Abstract: A lighter-than-air aircraft includes a gas envelope for containing a buoyant gas, and a solar panel is carried by a predetermined portion of the gas envelope. A solar sensor is used for determining a direction of the sun. A propulsion system carried by the gas envelope orients the gas envelope so that the solar panel is oriented in the direction of the sun based upon the solar sensor. A navigation controller cooperates with the propulsion system to move the lighter-than-air aircraft along a desired flight path while the solar panel is oriented in the direction of the sun.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing documents in a document database includes generating an initial ranking of retrieved documents using an information retrieval system and based upon a user search query, and processing vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents. Respective relevancies of the vocabulary words based on the occurrences thereof and the user search query are generated. A re-ranking of the retrieved documents is generated based on the relevancies of the vocabulary words.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a plurality of antenna elements, at least one respective phase shifter connected to each antenna element, and at least one respective gain element connected to each antenna element. The phased array antenna may further include at least one controller for determining and controlling both phases and gains of the phase shifters and gain elements, respectively, to provide beamsteering in a first direction for a signal of interest. The controller may also iteratively determine and control phases of the phase shifters to provide a null in a second direction for a signal not of interest, and without determining or controlling gains of the gain elements.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention forms a hybrid encoded signal. A signal generator generates a coded waveform having a trellis structure, such as a continuous phase modulated signal. A modulator is operative with the signal generator and adds at least one orthogonal or amplitude modulated waveform to a trellis structure of the coded waveform to create a non-constant envelope modulated signal that has at least one of increased bandwidth, improved bit error rate, or an increased number of bits encoded into a single symbol.

Abstract: A method for managing video segments from an aerial sensor platform using a media asset management system includes collecting the video segments from the aerial sensor platform, associating corresponding geospatial data with each video segment, and creating a search thesaurus including search descriptors with cross-references therebetween. At least one respective search descriptor from the search thesaurus is associated with each video segment. The method further includes storing each video segment, its geospatial data and its at least one search descriptor on the media asset management system for later search and retrieval, such as by a surveillance organization. The search descriptors may be geospatial search descriptors that are cross-referenced in a hierarchical relationship.

Abstract: A method for managing video news segments using a media asset management system includes collecting the video news segments, associating corresponding geospatial data with each video news segment, and creating a search thesaurus including search descriptors with cross-references therebetween. At least one respective search descriptor from the search thesaurus is associated with each video news segment. The method further includes storing each video news segment, its geospatial data and its at least one search descriptor on the media asset management system for later search and retrieval, such as by a news broadcasting organization. The search descriptors may be geospatial search descriptors that are cross-referenced in a hierarchical relationship.

Abstract: A cellular communications system may include one or more cellular base stations and a plurality of mobile cellular communications devices for communicating therewith. More particularly, the cellular base station and the mobile cellular communications devices may each include an encoder for generating an information signal. Furthermore, a modulator may generate a modulated waveform based upon the information signal, a carrier signal having a frequency and phase associated therewith, and at least one carrier phase reference symbol. The modulator may also include an offset circuit so that the modulated waveform includes a carrier frequency indicator. A transmitter may also be included for transmitting the modulated waveform to the desired cellular base station or mobile cellular communications device.

Abstract: A method for managing fixed-area video segments from fixed-area security cameras using a media asset management system includes collecting the fixed-area video segments from the fixed-area security cameras, associating corresponding geospatial data with each fixed-area video segment, and creating a search thesaurus including search descriptors with cross-references therebetween. At least one respective search descriptor from the search thesaurus is associated with each fixed-area video segment. The method further includes storing each fixed-area video segment, its geospatial data and its at least one search descriptor on the media asset management system for later search and retrieval, such as by a security organization. The search descriptors may be geospatial search descriptors that are cross-referenced in a hierarchical relationship.

Abstract: A reflector antenna system may include at least one antenna reflector having an arcuate shape and defining an antenna beam, a feed device spaced apart from the at least one antenna reflector, and a phased array antenna positioned in the antenna beam between the at least one antenna reflector and the feed device. More particularly, the phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of back-to-back pairs of first antenna elements carried by the substrate and configured for defining at least one feed-through zone for the antenna beam. The phased array antenna may further include a plurality of back-to-back pairs of second antenna elements carried by the substrate and defining at least one active beamsteering zone for the antenna beam.

Abstract: A reflector antenna system may include at least one antenna reflector having an arcuate shape and defining an antenna beam, and a phased array antenna positioned in the antenna beam. More particularly, the phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of back-to-back pairs of first antenna elements carried by the substrate and configured for defining at least one feed-through zone for the antenna beam. Moreover, the phased array antenna may further include a plurality of second antenna elements carried by the substrate and defining at least one active zone for the antenna beam.

