Abstract: A method for determining routes for a data circuit between source and destination terminals, where the circuit is formed via satellites traveling in respective non-geostationary orbits, and a total time during which the circuit is active is divided into time intervals. The determination of each route comprises, for each time interval, (i) selecting an uplink satellite to service the source terminal as an ingress node for the circuit, and (ii) determining a series of inter-satellite links connecting the uplink satellite to a downlink satellite servicing the destination terminal during the respective time interval, wherein the series of links is determined to be valid during the respective time interval. Each of the plurality of time intervals is of a duration based on a validity time, based on the satellites traveling in their respective orbits, for the inter-satellite link of all of the routes that is of the shortest duration.

Abstract: A system and method for providing communications with a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation using a non-omnidirectional antenna is disclosed. A system and method for determining blockages around a non-omnidirectional antenna for use with a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation is disclosed. The method including: receiving System Information (SI) including ephemeris data for satellites in the LEO constellation; receiving a segment division that divides a ground about the antenna into segments; and determining a segment blocking information for the antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the preferential selection or blocking of Internet Protocol (IP) version addresses, e.g., IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, are provided. During a process where address or domain name resolution is performed, an entity may access a domain bypass list to ascertain whether or not to proceed with requests utilizing an IPv4 address, an IPv6 address, or neither. Such a list may be dynamically or manually created and/or updated such that known issues associated with the use of a particular type of IP version address can be avoided for subsequent resolution requests to access network resources such as web pages, DNS entries, etc.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of signal measurement circuits is included in a terminal. Each measurement circuit receives a signal from a transmitter in a satellite and measures characteristics of the signal. A computer is programmed to receive data from the signal measurement circuits. The data indicates characteristics of the signal, including a strength of the signal. The computer determines an initial estimated satellite pointing direction, and generates subsequent estimated satellite pointing directions. For the initial and subsequent estimated pointing directions, the strength of the signal received by each measurement circuit is compared with an expected strength of the signal based on the respective estimated pointing direction. Each subsequent estimate is based at least in part on the comparison of the immediately preceding estimate. Based on the comparisons, the computer estimates a current satellite pointing direction.

Abstract: Approaches for efficient, dynamic and continuous handover processes, which encompass selection of an optimal path (consisting of a satellite, a satellite beam and carrier frequency set) over which a mobile user terminal (UT) communicates with the radio access network in a mobile satellite communications system, are provided. A set of path factors are determined regarding each of a plurality of communications paths for the UT. A path selection metric (PSM) for each communications path is determined, wherein the PSM for each communications path is determined via a weighted calculation based on the respective set of path factors for the communications path. A decision is made as to whether to perform a handover of the UT from a first of the communications paths to a second of the communications paths, wherein the determination is based on an evaluation performed based at least in part on the PSM.

Abstract: A phase shifter having both digital and analog shifting components is disclosed. The digital-analog phase shifter includes an input/output port configured, in part, for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. A digital shifter performs coarse phase shifts of the input RF signal, while an analog shifter variably shift the phase of the input RF signal relative to the coarse phase shift. This produces a phase shifted RF signal having a total phase range that is output is continuously variable from 0° to 360°.

Abstract: Disclosed methods of terrestrial station monitoring of downlink signal quality include receiving a sequence of samples of reference symbol slots of a downlink burst, and estimating a time offset between a local clock and a timing of a symbol pattern carried by the reference symbol slots, using a local copy of the reference symbol pattern. A corresponding time correction is applied to the sequence of samples to form time corrected samples of symbols carried by the reference symbol slots. A frequency offset between the time corrected samples of the symbols carried by the reference symbol slots and a local clock is estimated. A corresponding frequency compensation is applied to the time corrected samples, forming time/frequency compensated samples of the symbols carried by the reference symbol slots. A signal to noise plus interference ratio (SNIR) estimation data, and corresponding estimate of signal path, is generated, based on moments of the time/frequency compensated samples.

Abstract: A system and method for association of remote nodes with respective aggregation nodes in a high capacity shared bandwidth communications network, is provided. A gateway receives an association request message from a terminal device, wherein the association request message includes a service signature and service parameters of the terminal device. The gateway determines whether the association request message reflects a valid request based on the service signature. The gateway determines service requirements of the terminal device, based on a correspondence between the service parameters and associated information of a service requirement database of the gateway. The gateway determines whether it is configured for servicing the service requirements of the terminal device. The gateway transmits an association accept message, including one or more association parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code which when executed by an apparatus causes the apparatus to effect the method, for pre-fetching web content. Preferably, a proxy server performs the pre-fetching. Techniques such, for example, as executing Javascript in pre-fetched pages, modifying pre-fetched pages to address URL generation involving random numbers or dates, using cookie information or browser specifics when performing pre-fetching of pages, and injecting Javascript to measure response time may be performed, by way of example.

