Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems manage use of shared network resources among subscribers to a data communication service. In some implementations, a first metric is computed representing a subscriber's use of the shared network resources. A second metric may also be computed that represents the amount of network congestion of the shared network resources. Data derived from the first metric and the second metric may then be presented to the subscriber. The data may be transmitted to the subscriber over a network and/or the data may be displayed to the subscriber on an electronic display.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems manage use of shared network resources among subscribers to a data communication service. In some implementations, a first metric is computed representing a subscriber's use of the shared network resources. A second metric may also be computed that represents the amount of network congestion of the shared network resources. Data derived from the first metric and the second metric may then be presented to the subscriber. The data may be transmitted to the subscriber over a network and/or the data may be displayed to the subscriber on an electronic display.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems manage use of shared network resources among subscribers to a data communication service. In some implementations, a first metric is computed representing a subscriber's use of the shared network resources. A second metric may also be computed that represents the amount of network congestion of the shared network resources. Data derived from the first metric and the second metric may then be presented to the subscriber. The data may be transmitted to the subscriber over a network and/or the data may be displayed to the subscriber on an electronic display.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scintillation mitigation in satellite communications systems with geographically distributed access nodes. Some embodiments operate in context of a bent-pipe satellite that illuminates user and gateway coverage areas with fixed spot beams. Beamforming can be used, along with coordinated, phase-synchronized communication by the distributed access nodes, to generate signals that coherently combine via the satellite. Scintillation and/or other atmospheric irregularities can degrade phase synchronization at the access nodes. Accordingly, embodiments can monitor phase tracking performance of the access nodes to detect when a phase tracking error occurs in at least one of the access nodes. In response to detecting the phase tracking error, embodiments can inhibit transmitting of forward uplink data signals by at least that access node.

Abstract: A distributed delivery network for capacity enhancement of a communication link shared by multiple communication devices for network access service. The distributed delivery network may include one or more distributed storage devices, some of which may include at least one rotating disk storage device, a network interface, and one or more environmental sensors. Each distributed storage device may monitor data from the environmental sensor(s) and transition between an active state where messages are stored in or retrieved from the storage device, and a standby state where access is suppressed. The distributed storage devices may self-organize control operations for the distributed delivery network including message storage and retrieval and redundancy of messages, which may be determined by frequency of requests for the messages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for scintillation mitigation in satellite communications systems with geographically distributed access nodes. Some embodiments operate in context of a bent-pipe satellite that illuminates user and gateway coverage areas with fixed spot beams. Beamforming can be used, along with coordinated, phase-synchronized communication by the distributed access nodes, to generate signals that coherently combine via the satellite. Scintillation and/or other atmospheric irregularities can degrade phase synchronization at the access nodes. Accordingly, embodiments can monitor phase tracking performance of the access nodes to detect when a phase tracking error occurs in at least one of the access nodes. In response to detecting the phase tracking error, embodiments can inhibit transmitting of forward uplink data signals by at least that access node.

Abstract: A distributed delivery network for capacity enhancement of a communication link shared by multiple communication devices for network access service. The distributed delivery network may include one or more distributed storage devices, some of which may include at least one rotating disk storage device, a network interface, and one or more environmental sensors. Each distributed storage device may monitor data from the environmental sensor(s) and transition between an active state where messages are stored in or retrieved from the storage device, and a standby state where access is suppressed. The distributed storage devices may self-organize control operations for the distributed delivery network including message storage and retrieval and redundancy of messages, which may be determined by frequency of requests for the messages.

Abstract: A distributed delivery network for capacity enhancement of a communication link shared by multiple communication devices for network access service. The distributed delivery network may include one or more distributed storage devices, some of which may include at least one rotating disk storage device, a network interface, and one or more environmental sensors. Each distributed storage device may monitor data from the environmental sensor(s) and transition between an active state where messages are stored in or retrieved from the storage device, and a standby state where access is suppressed. The distributed storage devices may self-organize control operations for the distributed delivery network including message storage and retrieval and redundancy of messages, which may be determined by frequency of requests for the messages.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing satellite communications through the deployment of a fleet of multi-beam satellites serving overlapping and non-overlapping spot beams. In these methods, systems, and devices, a first communication service associated with a relatively wider spot beam of a first satellite is provided to a first coverage area having multiple terminals. A second communication service associated with a relatively narrower spot beam (e.g., high-gain spot beam) of a second satellite is provided to a second coverage area located within the first coverage area. A subset of terminals located within the second coverage area is identified, and the terminals of the identified subset are transitioned from the first communication service of the wide spot beam of the first satellite to the second communication service of the high-gain spot beam of the second satellite.