Abstract: A system and method determines the probability of oil or mineral deposits. At least one data collection device collects elevation slope, magnetic and gravity data sets for a predetermined area of the earth's surface. A processor receives the elevation slope, magnetic and gravity data sets and applies the gravity and magnetic data sets in a transfer function to link the elevation slope data set to the likely presence of oil or mineral deposits.

Abstract: A cryptographic device may include a cryptographic module and a communications module coupled thereto. The cryptographic module may include a user network interface, a host network processor coupled to the user network interface, and a cryptographic processor coupled to the host network processor. Additionally, the communications module may include a network communications interface coupled to the cryptographic processor. The host processor may generate cryptographic processor command packets for the cryptographic processor each having an address portion and a data portion, and it may also encapsulate command packets for the communications module in the data portions of the cryptographic processor command packets. The cryptographic processor may pass the communications module command packets to the without performing cryptographic processing thereon.

Abstract: A cryptographic device may include a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto. The cryptographic module may include a first housing, a user network interface carried by the first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by the first housing and coupled to the user network interface, and a first connector carried by the first housing and coupled to the cryptographic processor. Furthermore, the communications module may include a second housing, a second connector carried by the second housing and being removably mateable with the first connector of the cryptographic module, and a network communications interface carried by the second housing and coupled to the second connector.

Abstract: A block cipher device for a cryptographically secured digital communication system includes a pair of first stages connected in parallel for receiving an input data block and a control data block. Each first stage defines a respective first data path and includes a sum modulo-two unit for receiving the control data block and the input data block. Each first stage also includes a first nibble swap unit downstream from the sum modulo-two unit. A key scheduler generates a random key data block based upon a received key data block. A pair of second stages is connected in parallel downstream from the first stages and receives the random key data block, the control data block and output signals from the first stages for providing an output data block. Each second stage defines a respective second data path and includes a plurality of modulo units. The block cipher device further includes a bit diffuser connected in both of the first data paths for mixing data therebetween.

Abstract: A method and system reduces data error in an automatic repeat request (ARQ) communications system. Data is code-combined in a communications session that uses an automatic repeat request protocol by sending alternate phases of an encoder state. The underlying signaling constellation is changed when code-combining performance degrades. An optimal signaling constellation and code rate can be determined from a previous packet acknowledgment (ACK) status or from a look-up table previously determined by use.

Abstract: A ultra wideband (UWB) wireless network may include a plurality of UWB wireless devices communicating over a plurality of UWB frequency bins extending over a UWB frequency range. At least one of the UWB wireless devices may be for determining a respective actual signal level associated with each UWB frequency bin, and generating a do-not-use UWB frequency bin list by comparing each actual signal level with at least one interference threshold. Thus, the UWB wireless devices can avoid using frequency bins experiencing excessive interference to thereby provide more reliable UWB communications.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate, and an array of dipole antenna elements on the substrate. Each dipole antenna element includes a medial feed portion, and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom. Pairs of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements include respective spaced apart end portions. The phased array antenna further includes selectable impedance elements and switches. Each switch is for selectively coupling at least one impedance element between a respective pair of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements for changing the capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: A system and method of free-space optical satellite communications includes a ground station and transceiver for transmitting and receiving an optical communications signal. Adaptive optics at the ground station are operative with the transceiver for determining the shape of any distortions in the wavefront of the optical communications signal and compensating at the ground station for the distortions. A satellite includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving the optical communications signal and includes adaptive optics for determining the shape of any distortions in the waveform of the optical communications signal and compensating at the satellite for the distortions.

Abstract: A modular free space optical (FSO) communications device may include an adaptive optics (AO) module and an interchangeable optical relay (OR) module. More particularly, the AO module may include an AO housing and at least one AO device carried thereby. Also, the interchangeable OR module may include an OR housing and at least one OR device carried thereby. The at least one OR device of a given OR module may provide a predetermined focal length range from among different focal length ranges for respective OR modules. In addition, the OR housing and the AO housing may be interchangeably connectable and establish an optical path between the at least one OR device and the at least one AO device when connected.

Abstract: An antenna includes a dipole feed, a first dipole element connected to and extending outwardly from the dipole feed, a transmission line extending from the dipole feed in an opposite direction, and a flexible electrically conductive sleeve surrounding the transmission line and connected to and extending outwardly from the dipole feed. The electrically conductive sleeve may thus serve as a second dipole element and as a balun for the antenna. The antenna may by removably fastened to a garment of the user by at least one fastener, and the antenna may be connected to a radio also carried by the user. To enhance broadband performance, the dipole feed may include a broadband matching network, and the antenna may include a noise filter coupled to the transmission line adjacent an end of the flexible electrically conductive sleeve opposite the dipole feed.