Abstract: An antenna pairing system includes a mobile communication platform (MCP) and a prediction system to determine geographic boundaries where particular pairs of antennas aboard the MCP and their respective data bearers should be activated or deactivated along a predicted course and heading for the MCP. The system manages network connectivity for the MCP in real-time and to alter antenna pairing in response to the determined geographical boundaries.

Abstract: A system includes a shore based security proxy to transmit and receive encrypted network traffic on behalf of users who opt in. The shore-based security proxy includes an Internet interface and a data compander. The system further includes a compander on a mobile vessel comprising a satellite interface and a local area network (LAN) interface, and logic to exchange uncompressed, unencrypted traffic over the LAN interface between user devices on the mobile vessel and the compander on the mobile vessel; and logic for the shore based compander to exchange compressed, encrypted data with the compander on the mobile vessel over the satellite interface.

Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatus for dual antenna transfer switching are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a dual antenna system includes antennas, antenna control units, a transfer switch, and a modem. For example, the transfer switch may transfer a connection between antennas based on changing satellite visibility, upon entering a preprogrammed blockage zone or an unexpected loss of satellite visibility. The transfer switch may receive GPS data from an external GPS unit and/or the antenna control units and buffer the GPS data to a modem. The transfer switch may provide a modem receive-lock signal to retarget a line of sight. The transfer switch may transfer the connection between the antennas based on satellite visibility including signal reception quality and/or a modem receive-lock status. The transfer switch may, based on a difference in antenna uplink transmission power, attenuate a higher power antenna to be balanced with a lower power antenna.

Abstract: A process of managing a digital photo involves capturing the photo using a digital camera; communicating the photo to a server system; the server system identifying faces of people in the photo; the server system matching the faces to the communication addresses of portable devices of the people; and the server system communicating the photo to the portable devices.

Abstract: A high throughput satellite including a transponder configured to receive radio wave signal from a market area, transmit the signal to a hub, receive a response signal from the hub, and transmit both the original signal and the response signal back to the market area. The satellite may also provide increased throughput by re-using spectrum in the Ka band. The satellite may also include a payload architecture which may be reconfigured such that, in response to control signals received from the ground, the payload architecture provides satellite communications to a first market area, a second market area, or both the first market area and the second market area.

Abstract: A process of forming a wireless communication channel among moveable vessels (MCPs) involves establishing a directed wireless communication chain between the MCP to a fixed antenna, and at least one MCP of the MCPs utilizing two antennas to form the chain.

Abstract: A customer satellite terminal provides seamless hand-off from a descending satellite to an ascending satellite in an equatorial MEO constellation at RF. The hand-off from the descending satellite to the ascending satellite is conducted when the propagation delay from the ascending satellite and the descending satellite are equal, by aligning first and second amplitudes, first and second frequency offsets, and first and second phases.

Abstract: A system replicates Internet websites on a large number of user computers having browsers. The system includes a gateway platform having a gateway server and a cache. In the broadcast mode, the gateway server periodically or continuously images broadcast data (e.g., popular websites), compresses the website images, and stores the compressed website images in the gateway cache. The gateway server then broadcasts all of the compressed broadcast data to all (millions) of the user computers over a broadcast device (such as a satellite), for subsequent display by the user in the browser. In the unicast mode, the user requests unicast data (e.g., less-popular websites or websites having highly user-customized information) at the browser. The gateway server images that one web page, compresses the unicast data, and transmits the compressed unicast data over the broadcast device substantially in real time to the one requesting user computer.

Abstract: A system and method for performing automatic uplink power control (AUPC), using interference cancellation, to compensate for signal attenuation in a satellite communication system in which uplink path attenuation, forward channel attenuation, or both are estimated at a hub station without requiring signal quality reports from a remote station, and without requiring a satellite beacon. Estimates of uplink path attenuation or forward channel attenuation are used by the hub station to control the output power of a transmitted signal, thereby compensating for the estimated attenuation.

Abstract: A customer satellite terminal provides seamless hand-off from a descending satellite to an ascending satellite in an equatorial MEO constellation at RF. The hand-off from the descending satellite to the ascending satellite is conducted when the propagation delay from the ascending satellite and the descending satellite are equal, by aligning first and second amplitudes, first and second frequency offsets, and first and second phases.

Abstract: A high throughput satellite including a transponder configured to receive radio wave signal from a market area, transmit the signal to a hub, receive a response signal from the hub, and transmit both the original signal and the response signal back to the market area. The satellite may also provide increased throughput by re-using spectrum in the Ka band. The satellite may also include a payload architecture which may be reconfigured such that, in response to control signals received from the ground, the payload architecture provides satellite communications to a first market area, a second market area, or both the first market area and the second market area.

