Abstract: A simplified scrambling scheme that unifies all signals of a satellite broadcasting system, including frame header (404), frame body (402) and pilot symbols (408) with a common reference phase. This results in the simplification and increased flexibility of the receiver front-end design without affecting the overall system performance. In many current communications systems with frame headers and pilot symbols, the phases of frame headers and pilot syrnbols are not designed to be aligned with any constellation points of the modulated data from the frame body. This scrambling scheme takes into account possible impact due to irregular phase changes between frame headers/pilot symbols and modulated data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a coded signal having an upper layer signal and a lower layer signal is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of combining the upper layer signal and the lower layer signal, encoding the combined upper layer signal and lower layer signal, delaying the upper layer signal, modulating the delayed upper layer signal, modulating the lower layer signal, transmitting the delayed upper layer signal and transmitting the lower layer signal. The apparatus comprises an encoder, for encoding a combined upper layer signal and lower layer signal, a delay, communicatively coupled to the encoder, for delaying the upper layer signal, a first modulator, for modulating the delayed upper layer signal, a second modulator, for modulating the lower layer signal, a transmitter, communicatively coupled to the first modulator, for transmitting the delayed upper layer signal, and a second transmitter, communicatively coupled to the second modulator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus transmitting a layered modulation signal having a first signal layer having first signal symbols and a second signal layer having second signal symbols is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining a first signal layer modulation carrier power CL at least in part according to a first signal layer clear sky margin ML and a first signal layer availability, determining an second signal layer modulation carrier power CU at least in part according to an second signal layer clear sky margin MU and an second signal layer availability, modulating the first signal symbols according to a first carrier at the determined first signal layer modulation carrier power; modulating the second signal symbols according to a second carrier at the determined second signal layer modulation carrier power, and transmitting the two layers independently.

Abstract: Techniques for image processing are provided. Image processing algorithms are linked together in an image processing plan. The image is piped through the processing plan, such that as results are produced by a particular image processing algorithm they are immediately provided to a next image processing algorithm of the image processing plan for processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for feeder link configurations to layered modulation. One feeder link system employs feeder link spot beam to antennas in distinct coverage areas to enable frequency reuse. Another system employs narrow beam width feeder link antenna to illuminate individual satellites also enabling frequency reuse. Yet another system uses layered modulation in the feeder link. Another feeder link system employs a higher order synchronous modulation for the satellite feeder link than is used in the layered modulation downlink signals.

Abstract: A method and receiver systems for demodulating and decoding a hierarchically modulated signal, e.g. an 8PSK signal, are disclosed. An exemplary method includes demodulating and processing (502) the hierarchically modulated signal (202) to produce symbols (212) from the first modulation at the first hierarchical level, applying information (504) from a plurality of the symbols from the first modulation at the first hierarchical level in subtracting (214) from the demodulated hierarchically modulated signal to obtain the second modulation at the second hierarchical level and processing (506) the second modulation at the second hierarchical level to produce second symbols (222) from the demodulated second signal. The hierarchically modulated signal comprises a non-uniform 8PSK signal. Applying the information from the plurality of the symbols from the first modulation can be achieved by applying the symbols after error correction.

Abstract: Improvements to a layered modulation (LM) implementation are disclosed. The present invention discloses two implementations of LM, using single and multiple transponders per signal frequency, respectively. Layered hierarchical 8PSK (H-8PSK) is a special case of LM. By re-encoding the high-priority (HP) portion of an H-8PSK signal, LM can improve carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) of a H-8PSK signal. LM can be computer-simulated and a two-layered signal can be sequentially demodulated with a predicted CNR performance. An LM signal can be simulated 10 using live signals for off-line processing. In addition, a signal processing apparatus can process in real time LM signals emulated from live satellite signals.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure provide the ability to determine an input operating point and an output operating point on a non-linear traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA). The non-linearity of the TWTA is measured. An input roots mean-square (RMS) value of an input signal used to measure the non-linearity of the TWTA is computed. The RMS value identifies an input operating point of the measured non-linearity of the TWTA. Lastly, an output operating point is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for receiving layered modulation signals is disclosed. A typical method includes receiving a layered modulation signal including an upper layer signal and a lower layer signal, demodulating and decoding the upper layer signal from the received layered modulation signal, estimating an upper layer amplitude factor and an upper layer phase factor from the received layered modulation signal. A substantially ideal upper layer signal is reconstructed from the demodulated and decoded upper layer signal including matching an ideal amplitude and an ideal phase by applying the upper layer amplitude factor and the upper layer phase factor to the reconstructed ideal upper layer signal. Finally, the reconstructed ideal upper layer signal is subtracted from the received layered modulation signal to produce the lower layer signal for processing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for maximizing power and spectral efficiencies in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The invention is particularly useful for layered modulation applications because power levels for such applications are relatively high. A layered modulation signal comprises an upper and a lower layer signal that interfere with each other within the same frequency band such that the upper layer signal can be demodulated directly from the layered modulation signal, and the lower layer signal can be demodulated after subtracting the first layer signal from the layered modulation signal. The invention applies one or more of the following four signal schemes in a communication signal including varying the symbol rate (rather than the code rate), reducing or eliminating the guard band, reducing excess signal bandwidth and employing layered modulation within the guard band of the legacy signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus prepare an asset for placement on a server, the asset including a media file and corresponding metadata elements. The media file is received, and it is automatically determined whether all required metadata elements are associated with the received media file. If all of the required metadata elements are not associated with the received media file, it is determined which of the required metadata elements are missing, and the missing metadata elements are required to be added before the asset is placed on the server.

