A mathematical model for configuration planning of multi-beam satellites with heterogeneous service classes

Develops a mixed integer linear programming (MIP) model for determining the connectivities of a multi-beam satellite and for distributing the traffic among transponders. The optimization objectives include evenly distributing traffic among transponders (satellite beams) and minimizing the number of active transponders. The model handles a variety of service classes each with different requirements simultaneously. The major inputs to the model are the heterogeneous traffic matrix, beam inter-connection capabilities of transponders and their capacities, and beam coverages. The outputs are the transponder switch settings and a traffic assignment plan. The traffic assignment plan indicates what portion of the traffic originating from one region and destined to another should be assigned to each transponder