Abstract: A videoconference system has videoconference terminals which communicate with a centralized station over satellite. Video signals from each videoconference terminal are unicast to the centralized station via satellite. The centralized station forms a composite signal of all the video signals multicasts the composite signal to the local videoconference terminals over satellite that can be received by hundreds, thousands or more recipients. The system dynamically allocates satellite bandwidth and other network resources to establish a high definition videoconference call on demand. A frequency allocation manager manages the resources available on the satellite network according with the capacity of each transponder and network resources available. It administrates the resources available and dynamically assigns a satellite capacity and network resources.

Abstract: A videoconference system has videoconference terminals which communicate with a centralized station over satellite. Video signals from each videoconference terminal are unicast to the centralized station via satellite. The centralized station forms a composite signal of all the video signals multicasts the composite signal to the local videoconference terminals over satellite that can be received by hundreds, thousands or more recipients. The system dynamically allocates satellite bandwidth and other network resources to establish a high definition videoconference call on demand. A frequency allocation manager manages the resources available on the satellite network according with the capacity of each transponder and network resources available. It administrates the resources available and dynamically assigns a satellite capacity and network resources.

Abstract: A system and method of reducing VSAT apertures via satellite MIMO is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for enabling use of ultra-small aperture terminals in satellite communications is provided. The system comprises a transmitter configured to receive an input signal having information, a bandwidth, and an amplitude, replicate the input signal into two or more replications of the input signal, convert each of the two or more replications to have a frequency tuned to two or more corresponding satellite transponders while maintaining the bandwidth and all the information of the input signal, and combine the two or more replications into a single uplink signal. A transmit antenna is configured to transmit the uplink signal to the two or more satellite transponders.

Abstract: A technique for interference cancellation in a satellite communication system involves an autocorrelation on the hub signal to detect a periodicity in the hub signal, determining a search range for a delay in the hub echo signal in accordance with the periodicity, locating the delay in the hub echo signal, and performing the interference cancellation in accordance with the delay. In the case of periodicity, a delay is acquired (either true or false) that provides cancellation (provided that the period does not change). When the period changes, cancellation is discovered to be poor, and another delay (that may be true or false) is acquired that provides good cancellation and so on.

Abstract: A satellite communications system has a hub terminal which communicates with a remote terminal through a satellite. The hub terminal 100 includes a transmitting modulator, power booster, up-converter and Power Amplifier (PA), and a transmitting station. The transmitting modulator generates a modulated signal, which is output to the power booster. The power booster receives the modulated signal and generates a spectral replication of the signal. The signal is then up-converted and amplified, and transmitted as an uplink signal to the satellite via a transmitting antenna. A remote station antenna receives the corresponding downlink signal. Following LNB/LNA and down-conversion, the signal is passed to a diversity combiner. The diversity combiner aligns the replicated signals by frequency and phase and generates a power-boosted signal. Accordingly, the system enables the use of ultra small antennas by providing increased power.

Abstract: The reduction of echo noise in satellite communications includes receiving an aggregate signal from multiple remote stations, where the aggregate signal includes a transmit signal, whose bandwidth is in the range of 0.1 MHz to 66 MHz, is previously sent from a hub to the multiple receiving stations, computing a scaled, delayed and distorted replica of the transmit signal and using the replica to compensate for satellite transponder nonlinearities and reduce echo noise interference from a received aggregate signal received by the hub from the multiple remote stations.

Abstract: A system replicates Internet websites on a large number of user computers having browsers. The system includes a gateway platform having a gateway server and a cache. In the broadcast mode, the gateway server periodically or continuously images broadcast data (e.g., popular websites), compresses the website images, and stores the compressed website images in the gateway cache. The gateway server then broadcasts all of the compressed broadcast data to all (millions) of the user computers over a broadcast device (such as a satellite), for subsequent display by the user in the browser. In the unicast mode, the user requests unicast data (e.g., less-popular websites or websites having highly user-customized information) at the browser. The gateway server images that one web page, compresses the unicast data, and transmits the compressed unicast data over the broadcast device substantially in real time to the one requesting user computer.

Abstract: A system for enabling use of ultra-small aperture terminals in satellite communications is provided. The system comprises a transmitter configured to receive an input signal having information, a bandwidth, and an amplitude, replicate the input signal into two or more replications of the input signal, convert each of the two or more replications to have a frequency tuned to two or more corresponding satellite transponders while maintaining the bandwidth and all the information of the input signal, and combine the two or more replications into a single uplink signal. A transmit antenna is configured to transmit the uplink signal to the two or more satellite transponders.