Abstract: A system and method for interfacing a User Equipment (UE) to a Core Network (CN) is disclosed. The method including: providing a high latency connection; providing a satellite network portal (SNP) to connect to the UE via a satellite link, wherein the SNP includes a Media Access Control (MAC) layer for managing the satellite link and a Radio Layer Control (RLC) layer of the UE; interfacing the UE to the CN with a Point of Presence (POP) including a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer of the UE and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer of the UE; and establishing a session between the CN and the UE via the RRC layer, the PDCP layer and the RLC layer. In the method, network traffic, between the SNP and the POP, over the high latency connection has a latency greater than 10 milliseconds (ms), the session does not timeout due to the latency of the high latency connection, and the MAC layer schedules bandwidth for the establishing over the satellite link.

Abstract: A triple use satellite system includes a VSAT population including a VSAT, and a satellite including a broadcast beam for a broadcast service and spot beams for a broadband service, where each of the spot beams provides broadband service to VSATs in separate coverage areas in a geographic region and the broadcast beam provides a broadcast service to the VSAT population in the geographic region.

Abstract: A radio frequency waveguide is disclosed. The radio frequency waveguide includes: a dielectric including an exterior input surface, an exterior output surface and other exterior surfaces; and a metal disposed on the other exterior surfaces of the dielectric, wherein the dielectric is voidless and adapted to propagate radio frequency radiation from the exterior input surface to the exterior output surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for establishing communication between a base station and different generation terminals includes a multi-protocol stack capable of processing user traffic received from different generation terminals. The apparatus also includes a common physical layer that receives user traffic from different generation terminals and identifies the generation of the terminal sending the user traffic. The user traffic is then processed and routed based on the terminal generation. Traffic can be prioritized across current and legacy terminal types based on a variety of factors.

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: A method is provided for interleaving frequency reuse plans of multiple satellites to form an aggregate frequency reuse cell plan. A first plurality of spot beams is generated by a first satellite for a first frequency reuse plan based on radio frequency (RF) spectrum bands. A second plurality of spot beams is generated by a second satellite for a second frequency reuse plan based on the RF spectrum bands. The first and second plurality of spot beams are interleaved to generate an aggregate frequency reuse cell plan. According to the aggregate frequency reuse plan, each of a first plurality of cells is covered by a combination of at least two of the plurality of spot beams of the first satellite, and each of a first plurality of cells is covered by a combination of at least two of the plurality of spot beams of the second satellite.

Abstract: A method and system for testing a Local Area Network (LAN) coupled to a satellite network through a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) is disclosed. The method includes: providing a LAN diagnostics tool disposed on the CPE for executing a plurality of tests; receiving, at the LAN diagnostics tool, a test request comprising an execution environment indicator; selecting a test agent based on the execution environment indicator; sending in response to the test request, from the LAN diagnostics tool, the selected test agent; and testing the LAN with communications between the LAN diagnostics tool and the selected test agent being executed on a device connected to the LAN.

Abstract: Various antenna systems are presented that have independently steerable receive and transmit beams. The antenna system may include multiple antenna element systems. Each antenna element system may include multiple phase shifters that alter the phase of received signals and signals to be transmitted. Directions of a first transmit beam, a second transmit beam, a first receive beam, and a second receive beam may be steered independently using the phase shifters. Each antenna element system may include a polarization system.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and addressing silent failures in a satellite communication system includes a satellite, one or more test terminals deployed within coverage beams of the satellite, and a central station configured to communicate with the test terminals. The test terminals are configured to establish a communication link over the satellite communication system, perform a plurality of tests, and transmit the test results to the central station. The central station: determines if system performance is below specified levels, and initiates at least one solution to improve system performance.

Abstract: A method comprises monitoring, by a control module of a wireless communications terminal, factors related to a first data path for transmission/reception of data communications by the wireless communications terminal over a wireless data communications network. The control module then determines that the first data path is affected by condition(s), by determining that at least one of the factors satisfies a predetermined state reflecting the condition(s) affecting the first data path. The control module then determines a second data path, wherein the second data path is not affected by the conditions affecting the first data path. The control module then switches from the first data path to the second data path for the transmission/reception of the data communications by the wireless communications terminal over the wireless data communications network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically balancing traffic loads in a communications system (such as satellite communications systems), based on a control of collision rates via the real-time control of throughput of channels of the communications system (such as a real time throughput of random access channels in a satellite network). The method and apparatus generates and transmits to remote nodes or terminals an operating probability based on the determined throughput for transmission using the communications channel. Also, the method and apparatus includes receiving by at least one terminal the generated operating probability and determining by the at least one terminal a transmission probability for the communications channel based upon the received operating probability, which can further be adjusted by one or more of a received upper or lower limit of the generated operating probability or a collision rate for the communications channel.

