Abstract: An array of antenna assemblies each generate solar power and utilize the generated solar power at that antenna assembly, which enables large amounts of power to be generated. An antenna assembly having a flat antenna layer forming a first outer surface of said antenna assembly, a flat solar layer forming a second outer surface of said antenna assembly, and a flat structural layer having a flat support structure sandwiched between the antenna layer and the solar layer. The antenna layer has a flat antenna plate with one or more antennas at the first outer surface of the antenna assembly to communicate with Earth. The solar layer has a flat solar plate with one or more solar cells at the second outer surface of the antenna assembly to receive solar energy and generate power.

Abstract: A LEO satellite communication system is in communication with a first setting satellite having a first field of view including a first plurality of cells, and a second rising satellite having a second field of view including a second plurality of cells. The first and second satellites have an overlapping field of view having an overlapping plurality of cells located therein. A first processing device has a first communication port communicating with a first cell of the first plurality of cells via said first antenna over a first beam, and a second communication port communicating with an overlapping cell of the overlapping plurality of cells via said second antenna over a second beam. Said first processing device switches from said first communication port to said second communication port in response to the first cell of the first plurality of cells moving into the overlapping field of view.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology involve a satellite communication system comprising a base station that communicates with standard compliant user equipment (UE) via a satellite having a field of view. The base station includes a processing device configured to generate a satellite beam at the satellite having a first transmission protocol or a second transmission protocol. The processing device is able to selectively switch between the first transmission protocol and the second transmission protocol based on an actual amount of data traffic by the UE in the field of view or an expected amount of data traffic by the UE in the field of view.

Abstract: The technology employs a polarization switching technique in a satellite-based cellular communication system, in order to prevent dropped connections when communicating with client communication devices. The polarization switching is implementable without requiring additional antenna elements on the satellite(s), while enabling the satellites(s) to be agnostic to the polarization transmitted by user equipment. The dwell time is selected so that the polarization switching is transparent to the users of the client computing devices. In one configuration, certain antenna elements can be set to handle a vertically polarized downlink and a horizontally polarized uplink, while other elements are set to handle a vertically polarized uplink and a horizontally polarized downlink, although other polarization configurations may be employed. A digital switch with a general purpose I/O (GPIO) controller may be employed for switching according to the dwell time.

Abstract: The technology provides a gateway system that enables satellite communication with user equipment (UE). A system includes multiple gateways, where each gateway includes processing devices, baseband units, a gateway channel routing block, and a set of antennas for communicating with a constellation of orbiting satellites. The gateways include a primary gateway and a diversity gateway. A set of communication links operatively connects the gateways together. A diversity combiner may be operatively coupled to the gateways via one or more of the communication links. The diversity combiner is configured to receive and combine signals from at least two of the gateways. The system is configured to determine when to switch a satellite communication link from the primary gateway to the diversity gateway according to a threshold level of communication requirement based on a status condition of the primary gateway and a status condition of the diversity gateway.

Abstract: The technology relates to a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) satellite communication system and corresponding method. The satellite communication system has, in one arrangement, a base station configured to communicate with standard compliant user equipment (UE) via a satellite having a field of view. The base station includes a plurality of base band units and a base station memory configured to store control information, downlink signal information and uplink signal information associated with a cell in the field of view. The system also includes a processing device configured to cause the satellite to generate a satellite beam in accordance with the control information, downlink signal information and uplink signal information stored in the base station memory.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology involve a satellite communication system comprising a base station that communicates with standard compliant user equipment (UE) via a satellite having a field of view. The base station includes a processing device configured to generate a satellite beam at the satellite having a first transmission protocol or a second transmission protocol. The processing device is able to selectively switch between the first transmission protocol and the second transmission protocol based on an actual amount of data traffic by the UE in the field of view or an expected amount of data traffic by the UE in the field of view.

Abstract: OFDM-BPSK symbol sequences are used for mutual-coupling based phase array calibration. Such substitution allows phase to be estimated more accurately using a given estimation duration without compromising other estimates' (amplitude and group delay) accuracies.

Abstract: A ground station processes downlink signals received from respective satellites. The ground station has a plurality of signal conditioning devices each receiving a respective one of the downlink signals and providing a conditioned downlink signal. A plurality of Doppler and/or Delay compensator devices each receive a respective conditioned downlink signal from a respective one of the plurality of signal conditioning devices. The compensator devices conduct Doppler and/or Delay compensation on the received conditioned downlink signal, and provide a compensated downlink signal output. A selector or diversity combiner receives the compensated downlink signal from each of the plurality of Doppler and/or Delay compensators.