Abstract: A distributed delivery network for capacity enhancement of a communication link shared by multiple communication devices for network access service. The distributed delivery network may include one or more distributed storage devices, some of which may include at least one rotating disk storage device, a network interface, and one or more environmental sensors. Each distributed storage device may monitor data from the environmental sensor(s) and transition between an active state where messages are stored in or retrieved from the storage device, and a standby state where access is suppressed. The distributed storage devices may self-organize control operations for the distributed delivery network including message storage and retrieval and redundancy of messages, which may be determined by frequency of requests for the messages.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing satellite communications through the deployment of a fleet of multi-beam satellites serving overlapping and non-overlapping spot beams. In these methods, systems, and devices, a first communication service associated with a relatively wider spot beam of a first satellite is provided to a first coverage area having multiple terminals. A second communication service associated with a relatively narrower spot beam (e.g., high-gain spot beam) of a second satellite is provided to a second coverage area located within the first coverage area. A subset of terminals located within the second coverage area is identified, and the terminals of the identified subset are transitioned from the first communication service of the wide spot beam of the first satellite to the second communication service of the high-gain spot beam of the second satellite.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing satellite communications through the deployment of a fleet of multi-beam satellites serving overlapping and non-overlapping spot beams. In these methods, systems, and devices, a first communication service associated with a relatively wider spot beam of a first satellite is provided to a first coverage area having multiple terminals. A second communication service associated with a relatively narrower spot beam (e.g., high-gain spot beam) of a second satellite is provided to a second coverage area located within the first coverage area. A subset of terminals located within the second coverage area is identified, and the terminals of the identified subset are transitioned from the first communication service of the wide spot beam of the first satellite to the second communication service of the high-gain spot beam of the second satellite.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing satellite communications through the deployment of a fleet of multi-beam satellites serving overlapping and non-overlapping spot beams. In these methods, systems, and devices, a first communication service associated with a relatively wider spot beam of a first satellite is provided to a first coverage area having multiple terminals. A second communication service associated with a relatively narrower spot beam (e.g., high-gain spot beam) of a second satellite is provided to a second coverage area located within the first coverage area. A subset of terminals located within the second coverage area is identified, and the terminals of the identified subset are transitioned from the first communication service of the wide spot beam of the first satellite to the second communication service of the high-gain spot beam of the second satellite.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing satellite communications through the deployment of a fleet of multi-beam satellites serving overlapping and non-overlapping spot beams. In these methods, systems, and devices, a first communication service associated with a relatively wider spot beam of a first satellite is provided to a first coverage area having multiple terminals. A second communication service associated with a relatively narrower spot beam (e.g., high-gain spot beam) of a second satellite is provided to a second coverage area located within the first coverage area. A subset of terminals located within the second coverage area is identified, and the terminals of the identified subset are transitioned from the first communication service of the wide spot beam of the first satellite to the second communication service of the high-gain spot beam of the second satellite.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems manage use of shared network resources among subscribers to a data communication service. In some implementations, a first metric is computed representing a subscriber's use of the shared network resources. A second metric may also be computed that represents the amount of network congestion of the shared network resources. Data derived from the first metric and the second metric may then be presented to the subscriber. The data may be transmitted to the subscriber over a network and/or the data may be displayed to the subscriber on an electronic display.

Abstract: A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.

Abstract: This invention is a multiple access communication technique by which a multitude of transmitters communicate with receivers using direct sequence spread spectrum signaling. The direct sequence codes are reused by a large number of simultaneous transmitters, so the system is named Code Reuse Multiple Access (“CRMA”). This reuse method requires only a small number of codes relative to the number of simultaneous transmitters, and can use as few as one code for all the users. The direct sequence codes are not required to have special properties such as maximal length. The lengths of the spreading codes employed are not necessarily related to the bit or symbol interval. CRMA can be implemented on a Paired Carrier Multiple Access (“PCMA”) system with or without a novel receiver structure which is also described. In an environment having virtual channels, a clock is derived from the received signal in the uplink by sampling the signal to detect symbol edges.

Abstract: This invention is a multiple access communication technique by which a multitude of transmitters communicate with receivers using direct sequence spread spectrum signaling. The direct sequence codes are reused by a large number of simultaneous transmitters, so the system is named Code Reuse Multiple Access (“CRMA”). This reuse method requires only a small number of codes relative to the number of simultaneous transmitters, and can use as few as one code for all the users. The direct sequence codes are not required to have special properties such as maximal length. The lengths of the spreading codes employed are not necessarily related to the bit or symbol interval. CRMA can be implemented on a Paired Carrier Multiple Access (“PCMA”) system with or without a novel receiver structure which is also described.