Abstract: A communications terminal comprises data interface, a transport selection processor and a plurality of communications modems. The data interface receives input data from application sessions for transmission over a data communications network. Each of the application sessions imposes respective transmission requirements for transmission of the data over the data communications network. Each of the communications modems transmits the input data over the data communications network via a respective transmission platform, wherein each transmission platform exhibits respective transmission characteristics based on a transmission technology of the transmission platform. The modems are configured to transmit the input data simultaneously.

Abstract: A satellite communication system includes a communication terminal and a ground station. The ground station is configured to communicate with the communication terminal through a satellite communication path between the ground station and the communication terminal via a satellite. The ground station includes a diversity switch and an electronic controller. The diversity switch is configured to switch the satellite communication path from a first satellite communication path to a second satellite communication path different from the first satellite communication path. The electronic controller is configured to transmit an offset value of network parameters of the first and second satellite communication paths to the communication terminal through the second satellite communication path.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for channel bonding in an adaptive coding and modulation mode. In some implementations, a system receives packets of a data stream for transmission in a satellite communications system. The system determines a modulation and coding arrangement for the received packets. The system generates code blocks that include data from the packets of the data stream. The system assigns the generated code blocks for transmission on different carriers. One or more of the different carriers is operated in an adaptive coding and modulation mode to support multiple modulation and coding arrangements within a single carrier. The system transmits the code blocks on the different carriers using the determined one or more modulation and coding arrangements.

Abstract: Disclosed methods include transmitting an OFDM signal including a succession of frames spaced apart by a set of training symbols that are symmetric in time and each formed by a plurality of even-frequency sub-carriers, spaced by odd frequency zeros. The OFDM signal is received and sampled and timing metrics are determined. Local maximums, or peaks of the timing metrics are detected, and from the peaks a coarse time offset is determined. A correlation metric, at sample indexes within a region determined by the coarse time offset, is applied and, based on a peak, an estimated time offset is generated. A correlation metric of the estimated time offset is determined and, based on the correlation metric, an estimated frequency offset is generated.

Abstract: A system is described that includes a computer programmed: for each of a plurality of terminals, to receive inroute data via one of a plurality of respective inroute channels; using the plurality of respective inroute channels, to determine a first super inroute group (SIG) and a second SIG based on symbol rates of respective inroute channels; to determine a channel quality value of a first inroute channel, of a first terminal, wherein the first inroute channel is one of the plurality of respective inroute channels; to determine a backlog volume of one of the first SIG or the second SIG; and based on determining the channel quality value of the first terminal and the backlog volume of the first or second SIGs, to transmit, to the first terminal, outroute data comprising an instruction to change to a different inroute channel of the first or second SIG.

Abstract: A User Equipment and method for transmitting a random-access radio frequency (RF) signal by applying Asynchronous Coded Multiple Access (ACMA) in a communication system employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is described. The method including: encoding an information stream as OFDM symbols using a low rate Forward Error Correction (FEC) coding suitable for Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) to form a payload; generating a burst, including symbols, by performing an inverse fast Fourier transform on a unique word (UW) multiplexed with the payload; and synchronizing a transmission of each of the symbols of the burst with consecutive symbol-start instants. The UW includes a plurality of Zadoff-Chu (ZC) like sequences disposed in a subset of consecutive symbol-start instants of the burst. A receiver detects burst arrival by searching for consecutive ZC-like sequences. Channel state estimation can be performed by using the UW with additional ZC-like sequences in the burst.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide load balancing on time division multiple access (TDMA) inroute channels of a satellite network. A bandwidth allocation manager or module can employ smart admission techniques to admit new terminals based upon the available bandwidth capacities of TDMA inroute channels including committed information rate (CIR) bandwidth requirements of already admitted terminals and current and CIR bandwidth requirements of the new terminals. Attempts are made to fully load a first TDMA inroute channel before providing admission to a second TDMA inroute channel. Additionally, an already admitted terminal requesting increased bandwidth or one or more other already admitted terminals may be reassigned to one or more alternative TDMA inroute channels to accommodate the requested increase in bandwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus for establishing communication between a base station and different generation terminals includes a multi-protocol stack capable of processing user traffic received from different generation terminals. The apparatus also includes a common physical layer that receives user traffic from different generation terminals and identifies the generation of the terminal sending the user traffic. The user traffic is then processed and routed based on the terminal generation. Traffic can be prioritized across current and legacy terminal types based on a variety of factors.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing sourcing Internet access requests from ISP subscribers serviced by a gateway not physically located near the subscribers. As the localization needs of all subscribers are not necessarily the same, the gateway determines an appropriate source IP address to use to ensure that the IP protocol localization features work efficiently. In addition, the gateway can help enforce rules related to the governing law of the geographic area of the subscriber and/or rules based on the content providers licensing. Through determination of the context of a request, the gateway may also determine whether localized sourcing of a request is necessary based on the type of content being requested.