Abstract: An antenna array system comprises a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an antenna array in a geometric shape. The antenna array system further includes a first sub-array that forms an interior of the antenna array and a second sub-array that forms an exterior of the antenna array. In addition, the first sub-array is a subset of the second sub-array. A number of antenna elements in the first sub-array is greater than a number of antenna elements in the second sub-array. The antenna array system determines an exact satellite location of a satellite within a solid angle of ambiguity using a first virtual pattern and a second virtual pattern.

Abstract: A satellite communication terminal for a field environment includes: a broadband interface that creates a broadband link with a device in the field environment and that manages communication over the broadband link; a satellite antenna that creates a satellite backhaul link with a satellite in orbit; a satellite interface that manages communication over the satellite backhaul link; and a processor that controls a beam direction of the satellite antenna, performs broadband services on data exchanged with the device over the broadband link and the satellite backhaul link, and provides access to the exchanged data to the device.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an object in a geographical area. The method involves obtaining, from a cloud computing device, service provisioning data for a pre-determined service of the object, receiving, from a first plurality of network nodes disposed about a first segment of the geographical area, a plurality of monitored data items, wherein the plurality of monitored data items are generated based on an Internet-of-things (IoT) signal received by the first plurality of network nodes from a tag sensor disposed on the object, and processing, based on the service provisioning data, the plurality of monitored data items to provide the pre-determined service of the object across the first segment of the geographical area.

Abstract: A sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes: a battery that powers the sensor system; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that stores a unique identifier of the sensor system; a sensor that provides a sensing data for the sensor system; an internet of things (IoT) transceiver that communicates with an access point in an IoT system; and a processor that receives the sensing data from the sensor and controls an activation of the sensor and a frequency of communication of the IoT transceiver with the access point.

Abstract: A system for monitoring livestock in a ranching environment. The system includes tag sensors attached to animals, and configured to collect monitoring data from the animals, a first access point, configured to receive the collected monitoring data from the tag sensors and to process the collected monitoring data, an Internet of Things (IoT) link established between each of the tag sensors and the access point, and an IoT communication protocol overlay that enables synchronized uplinks from the tag sensors to the first access point via the IoT links. The IoT communication protocol overlay governs transmissions of monitoring data by the tag sensors to the access point. The system further includes a hub/cloud platform configured to receive the processed monitoring data from the first access point, perform data analytics on the processed monitoring data, and provide a user interface that enables a user to monitor the livestock.

Abstract: A method for installing a pivoting tower assembly is disclosed. The method involves mounting at least one electrical component onto a pivoting pole of the pivoting tower assembly, while the pivoting tower assembly is in an assembly position having the pivoting pole oriented horizontally and parallel to the ground, connecting an electrical wire from the at least one electrical component to a wire harness permitting the electrical wire to travel inside the pivoting pole, and pivoting the pivoting pole, about an axis parallel to the ground, from the assembly position into an erect, vertical position with the at least one mounted electrical component.

Abstract: The invention is a dual and stagger-tuned 8-step FZP antenna for use in VSAT operations. The preferred embodiment achieves the desired antenna gain at the RX band (centered at 11.95 GHz) and the TX band (centered at 14.25 GHz). The flexible antenna is 1-meter diameter and less than 1-inch thick, allowing it to be folded to the size of a tissue box for easy storage and transportability.

Abstract: A data transmission system includes a sending node, including a link queue storing data packets to be transmitted to a receiving node on a network link and a link-specific congestion control, associated with the link queue, the link-specific congestion control controlling a congestion window based on an available capacity of the network link to determine a size of the link queue for the data packets to be transmitted. The sending node further includes flow senders transmitting data packets of data flows to flow receivers on the receiving node, and flow-specific receive window controls, independent from the link-specific congestion control. One flow-specific receive window control is associated with each data flow, and each flow-specific receive window control controls a receive window of the associated flow sender based on an available capacity of the corresponding flow receiver to specify an amount of data available to be entered into the link queue.

Abstract: A network-based sensing system for monitoring an object is disclosed. The system includes a sensor, attached to the object, that collects object information, a first wireless access point that operates in a first private network covering a first private region, and at least one cellular base station that operates in a public network outside of the first private region. The sensor includes functionality to detect a location of the sensor in a location detection period and to determine a type of network coverage of the sensor. The sensor establishes connection with the first wireless access point via a first private network for transmitting the object information, when the sensor is covered by the first private network, and with the at least one cellular base station via a public cellular network for transmitting the object information, when the sensor is covered by only the public cellular network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a SIM multiplexing device that provides a mechanism for multiplexing multiple SIM cards into a single SIM device. The SIM Mux device interfaces to the host device via the host device's standard SIM slot. The SIM Mux application resides on the SIM Mux logic device and communicates with the device over the SIM slot's SIM I/O line using standard ISO-7816 messages. The SIM Mux application allows a user to select the active SIM slot via a SIM application interface and directs the logic device which SIM socket to activate on the shared SIM I/O line, thus enabling the user to utilize any one of the populated SIM cards at one time.

