Abstract: A receive planar phased array antenna on a communications platform is used to estimate a pointing error of the antenna and to orient the antenna boresight towards the transmitter.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide techniques for reducing quantization errors and side lobe levels in phased array antennas. The states of a quantized phase shifter of a phased array antenna may be dithered to achieve a time-averaged value that reduces quantization errors. By rapidly switching between the different states of the quantized phase shifter, a time-average value close to a desired phase state may be achieved with a low resolution phase shifter.

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: Systems and methods for ACM trajectory include receiving data at a communications receiver; decoding the received data based on a selected MODCOD; monitoring a number of iterations used to decode the data using the selected MODCOD; comparing the number of iterations used to decode the data using the first selected MODCOD to a reference number of iterations; and adjusting a SNR threshold value for the selected MODCOD where the number of iterations used to decode the data using the first selected MODCOD is greater than the reference number of iterations.

Abstract: An interference canceller and a method for canceling interference are disclosed. The interference canceller includes: a subtractor to receive a primary signal including a desired signal and multiple interferers and to generate an output signal including the desired signal; a plurality of Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters, wherein each FIR filter receives a reference signal from a plurality of reference signals and outputs a filtered reference signal; and a plurality of loop filters, wherein each loop filter outputs coefficients.

Abstract: A system and method for filtering code blocks to maintain high throughput thru a Forward Error Correcting (FEC) decoder is disclosed. The method includes: monitoring a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for an incoming link; selecting a rank table including a rank, Modulation and Coding Rate (MODCOD), and a minimum SNR; determining a threshold MODCOD range from the rank table based on the SNR; demodulating an incoming frame; identifying, in the incoming frame, the code blocks and an associated MODCOD for each of the code blocks; selecting a code block from the code blocks when the respective MODCOD for the code block is in the rank table and within the threshold MODCOD range; and decoding the selected code block with the associated MODCOD.

Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) in regenerative satellite systems to adapt the modulation and/or FEC coding of transmitted waveforms to the conditions of the link. In a first implementation, ACM is implemented on an uplink from a terminal to a regenerative satellite. In this implementation, an uplink modulation and coding combination (ModCod) is estimated by the transmitting terminal based on the quality of signals received from the regenerative satellite on the downlink. In a second implementation, ACM may be implemented on a downlink from a regenerative satellite to a terminal. In this implementation, a transmit terminal may insert a field in a transmitted packet header that indicates a downlink ModCod to be used by the regenerative satellite when transmitting packets to a receiving terminal. The regenerative satellite may reencode and remodulate the packet using the ModCod indicated in the field of the packet header.

Abstract: A description of a high altitude platform with multibeam coverage for aero-based terminals is provided herein. An example apparatus includes a plurality of user link antennas each configured to provide communication coverage among a plurality of aero-based terminals within a specified volume (or area) of the sky, each antenna being configured to communicate with a specified cell within the specified volume. The apparatus also includes a gateway link antenna configured to provide communication coverage to a ground-based gateway terminal. The user link antennas are configured to have differently sized apertures to maintain a similar spectral density among the cells within the specified coverage area. Such a configuration of user link antennas provides consistent Quality of Service and bandwidth for aero-based terminals (such as private and commercial aircraft) operating within the specified coverage area.

Abstract: A system and method for bandwidth management for a Host Network Operator (HNO) is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for defining and generating boundaries of satellite coverage. The apparatus includes a processor that is configured to select a plurality of beam points, from a set of points on a coordinate system, to be included within a beam definition, and determine a number of ellipses capable of enclosing the selected beam points while excluding all remaining points of the set of points. The processor then assigns the selected beam points to a corresponding ellipse, and optimizes geometric information for each ellipse to enclose the beam points assigned thereto. A coverage beam is then defined based on a contour resulting from the combined shape of all the ellipses using the optimized geometric information.

Abstract: A transmitter includes a buffer programmed to queue packets and a computing device having a processor and a data storage medium. The computing device is programmed to generate at least two sub-packets from each of the plurality of packets stored in the queue. For each sub-packet, the computing device is programmed to identify a plurality of transmission opportunities. Each transmission opportunity is associated with one of a plurality of networks. The computing device is further programmed to select among the plurality of transmission opportunities and transmit the sub-packet over the network associated with the selected transmission opportunity.

