Abstract: The present teachings disclose implementations of a UE and a method for providing a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network, the method including: receiving an NB-IoT downlink over a forward link; obtaining MAC configuration parameters, a transmit-timing offset and a transmit-frequency offset; pre-adjusting, to align with a return link timing and a return link frequency, a transmit-timing with the transmit-timing offset and a transmit-frequency with the transmit-frequency offset; requesting, based on the MAC configuration parameters and after the pre-adjusting, a connection with a Random-Access Preamble (RAR) over an NB-IoT uplink via the return link; and establishing the connection upon receiving a Random-Access Response (RAR), where a Round Trip-Time (RTT) from a transmitting antenna to a receiving antenna is greater than 67 microseconds (us), and both the NB-IoT downlink and the NB-IoT uplink use a mostly unchanged NB-IoT standard waveform.

Abstract: A method to provide dedicated bandwidth, the method including: provisioning transmitters to transmit over a satellite link; generating, for each of the transmitters, a respective transmit signal using a common codeblock asynchronous sub-carrier multiple access (A-SCMA) encoding for a respective information stream; transmitting, via the satellite link, the respective transmit signal from each of the transmitters; and varying a bandwidth rate of each of the respective transmit signals with a grant-free protocol, where the bandwidth rate of the respective transmit signals is less than or equal to a maximum system rate, the transmitting of at least two or more of the transmitters is at least partially concurrent, and each of the respective transmit signals is modulated at a common frequency over a common frequency band with a common polarization. The method reduces latency, jitter, and provides dynamic bandwidth allocation without allocation feedback.

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: A method for a hitless handover in a hitless handover of communications in a Radio Frequency (RF) network is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for networked geofencing includes identifying restricted areas in a service region, and defining a protective zone surrounding the restricted areas. A service availability map containing the protective zones is generated and broadcast within the service region. The positions of terminals on the service availability map are detected relative to the protective zones. Terminals inside the protective zones establish communication using a first frequency range, and terminals outside of the protective zones establish communication using either the first frequency range or a second frequency range.

Abstract: Modulation and coding for a high altitude platform is disclosed. An example method includes determining a first modulation scheme and a first coding scheme that is spectrally efficient for a feeder link communicatively coupled to a gateway antenna and determining a second modulation scheme and second coding scheme that is robust for user links communicatively coupled to respective user antennas. Each user antenna is configured to communicate with a specified cell within a specified area. The example method also includes provisioning the telecommunications apparatus with the first modulation scheme, the first coding scheme, the second modulation scheme, and the second coding scheme.

Abstract: A deinterleaver device, a method for deinterleaving, an interleaver device, and a method for interleaving are disclosed. 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: Various methods and apparatuses are disclosed, including a method for optimizing FEC code for an average number of interfering users in a multiple access communication, that includes receiving an FEC code optimization information, switchable between at least a first value and a second value, and selecting a first optimized FEC code based at least in part on the FEC code selection information being at the first value, and selecting a second optimized FEC code based at least in part on the FEC code selection information being at the second value. The method can include receiving a source bit stream, encoding bits of the source bit stream according to the selected optimized FEC code into a series of FEC encoded bits, and a parity check matrix of the first optimized FEC code has a first average information bit node degree, and a parity check matrix of the second optimized FEC code has a second average information bit node degree.

Abstract: An RF communications transmitter system comprising a processor, a switch and a plurality of feedhorns. The switch is configured to receive a feed signal of a frequency bandwidth. The processor is configured to control the switch to provide the feed signal to each of at least two of the feedhorns for a respective time period. Each of the at least two feedhorns is configured to generate a beam during the respective time period that the feed signal is provided thereto, wherein the beam is formed based on the feed signal and is transmitted to cover a geographic area of the Earth. The formation and transmission of the beams by the feedhorns is controlled by the processor to provide a time-based allocation of bandwidth amongst the beams based on the time period that the feed signal is provided to each of the feedhorns and a respective frequency/polarization reuse scheme.

Abstract: A system and method for serializing parallel streams of information. The system and method employ a plurality of buffers and a controller. The plurality of buffers are configured to store information received from a demodulator and output the stored information to a decoder. The controller is configured to store a plurality of frames of information output in a parallel manner from the demodulator into the plurality of buffers, and control the output of the plurality of buffers such that each of the plurality of frames is output to the decoder once stored.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to satellite transmitters and receivers for applying OFDM-like signaling in broadband satellite transmissions. In such systems, one or more data signals may be shaped and composited into a composite data signal at an OFDM-like transmitter for transmission over a satellite channel. The data signals that are carried over the satellite channel by the composited signal may have their own carrier, and each signal may carry multiple OFDM subcarriers. Further implementations are directed to correcting for distortion in satellite communications systems that utilize OFDM-like signaling.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and include a method that includes adding a training symbol prefix to an OFDM symbol frame, the prefix including a plurality of training symbols, each including N sub-symbol fields. N/2 of the sub-symbol fields are zero valued, and N/2 of the sub-symbol fields carry corresponding symbols of a N/2 sub-symbol pseudo random training symbol. A first half of the pseudo random training symbol is symmetrical to a second half of the pseudo random training symbol. An OFDM N-sub-carrier transmission carries the prefix as signal power on a first N/2 of its N sub-carriers and suppresses signal power on a second N/2 of the sub-carriers. The first N/2 and second N/2 sub-carriers alternate in the frequency domain.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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.