Abstract: A system to reduce a count of satellite gateways is disclosed. The system includes: a feeder link capacity of a satellite; a spectrum ranging from 26.5 GHz to 75 GHz; a gateway feeder link capacity that is an aggregate of capacities of channels defined in the spectrum; and RF gateways communicating with the satellite via the channels, wherein the count of the satellite gateways is less than or equal to a rounded-up integer of the feeder link capacity divided by the gateway feeder link capacity, and the satellite is a geosynchronous orbit satellite.

Abstract: A system to reduce a count of satellite gateways is disclosed. The system includes: a feeder link capacity of a satellite; a spectrum ranging from 26.5 GHz to 75 GHz; a gateway feeder link capacity that is an aggregate of capacities of channels defined in the spectrum; and RF gateways communicating with the satellite via the channels, wherein the count of the satellite gateways is less than or equal to a rounded-up integer of the feeder link capacity divided by the gateway feeder link capacity, and the satellite is a geosynchronous orbit satellite.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to identify an equalization response for equalizing an output signal of a modulator of a satellite gateway, generate a compensation response based on the equalization response and a sample rate of a pre-distorter of the modulator, and send the equalization response to the pre-distorter.

Abstract: A system comprises a modem, configured to transmit data modulated based on an intermediate frequency within one of a C, X, or Ku band, and a single-stage block-up converter having an input electrically coupled via one inter-facility link cable to the modem, and an output electrically coupled to a high-power amplifier. The single-stage block-up-converter is configured to up-convert the intermediate frequency to a satellite communication frequency within the Ka, Q, or V band.

Abstract: A system comprises a modem, configured to transmit data modulated based on an intermediate frequency within one of a C, X, or Ku band, and a single-stage block-up converter having an input electrically coupled via one inter-facility link cable to the modem, and an output electrically coupled to a high-power amplifier. The single-stage block-up-converter is configured to up-convert the intermediate frequency to a satellite communication frequency within the Ka, Q, or V band.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enhancing flatness of frequency response of couplings of radio frequency (RF) ports in an RF switch matrix. Techniques include determining a second RF port has been selected to be coupled to a first RF port via a coupling, obtaining an indication of a frequency or frequencies to be carried via the coupling, determining an amount of attenuation or amplification for the coupling for the frequency or frequencies, and adjusting attenuation or amplification applied to the coupling according to the determined amount attenuation or amplification.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enhancing flatness of frequency response of couplings of radio frequency (RF) ports in an RF switch matrix. Techniques include determining a second RF port has been selected to be coupled to a first RF port via a coupling, obtaining an indication of a frequency or frequencies to be carried via the coupling, determining an amount of attenuation or amplification for the coupling for the frequency or frequencies, and adjusting attenuation or amplification applied to the coupling according to the determined amount attenuation or amplification.

Abstract: An uplink power control system and a machine-implemented method for determining clear sky and adjusting uplink power are provided. A receiving station, which may be a satellite terminal or a satellite gateway, receives a reference signal from a satellite. The reference signal may be sampled over a sampling time period in order to compute a filtered short-term average downlink SINR. A filtered long-term average downlink SINR may be adjusted toward the filtered short-term average downlink SINR using either a first time constant or second time constant, based on a relationship between the filtered long-term average downlink SINR and the filtered short-term average downlink SINR. In some implementations, the second time constant is less than the first time constant.

Abstract: A method including determining that a first radio frequency (RF) port has been selected to be coupled via an M by N RF switch matrix to a second RF port, wherein the M by N radio frequency (RF) switch matrix includes M first-side RF ports and N second-side RF ports, the first RF port is included in the M first-side RF ports, the second RF port is included in the N second-side RF ports, M is at least 2 and N is at least 2, and each of the first-side RF ports may be selectively coupled to and uncoupled from at least one of two or more of the second-side RF ports, such that RF signals are carried between selectively coupled RF ports; obtaining a first indicator indicating a frequency, frequency range, channel, or band for an RF signal to be carried via the second RF port while coupled to the first RF port; obtaining, in response to the determination that the first RF port has been selected to be coupled to the second RF port, a first adjustment value based on the first indicator, the first RF port, and the secon

Abstract: A method including determining that a first radio frequency (RF) port has been selected to be coupled via an M by N RF switch matrix to a second RF port, wherein the M by N radio frequency (RF) switch matrix includes M first-side RF ports and N second-side RF ports, the first RF port is included in the M first-side RF ports, the second RF port is included in the N second-side RF ports, M is at least 2 and N is at least 2, and each of the first-side RF ports may be selectively coupled to and uncoupled from at least one of two or more of the second-side RF ports, such that RF signals are carried between selectively coupled RF ports; obtaining a first indicator indicating a frequency, frequency range, channel, or band for an RF signal to be carried via the second RF port while coupled to the first RF port; obtaining, in response to the determination that the first RF port has been selected to be coupled to the second RF port, a first adjustment value based on the first indicator, the first RF port, and the secon

Abstract: A method and a satellite gateway for minimizing an impact of a noise floor variation in a spot beam satellite system. A demodulator processes digitized signals from multiple channels. Digitized signals are automatically gain controlled by respective automatic gain control components associated with respective channels. Automatic gain controlled digitized signals are downconverted and provided to a burst processor. The burst processor processes each downconverted signal and provides, with respect to each downconverted signal, an automatic gain control estimate, a code rate, and an inroute number to a processor component. The processor component determines an average automatic gain control value for each inroute, provides automatic gain control references to the respective automatic gain control components, and periodically sends noise map information to satellite terminals served by the satellite gateway. In some embodiments, the automatic gain control values are biased according to corresponding code rates.