Abstract: A data transmission system includes a sending node, including a link queue storing data packets to be transmitted to a receiving node on a network link and a link-specific congestion control, associated with the link queue, the link-specific congestion control controlling a congestion window based on an available capacity of the network link to determine a size of the link queue for the data packets to be transmitted. The sending node further includes flow senders transmitting data packets of data flows to flow receivers on the receiving node, and flow-specific receive window controls, independent from the link-specific congestion control. One flow-specific receive window control is associated with each data flow, and each flow-specific receive window control controls a receive window of the associated flow sender based on an available capacity of the corresponding flow receiver to specify an amount of data available to be entered into the link queue.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an object in a geographical area. The method involves obtaining, from a cloud computing device, service provisioning data for a pre-determined service of the object, receiving, from a first plurality of network nodes disposed about a first segment of the geographical area, a plurality of monitored data items, wherein the plurality of monitored data items are generated based on an Internet-of-things (IoT) signal received by the first plurality of network nodes from a tag sensor disposed on the object, and processing, based on the service provisioning data, the plurality of monitored data items to provide the pre-determined service of the object across the first segment of the geographical area.

Abstract: A system for accessing data in a field environment. The system including data access devices to access data items, at least one access point to receive a first data item from a first data access device and provide a second data item to a second data access device, an Internet of Things (IoT) narrowband link established between the at least one access point and the data access devices, an IoT communication protocol overlay that governs synchronized transmissions of the data items between the data access devices and the at least one access point, and a hub/cloud platform to receive the first data item from the access point, perform data services on the received first data item to generate the second data item, and provide a user interface that enables a user of the second data access device to access the second data item via the access point.

Abstract: A method for installing a pivoting tower assembly is disclosed. The method involves mounting at least one electrical component onto a pivoting pole of the pivoting tower assembly, while the pivoting tower assembly is in an assembly position having the pivoting pole oriented horizontally and parallel to the ground, connecting an electrical wire from the at least one electrical component to a wire harness permitting the electrical wire to travel inside the pivoting pole, and pivoting the pivoting pole, about an axis parallel to the ground, from the assembly position into an erect, vertical position with the at least one mounted electrical component.

Abstract: A communication protocol overlay that governs wireless data communications between an access point and subscribers. The communication protocol overlay includes a repeating pattern of superframes, each superframe including frames. Each frame includes a beacon emitted by an access point in a downlink communication to the subscribers at a beginning of the frame. Each frame further includes communication slots following the beacon. Each of the communication slots is uniquely assigned to one of the subscribers, permitting the subscriber to perform an uplink communication to the access point, within the communication slot. The beacon is precisely timed, and each of the communication slots follows the beacon with a specified temporal offset. A single superframe of the repeating pattern of superframes serves all subscribers by providing at least one communication slot to each of the subscribers.

Abstract: A sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes: a battery that powers the sensor system; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that stores a unique identifier of the sensor system; a sensor that provides a sensing data for the sensor system; an internet of things (IoT) transceiver that communicates with an access point in an IoT system; and a processor that receives the sensing data from the sensor and controls an activation of the sensor and a frequency of communication of the IoT transceiver with the access point.

Abstract: A system for accessing data in a field environment. The system including data access devices to access data items, at least one access point to receive a first data item from a first data access device and provide a second data item to a second data access device, an Internet of Things (IoT) narrowband link established between the at least one access point and the data access devices, an IoT communication protocol overlay that governs synchronized transmissions of the data items between the data access devices and the at least one access point, and a hub/cloud platform to receive the first data item from the access point, perform data services on the received first data item to generate the second data item, and provide a user interface that enables a user of the second data access device to access the second data item via the access point.

Abstract: A communication protocol overlay that governs wireless data communications between an access point and subscribers. The communication protocol overlay includes a repeating pattern of superframes, each superframe including frames. Each frame includes a beacon emitted by an access point in a downlink communication to the subscribers at a beginning of the frame. Each frame further includes communication slots following the beacon. Each of the communication slots is uniquely assigned to one of the subscribers, permitting the subscriber to perform an uplink communication to the access point, within the communication slot. The beacon is precisely timed, and each of the communication slots follows the beacon with a specified temporal offset. A single superframe of the repeating pattern of superframes serves all subscribers by providing at least one communication slot to each of the subscribers.

Abstract: A system for monitoring livestock in a ranching environment. The system includes tag sensors attached to animals, and configured to collect monitoring data from the animals, a first access point, configured to receive the collected monitoring data from the tag sensors and to process the collected monitoring data, an Internet of Things (IoT) link established between each of the tag sensors and the access point, and an IoT communication protocol overlay that enables synchronized uplinks from the tag sensors to the first access point via the IoT links. The IoT communication protocol overlay governs transmissions of monitoring data by the tag sensors to the access point. The system further includes a hub/cloud platform configured to receive the processed monitoring data from the first access point, perform data analytics on the processed monitoring data, and provide a user interface that enables a user to monitor the livestock.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing alternate wireless and network service on a cruise ship or in other remote or isolated “captive” environments where available wireless communication options tend to be limited and/or bandwidth constrained. Aspects of the disclosed systems and methods allow existing wireless customers to continue using their normal wireless phone and phone number in the captive environments while still easily avoiding large roaming and bandwidth charges, all while nearly transparently maintaining the full range of normal wireless voice, text, and MMS services.