Abstract: A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) installation tool is provided having the ability to measure cable loss along an interfacility link (IFL) between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the VSAT. Radio frequency (RF) signals can be transmitted from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, where the RF signals are intercepted along the IFL prior to reaching the outdoor unit, and the output power is determined. The determined output power is compared to an expected output power at the indoor unit. The delta between the determined output power and the expected output power can be used to adjust the power of the indoor unit such that the outdoor unit can operate without reaching its compression point. The determined output power can be extrapolated based upon measured of the output power performed over a range of frequencies at which the indoor unit operates.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for delivering layer-2 services over a layer-3 network. The apparatus includes a layer-2 module for transmitting and receiving layer-2 packets over a first communication network, and a layer-3 module for converting the layer-2 packet into a format that can be transmitted over a conventional layer-3 network. The converted layer-2 packet is transmitted with sufficient information to allow reconstruction of the original layer-2 packet at the destination device. The apparatus can also be configured to simultaneously transmit and receive layer-2 packets and layer-3 packets over the layer3 network.

Abstract: A method for synchronization of user terminal (UT) uplink data transmissions to a satellite in a satellite communications system is provided. The UT tracks frame timing and frequency of downlink data transmissions received by the UT from the satellite. The UT estimates a respective timing delay and frequency shift of the downlink data transmissions based on the tracked frame timing and frequency of the downlink data transmissions. The UT receives satellite ephemeris data broadcast by the satellite. The UT synchronizes uplink data transmissions to the satellite based on the estimated timing delay and frequency shift of the downlink data transmissions, the received satellite ephemeris data, and knowledge of a UT position and velocity vectors associated with any movement of the UT.

Abstract: An approach is provided for reliable provision of targeted, status-based messaging to a client terminal in a computer network, such as a wide area resource-based network. A terminal node receives a message originating from a client terminal, wherein the terminal node serves as an entry point to, and services communications connections over, a wide area network for the client terminal. The terminal node determines that the message comprises an initiation request for establishing a communications connection over the wide area network between the client terminal and a remote server, and that an intercept state is in effect. The terminal node establishes the communications connection as a local connection between the client terminal and the terminal node, and services the communications connection via a local server function, wherein the servicing of the communications connection via the local server function comprises a provision of status-based messaging to the client terminal.

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.

Abstract: Methods and systems of history-based instantaneous QoS class classification of traffic flow. QoS classifications are mapped to target destinations such that, when a first flow parcket packet of a traffic flow requesting access to a resource associated with the target destination, a classifier can instantaneously classify the traffic flow as belonging to a particular QoS class for servicing of the traffic flow.

Abstract: A data stream processing device including a first tapped delay line which outputs data values received via a first data input on N first taps, wherein N is two or more; a second tapped data delay line which outputs data values received via a second data input on N second taps; a first processing unit including N first delayed data inputs and which generates a first data output based on the N first delayed data inputs; a second processing unit including N second delayed data inputs and which generates a second data output based on the N second delayed data inputs; and control circuitry including a mode selection input, and which is coupled to in response to the mode selection input receiving a signal indicating a first mode, simultaneously couple each of the first taps to a respective one of the first delayed data inputs and couple each of the second taps to a respective one of the second delayed data inputs, and in response to the mode select input not receiving a signal indicating the first mode, simultaneou

Abstract: Each of a first group of gateway nodes of a communications network operates as a primary gateway identified by a respective unique gateway identification number (GWID), and each of a second group of gateway nodes operates as a backup gateway. Each gateway node has an assigned backup priority level with respect to each GWID. The gateway nodes are interconnected via a common local network. In the event that a primary gateway node becomes non-operational, the backup gateway that is assigned the highest priority level with respect to the GWID of the non-operational primary gateway assumes operation as the primary gateway identified by that GWID. Upon restoration of the non-operational gateway node, the gateway node operates as a backup gateway in place of the gateway node that assumed its operation as the primary gateway. A gateway node operates as a primary gateway for only one respective GWID at a time.

Abstract: A method for providing service levels in a Radio Frequency (RF) network is disclosed. The method including: associating one or more service levels with each supported symbol rate, modulation and error correction encoded scheme (ModCod); assigning a subscriber service level for a RF transmitter; receiving a signal quality of a transmission by the RF transmitter; selecting a transmit ModCod from the supported ModCods, wherein the signal quality exceeds a threshold signal quality for the transmit ModCod; and authorizing the RF transmitter to transmit to the receiver when the subscriber service level is included in the one or more service levels associated with the transmit ModCod, wherein signal quality adapts to a signal fade.