satellite 3-1 transmits the data aggregated and processed by the modulation function, to the master satellite 4.

Upon receipt of this data collected and processed by the processing satellite 3-1, the master satellite 4 proceeds to aggregate it with the data that it has itself collected and processed, in a step G13.

Finally, in a step G14, the master satellite 4 transmits the data thus approved to the equipment 5. The equipment 5 applies to this aggregated data functions of the level 2 layers such as the RLC ( Radio Link Control ) and MAC ( Medium Access Control ) layers before transmitting them to the GW equipment of the CORE network in a step G15.

There represents a satellite 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4 capable of implementing all or part of the methods of transmission, collection, aggregation and processing of data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to the terminal which is the subject of the invention.

The satellite 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4 may comprise at least one hardware processor 10, a storage unit 11, at least one antenna 12, and a network interface 13 which are connected to each other through a bus 14. Of course, the constituent elements of the satellite 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4 may be connected by means of a connection other than a bus.

The processor 10 controls the operations of the satellite 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4. The storage unit 11 stores at least one program for collecting, aggregating and/or processing data carried by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to a terminal UE to be executed by the processor 10, and various data, such as parameters used for calculations performed by the processor 10, intermediate data of calculations performed by the processor 10, etc. The processor 10 may be formed by any known and suitable hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software. For example, the processor 10 may be formed by dedicated hardware such as a processing circuit, or by a programmable processing unit such as a central processing unit ( Central Processing Unit ) which executes a program stored in a memory thereof.

The storage unit 11 may be formed by any suitable means capable of storing the program, data in a computer-readable manner. Examples of the storage unit 11 include computer-readable non-transitory storage media such as semiconductor memory devices, and magnetic, optical or magneto-optical recording media loaded into a read/write unit. The program causes the processor 10 to execute a method of managing the retransmission of missing data according to one embodiment of the invention.

The antennas 12 provide an interface between the satellite 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4 and the UE terminal or other satellites 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4.

A network interface 13 provides a connection between satellite 1-1 to 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1 to 3-3 and 4 and equipment 5.

Claims (12)

Method for transmitting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called the master satellite (4), to at least one piece of equipment belonging to a communication network, said method comprising the following steps implemented by the master satellite (4):
- broadcasting, to at least one second satellite, called the collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), a request to collect data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said at least one collector satellite (1-1, 1-2) intended to be applied to the data collected prior to their transmission to the master satellite (4),
- collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- aggregation of said collected data and said data transmitted by said collecting satellite (1-1, 1-2),
- transmission of aggregated data to said at least one device belonging to a communications network. The transmission method of claim 1 wherein the collection request further comprises:
- information relating to the modulation and coding scheme of a radio signal intended to modulate said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- information relating to the type of modulation to be applied to said at least one subcarrier frequency. Transmission method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the collection request also comprises an identifier of said at least one collecting satellite (1-1, 1-2). Transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the collection request also comprises:
- an identifier of at least one third satellite, called an aggregator satellite (2-1), configured to collect and aggregate said data transmitted by said at least one collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), and
- at least one identifier of at least one second function of said at least one aggregator satellite (2-1) intended to be applied to the aggregated data prior to their transmission to the master satellite (4). The transmission method of claim 4 wherein the collection request further comprises:
- an identifier of at least one fourth satellite, called a processing satellite, configured to process said aggregated data transmitted by said at least one aggregator satellite (2-1), and
- at least one identifier of at least one third function of said at least one processing satellite intended to be applied to the data received prior to their transmission to the master satellite (4). Method for collecting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called master satellite (4), said method comprising the following steps implemented by a second satellite, called collector satellite (1-1, 1-2):
- receiving, from the master satellite (4), a request to collect data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said collector satellite (1-1, 1-2) intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- processing by applying said at least one first function to said collected data,
- transmission of processed data to the master satellite (4). Method for aggregating data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called master satellite (4), said method comprising the following steps implemented by a second satellite, called aggregator satellite (2-1):
- reception, from the master satellite, of a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one second function of said aggregator satellite (2-1) intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collection of data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called a collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply to them at least one first function of said collector satellite (1-1, 1-2),
- aggregation of said data collected by said at least one collecting satellite (1-1, 1-2)
- processing by applying said at least one second function to said aggregated data,
- transmission of processed data to the master satellite (4). Method for processing data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called master satellite, said method comprising the following steps implemented by a second satellite, called processing satellite (3-1):
- reception, from the master satellite (4), of a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one third function of said processing satellite (3-1) intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collection of data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called aggregator satellite (2-1), configured to aggregate data transmitted by at least one fourth satellite, called collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply to them at least one first function of said collector satellite (1-1, 1-2),
- processing by applying said at least one third function to said collected data,
- transmission of processed data to the master satellite (4). Communication satellite, called master satellite (4), capable of transmitting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by said master satellite (4), to at least one piece of equipment belonging to a communication network, said master satellite (4) comprising at least one processor configured to:
- broadcasting, to at least one second satellite, called a collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), a request to collect data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said at least one collector satellite (1-1, 1-2) intended to be applied to the data collected prior to their transmission to the master satellite,
- collect data carried by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- aggregating said collected data and said data transmitted by said collecting satellite (1-1, 1-2),
- transmit the aggregated data to said at least one device belonging to a communications network. Communication satellite, called collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), capable of collecting data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one other satellite, called master satellite (4), said collector satellite (1-1, 1-2) comprising at least one processor configured to:
- receiving, from the master satellite (4), a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one first function of said collector satellite (1-1, 1-2) intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collect data carried by said at least one subcarrier frequency,
- process by applying said at least one first function to said collected data,
- transmit processed data to the master satellite (4). Communication satellite, called aggregator satellite (2-1), capable of aggregating data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called master satellite (4), said aggregator satellite (2-1) comprising at least one processor configured to:
- receiving, from the master satellite, a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one second function of said aggregator satellite (2-1) intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collecting data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called a collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply to them at least one first function of said collector satellite (1-1, 1-2),
- aggregate said data collected by said at least one collecting satellite (1-1, 1-2)
- process by applying said at least one second function to said aggregated data,
- transmit processed data to the master satellite (4). Communication satellite, called processing satellite (3-1), capable of processing data transported by at least one subcarrier frequency allocated to at least one terminal located in a cell of a radio communication network served by at least one first satellite, called master satellite (4), said processing satellite (3-1) comprising at least one processor configured to:
- receiving, from the master satellite, a request for collection of data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency, said collection request comprising an identifier of said at least one subcarrier frequency, parameters relating to said cell of the radio communication network, and at least one identifier of at least one third function of said processing satellite (3-1) intended to be applied to the collected data,
- collecting data transmitted by at least one third satellite, called an aggregator satellite (2-1), configured to aggregate data transmitted by at least one fourth satellite, called a collector satellite (1-1, 1-2), configured to collect the data transported by said at least one subcarrier frequency and to apply to them at least one first function of said collector satellite (1-1, 1-2),
- process by applying said at least one third function to said collected data,
- transmit processed data to the master satellite (4).