Abstract: A method and a satellite terminal are provided. The satellite terminal may range over multiple frequencies and may receive, from a satellite gateway, a signal quality indicator with respect to each of the ranged multiple frequencies. Noise and interference for a corresponding frequency are estimated based on at least one of the received signal quality indicators for the corresponding frequency. Path loss is estimated based on multiple received signal quality indicators, each of which is received in response to the satellite terminal transmitting a signal while not performing the ranging process. A transmit power level of the satellite terminal is adjusted for the corresponding frequency based on the estimated path loss and the estimated noise and interference for the corresponding frequency.

Abstract: A method and a satellite terminal are provided. The satellite terminal may range over multiple frequencies and may receive, from a satellite gateway, a signal quality indicator with respect to each of the ranged multiple frequencies. Noise and interference for a corresponding frequency are estimated based on at least one of the received signal quality indicators for the corresponding frequency. Path loss is estimated based on multiple received signal quality indicators, each of which is received in response to the satellite terminal transmitting a signal while not performing the ranging process. A transmit power level of the satellite terminal is adjusted for the corresponding frequency based on the estimated path loss and the estimated noise and interference for the corresponding frequency.

Abstract: A method and a satellite gateway for minimizing an impact of a noise floor variation in a spot beam satellite system. A demodulator processes digitized signals from multiple channels. Digitized signals are automatically gain controlled by respective automatic gain control components associated with respective channels. Automatic gain controlled digitized signals are downconverted and provided to a burst processor. The burst processor processes each downconverted signal and provides, with respect to each downconverted signal, an automatic gain control estimate, a code rate, and an inroute number to a processor component. The processor component determines an average automatic gain control value for each inroute, provides automatic gain control references to the respective automatic gain control components, and periodically sends noise map information to satellite terminals served by the satellite gateway. In some embodiments, the automatic gain control values are biased according to corresponding code rates.

Abstract: An uplink power control system and a machine-implemented method for determining clear sky and adjusting uplink power are provided. A receiving station, which may be a satellite terminal or a satellite gateway, receives a reference signal from a satellite. The reference signal may be sampled over a sampling time period in order to compute a filtered short-term average downlink SINR. A filtered long-term average downlink SINR may be adjusted toward the filtered short-term average downlink SINR using either a first time constant or second time constant, based on a relationship between the filtered long-term average downlink SINR and the filtered short-term average downlink SINR. In some implementations, the second time constant is less than the first time constant.

Abstract: Methods and devices for performing hip replacement surgery are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising providing an incision locator, the incision locator comprising at least one location indicator and at least one incision indicator, the location indicator configured to align with a central axis of the femur, and the incision indicator configured to guide a proper placement of a surgical incision when the location indicator is aligned, aligning the location indicator with at least one anatomical feature of the patient, making an incision in the proper location as guided by the incision indicator, and completing the surgical procedure is described.

Abstract: A communication system balances message traffic between return channel groups and within the groups, so that the user does not control the specific transmission frequency used. Uplink frequencies and bandwidths for the return channels are set by the system in a return channel control message in the broadcast signal so as to account for system and return channel group loading, and to account for user message backlogs. An initial transmission from a remote user may be made using an ALOHA-type burst signal that provides a message backlog to the control station, and is made on a frequency determined from a randomly weighted, load-based frequency selection process. The system, and not the individual users determine the frequency and channel allocations. For large backlogs or priority users, periodic bandwidth is provided.

Abstract: Methods and devices for performing hip replacement surgery are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising providing an incision locator, the incision locator comprising at least one location indicator and at least one incision indicator, the location indicator configured to align with a central axis of the femur, and the incision indicator configured to guide a proper placement of a surgical incision when the location indicator is aligned, aligning the location indicator with at least one anatomical feature of the patient, making an incision in the proper location as guided by the incision indicator, and completing the surgical procedure is described.

Abstract: A communication system balances message traffic between return channel groups and within the groups, so that the user does not control the specific transmission frequency used. Uplink frequencies and bandwidths for the return channels are set by the system in a return channel control message in the broadcast signal so as to account for system and return channel group loading, and to account for user message backlogs. An initial transmission from a remote user may be made using an ALOHA-type burst signal that provides a message backlog to the control station, and is made on a frequency determined from a randomly weighted, load-based frequency selection process. The system, and not the individual users determine the frequency and channel allocations. For large backlogs or priority users, periodic bandwidth is provided.

Abstract: A communication system balances message traffic between return channel groups and within the groups, so that the user does not control the specific transmission frequency used. Uplink frequencies and bandwidths for the return channels are set by the system in a return channel control message in the broadcast signal so as to account for system and return channel group loading, and to account for user message backlogs. An initial transmission from a remote user may be made using an ALOHA-type burst signal that provides a message backlog to the control station, and is made on a frequency determined from a randomly weighted, load-based frequency selection process. The system, and not the individual users determine the frequency and channel allocations. For large backlogs or priority users, periodic bandwidth is provided.