Abstract: A device having at least one processor connected a controller and a memory; where the controller to execute a debug process. The debug process attaches a breakpoint bit field to each instruction. A system having image signal processors (ISPs), each ISP including processor elements (PEs). The ISPs include a debug instruction register connected to a first mux element. An instruction memory is connected to an instruction register. A decoder is connected to the instruction register. An execution unit is connected to the decoder. A debug executive unit is connected to the instruction memory, and a second mux element is connected to the execution unit and local registers. The decoder decodes a breakpoint bit field of each instruction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for minimizing co-channel interference in communications systems are disclosed. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises scrambling a first header of the first signal using a first scrambling code, scrambling a second header of the second signal using a second scrambling code, and transmitting the first signal and the second signal with the scrambled first header and the scrambled second header over different channels of the communication system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for minimizing co-channel interference in communications systems are disclosed. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises shifting a characteristic of the first signal with respect to a like characteristic of the second signal to mitigate co-channel interference, and transmitting the first signal and the second signal over different channels of the communication system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for minimizing co-channel interference in communications systems are disclosed. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises scrambling a first frame using a first scrambling code, attaching a first header to the first frame to create the first signal, scrambling a second frame using a second scrambling code, attaching a second header to the second frame to create the second signal, and transmitting the first signal and the second signal over different channels of the communication system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving signals transmitted from a plurality of communications satellites. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a reflecting surface having a focal point, and a plurality of low noise block down converters with feedhorns (LNBFs), each LNBF having a boresight, wherein at least a first LNBF receives signals in a first frequency band transmitted from a first communication satellite location that are focused at a first focal point and at least a second LNBF receives signals in a second frequency band transmitted from a second satellite location that are focused at a second focal point, wherein the boresight of the first LNBF is closer to the first focal point than the boresight of the second LNBF is to the second focal point.

Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to measure a transmission performance characteristic. A signal is received and equalized. The equalized signal is demodulated and an ideal signal is generated from the demodulated equalized signal. A performance characteristic is the estimated from a difference between the ideal signal and the equalized signal.

Abstract: An embodiment for hardware assisted assembly code debugging uses configurable data bits to enable breakpoint and single-stepping debugging. One of the data bits is included in the data bits defining a computer program instruction op-code and is configurable to halt execution of the instruction by a processing element. Other of the data bits are held in a control register coupled to the processing element and are configurable to halt both execution of individual instructions and to consecutively halt execution of multiple instructions.

Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to measure a transmission performance characteristic. A signal is received and demodulated. An ideal signal is generated from the demodulated signal. The received signal is coherently averaged to reduce noise. The performance characteristic is the estimated TWTA nonlinearity from a difference between the coherently averaged ideal signal and received signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for equalizing digital data signals is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of demodulating and decoding an input signal having input data to produce a data output, remodulating the data output to produce a pseudo-training sequence including an idealized input signal, and generating equalizer parameters from the pseudo-training sequence. The apparatus comprises a demodulator for demodulating an input signal to produce a data output, a modulator, communicatively coupled to the demodulator, for remodulating the data output to produce a pseudo-training sequence including an idealized input signal, and a parameter generation module, communicatively coupled to the modulator for generating equalizer parameters from the pseudo-training sequence.