Abstract: A LEO satellite communication system is in communication with a first setting satellite having a first field of view including a first plurality of cells, and a second rising satellite having a second field of view including a second plurality of cells. The first and second satellites have an overlapping field of view having an overlapping plurality of cells located therein. A first processing device has a first communication port communicating with a first cell of the first plurality of cells via said first antenna over a first beam, and a second communication port communicating with an overlapping cell of the overlapping plurality of cells via said second antenna over a second beam. Said first processing device switches from said first communication port to said second communication port in response to the first cell of the first plurality of cells moving into the overlapping field of view.

Abstract: A Satellite Radio Access Network includes a base station for communicating with standard compliant user equipment (UE) via a satellite having a field of view. A network broadcasting signal is provided via an inactive or access beam covering a plurality of cells in the field of view. An access request is detected from a user device, such as a smartphone, within an area covered by the inactive beam. In response to the access request, a beam is transitioned from inactive to active to provide network access to the user device. Once the user device is out of range, the active beam is transitioned back to an inactive beam. An inactivity timer is used to detect an idle active cell that should be transitioned to an inactive cell.

Abstract: Within a satellite communications system, a base station communicates with standard compliant user equipment (UE) via a satellite having a field of view. The base station has a processor that instructs the satellite to generate a wide beam signal covering a plurality of cells in the field of view, and detects an access request from a user equipment within the plurality of cells over the wide beam signal. The base station, comprising a processing device such as an eNodeB, then generates one or more network broadcast/access signals that is uplink to a satellite and broadcasted via one or more nominal beams generated by the satellite, covering all the inactive cells, one of the plurality of cells having the access request.

Abstract: A ground station determines a location of a user equipment (UE) by triangulating signals from a single satellite at different times and positions as it orbits the earth. The ground station processing device determines a first pathlength between the UE and the satellite when the satellite is at a first position, and a second pathlength between the UE and the satellite when the satellite is at a second position. The ground station processing device triangulates an actual position of the UE based on the first pathlength and the second pathlength.

Abstract: A communication system has a phased antenna array configured to communicate via a plurality of beams with a wireless device, such as user equipment (e.g., a smart phone). The plurality of beams defines a field of view of the phased antenna array, the field of view having a plurality of cells and each of the plurality of beams is associated with one of the plurality of cells within the field of view. A processing device detects the wireless device within the field of view and determines a coarse geographic location of the wireless device within the field of view of the wireless device when the wireless device is within the field of view, or within a cell. The system further determines a fine geographic location for the wireless device based on frequency offset (due to Doppler) and signal flight time.

Abstract: A ground station communicates with a satellite having a field of view (FOV), the satellite directly communicating with user equipment (UE) over uplink signals and downlink signals. The ground station has a Dynamic Time Division Duplex (DTDD) controller configured to establish UE uplink time slots during which the UE sends UE uplink signals, the UE uplink time slots based on a unique delay for the UE, whereby UE uplink signals are received at the satellite during a same satellite uplink time slot. The controller avoids overlapping uplink and downlink signals being received at the satellite, as well as at the UE.

Abstract: An antenna array has a plurality of square or rectangular antenna assemblies. Each assembly includes a first antenna assembly surface with a solar cell and a second antenna assembly with one or more antenna elements. The antenna assemblies are interconnected without gaps therebetween to form a first contiguous array surface comprised of the first antenna assembly surfaces and a second contiguous array surface comprised of the second antenna assembly surfaces. The antenna assemblies are connected together by mechanically stored-energy connectors, such as spring tape, that self-deploy the array in space without the use of electric energy.

Abstract: A GSM satellite communication system is in communication with a first satellite having a first field of view including a first plurality of cells in which a plurality of active User Equipment (UEs) is located. The plurality of active UEs is in direct communication with the first satellite. The satellite communication system includes a first feeder link and a first tracking antenna configured to communicate with the plurality of active UEs via the first satellite directly serving the first plurality of cells; a first processing device configured to communicate with the plurality of active UEs; and a second processing device configured to normalize delay for a plurality of beam centers of the first plurality of cells, and provide the normalized delay to the first processing device.

Abstract: A high throughput fractionated satellite (HTFS) system and method where the functional capabilities of a conventional monolithic spacecraft are distributed across many small or very small satellites and a central command and relay satellite, the satellites are separated and flight in carefully design formations that allows the creation of very large aperture or apertures in space drastically reducing cost and weight and enabling high throughput capabilities by spatially reuse spectrum.

Abstract: A spacecraft has a flat antenna array having an edge and a middle portion. A reconfigurable reaction-momentum wheel is coupled to the antenna array to roll and/or pitch the antenna array in small magnitudes. The reconfigurable reaction-momentum has a reaction operating state or mode (high-torque, low momentum) and a momentum operating state or mode (low-torque, high momentum). A thruster is coupled to the antenna array to move the antenna array.

Abstract: OFDM-BPSK symbol sequences are used for mutual-coupling based phase array calibration. Such substitution allows phase to be estimated more accurately using a given estimation duration without compromising other estimates (amplitude and group delay) accuracies.