Abstract: Approaches for wireless telecommunications systems (e.g., satellite systems), that employ beams that move in a pattern to increase the coverage area of the beams, are provided. A wireless telecommunications apparatus comprises an antenna configured to generate communications beams for providing data communications services over a respective coverage area on the surface of the Earth. The apparatus further comprises a processor configured to control each of at least one of the communications beams to move its coverage area in a respective pattern over a respective period of time. Further, a method comprises generating, via a wireless telecommunications apparatus, communications beams, wherein each beam provides data communications services over a respective coverage area on the surface of the Earth, and controlling each of at least one of the communications beams to move its coverage area in a respective pattern of movement over a respective period of time.

Abstract: A Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and cellular system to provide backhaul satellite communications for a cellular base station are disclosed. The VSAT including an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) Core Network (CN) device; and a satellite modem connected to the EPC CN device and to communicate over a satellite link, wherein the EPC CN device manages communication of user traffic from the cellular base station to the satellite modem.

Abstract: A system for scheduling prioritized traffic in a scrambled and coded multiple access (SCMA) system multiple terminals and a gateway. Each terminal is configured to receive packets from user devices and place the packets on various input queues. The packets are en-queued onto a plurality of output queues based on priority or service class. The terminal is further configured to detect one or more available SCMA slots within a frame of a communication system, and de-queue packets from the highest priority output queue onto the frame via one or more SCMA bursts. The terminal includes transceiver for transmitting/receiving frames of the communication system to/from the gateway. The terminals autonomously transmit SCMA bursts relative to each other.

Abstract: A deinterleaver device, a method for deinterleaving, an interleaver device, and a method for interleaving are provided. The method for deinterleaving includes: providing a memory and a stream count for a frame; virtually dividing the memory into equal sections, wherein a section count equals the stream count; calculating a write address for a sample of the samples based on a location of the sample in the frame and a correspondence of the location to one of the sections; receiving the sample; and writing the received sample to the write address, wherein the calculating and the write address corresponds to a correct deinterleaving location in one of the sections for the sample.

Abstract: A method and system for providing high throughput communications via a Radio Frequency (RF) satellite are disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of information bit streams intended for a plurality of downlinks; modulating an uplink stream including the plurality of information bit streams with an uplink modulation scheme to generate an uplink signal; transmitting the uplink signal to the satellite; and partitioning, at the satellite, the uplink signal into a plurality of downlink signals, each one intended for one of the plurality of downlinks. In the method, the uplink stream includes the plurality of information bit streams.

Abstract: A system and method for timing synchronization of satellite switching instants with gateway switching instants is described.

Abstract: Various arrangements for establishing a bidirectional satellite communication session are presented. Initialization data may be accessed to tune an antenna to a geosynchronous satellite, wherein the initialization data is stored locally by the access node. The initialization data may be used to point and tune the antenna to the geosynchronous satellite. Ephemeris data may be received from the geosynchronous satellite. The ephemeris data may be indicative of orbital locations of satellites that are part of a non-geosynchronous satellite constellation. The ephemeris data may be used to point and tune the antenna to a satellite of the non-geosynchronous satellite constellation. The bidirectional satellite communication session may then be established with the satellite of the non-geosynchronous satellite constellation.

Abstract: A phase shifter having both digital and analog shifting components is disclosed. The digital-analog phase shifter includes an input/output port configured, in part, for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. A digital shifter performs coarse phase shifts of the input RF signal, while an analog shifter variably shift the phase of the input RF signal relative to the coarse phase shift. This produces a phase shifted RF signal having a total phase range that is output is continuously variable from 0° to 360°.

Abstract: A method and system for installing a terrestrial antenna for a satellite communication network. In the system and method, a remote unit is provided to an installation location for the terrestrial antenna. The remote unit is configured to communicate with a satellite of the satellite communication network and includes a memory in which is stored antenna information pertaining to positioning of the terrestrial antenna with respect to a virtual beam generated by the satellite. The information is accessible by a code. Thus, the antenna information is access from the memory at the installation location using the code, and the terrestrial antenna in relation to a virtual beam generated by the satellite based on the antenna information accessed from the memory at the installation location.

Abstract: A shared bandwidth network system to communicate network traffic between terminals and an external network is disclosed. The system includes: a point of presence (POP) for the external network; Radio Frequency Gateways (RFGWs) wherein each RFGW of the RFGWs provides one or more Radio Frequency (RF) paths, and each of the RF paths links a respective RFGW of the RFGWs with one or more terminals of the terminals; an RF path state manager to manage a RF path state for each of the RF paths; a Satellite Network Core (SNC); a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller to maintain a topology based on the RF path states, wherein the topology includes the POP, the RFGWs and the SNC; and a network layer to route network traffic between the POP, the RFGWs and the SNC based on the topology.

Abstract: Characterizing transport protocol connections and controlling behavior of a communication network based on the characterizations, including obtaining transport protocol state information for transport protocol packets on a transport protocol connection; identifying request/response periods for the transport protocol connection based on the transport protocol state information, the identifying including identifying a beginning of a first request/response period based on the transport protocol state information for a first forward packet, and identifying an end of the first request/response period and a beginning of a second request/response period based on the transport protocol state information for a second forward packet; associating an application type with a server endpoint based on the identified request/response periods; and controlling behavior of the communication network based on the application type.