Abstract: The present teachings disclose a multibeam satellite system and methods that can achieve orthogonality between spatially multiplexed signals in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) configuration when operating in line-of-sight (LOS) uplink and downlink channels on the feeder link side, using essentially a common spot beam. The teachings maximize a MIMO capacity across multiple frequency bands by disclosing an antenna array geometry for disposition on-board a single satellite and for a ground segment.

Abstract: Various arrangements for a satellite-based forward link overlay are presented herein. In some embodiments, broadband data is modulated at a particular frequency, phase, and/or timing to create a broadband data signal. The frequency, phase, and/or timing are used to modulate a low-bandwidth data signal. The low-bandwidth data signal can then be combined with the broadband data signal and transmitted via satellite to a geographic region. A low-bandwidth receiver unit may determine the frequency, phase, and/or timing from the embedded broadband signal and use such information to demodulate and despread the low-bandwidth data signal.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting rain fade for a rain zone using a deep learning system including a computer processor. The method may include: training a Neural Network (NN) by importing into the NN a training set of image information and beacon information, wherein the image information includes image datasets including of a cloud view of an Area of Interest (AoI), a geolocation and a timestamp, and the beacon information includes beacon datasets including a beacon strength, a current rain fade state, a geolocation and a timestamp; pre-processing to homogenize and to extract spatially and temporally matching data for the AoI from a live image information and a live beacon information; and forecasting a rain fade based on the data in a near-future. In the method, the geolocation of one or more of the beacon datasets is located within the AoI, and the periodicity of the live beacon information and the live image information is less than or equal to five (5) minutes.

Abstract: Various arrangements for increasing a transfer rate of a data transfer via satellite are presented. A satellite gateway may set an accelerated set of communication parameters that control communication between the satellite gateway and the satellite terminal via the satellite and between the satellite gateway and the content source to an accelerated transfer rate between the content source and the satellite terminal. A first set of data may be transferred from the content source to the satellite terminal using the set of communication parameters. After transferring the first set of data, the satellite gateway may adjust the initial set of communication parameters to an adjusted set of communication parameters. The adjusted transfer rate can be lower than the accelerated transfer rate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using a bandwidth (BW) allocation in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. The method includes filling a buffer having a buffer length with a demand-inducing stream data until either the demand-inducing stream data is exhausted or the buffer length equals the BW allocation, determining a leftover BW as the BW allocation minus the buffer length after the filling, composing a leftover buffer when demand-deferring stream data is present, where the leftover buffer includes a transmission header (TH) and a transmission data (TD) includes a portion of a demand-deferring stream data, and transmitting the buffer and the leftover buffer in a time slot associated with the BW allocation. In the method, a length of the TH plus a length of the TD is less than or equal to the leftover BW.

Abstract: A system and method for Time Division Multiplexing a signal for a beam hopping relay including generating the signal by interleaving first multi-variable length SuperFrames (VLSFs) with second multi-VLSFs; and transmitting the signal to the beam hopping relay. In the method, the first multi-VLSFs includes at least one first VLSF, the second multi-VLSFs includes at least one second VLSF, each of the first multi-VLSFs has a duration of a first dwell period, each of the second multi-VLSFs has a duration of a second dwell period, each of the at least one first VLSF and each of the at least one second VLSFs includes at least one SuperFrame unit (SFU). Further, the first dwell period is an integral multiple of the first duration, the second dwell period is an integral multiple of the second duration, and the first duration is different than the second duration.

Abstract: A method for balancing inroute traffic load that contains both guaranteed QoS and best effort traffic. Hierarchical grouping levels are defined with the lowest level corresponding to inroutes within the system. Certain levels have common symbol rates, modulation rates, or both. When a new terminal requires admission, it is assigned to entries in the different hierarchical levels so that the inroute traffic load across all levels are balanced. Terminals are admitted to inroutes based, in part, on their channel quality indicator. Inroute traffic load can periodically rebalance based on elapsed time or terminal redistribution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimizing selection of data cap limited service plans. A model is created in order to predict bandwidth usage by existing subscribers in a satellite communication system. The model is trained with usage data for all subscribers of the satellite communication system over a predetermined time interval, and used to analyze usage patterns of each subscriber. Bandwidth usage is predicted for each subscriber relative to an existing service plan based, at least one recommendation is generated for optimizing use of bandwidth in the satellite communication system based on the analysis and predicted bandwidth usage.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating for attenuation of carrier power by a transmission path.

Abstract: A method for providing frequency selective surface zoning includes selecting a location for positioning a frequency selective surface (FSS) panel along a support arm of a reflector antenna system, and positioning a second feed horn on the support arm on an opposite side of the FSS panel. A number of unit cells are used to populate the FSS panel, and metallic patterns are formed on each unit cell. Multiple zones are subsequently defined on the surface of the FSS panel. Each zone is optimized for a predetermined range of incident angles.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing bandwidth utilization of an aggregated path by a mobile terminal, the method including: establishing the aggregated path of communication with the mobile terminal, where the aggregated path includes a first path including a High Throughput Satellite (HTS) path having a first available capacity and a second path including a wireless path having a second available capacity; tracking the first and second available capacities; and updating, upon a movement of the mobile terminal, the first available capacity based on a distance of the mobile terminal from a satellite beam center of a current satellite beam; and selecting, to communicate a packet, one of the first and seconds path based on the first and the second available capacities.

Abstract: A method and system to provide adaptive power control for a Wide Band Automatic Gain Control (WB-AGC) including: determining a signal is present when a power derivative of the signal ramps up; adapting a gain for an Automated Gain Control (AGC) when the signal is present; and disabling the adapting when the signal is not present.

Abstract: A Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter that reduces the complexity of the hardware required for a filter with a high decimation factor while achieving similar performance of prior art poly-phase filters of greater complexity. The FIR filter includes a small number of multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) units connected in parallel to each other between an input stream and an output stream. The MAC units are provided with coefficients from a memory. In an example implementation, the memory is addressed by a counter and the output of the memory selected by a multiplexer for suppling the coefficients.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for bandwidth allocation using machine learning. In some implementations, a request for bandwidth in a communications system is received. Data indicative of a measure of bandwidth requested and a status of the communication system are provided as input to a machine learning model. One or more outputs from the machine learning model indicate an amount of bandwidth to allocate to the terminal, and bandwidth is allocated to the terminal based on the one or more outputs from the machine learning model.

Abstract: A method and system for determining inroute frame timing for a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) includes receiving an appointment to transmit, on an inroute, at a start of a slot X of a frame number M; establishing, at a VSAT, an arrival time of a super frame numbering packet (SFNP) including a satellite ephemeris vector and a frame number N; calculating, at the VSAT, a timing offset (TRO) to be applied to the arrival time to compensate for a time varying gateway-satellite-terminal propagation delay (THS+TSR); setting a transmit instant as an end of the TRO after the arrival time; adding to the transmit instant a duration of X slots and a duration of (M?N) frames; and transmitting a burst, on the inroute from the VSAT, at the transmit instant. In the method, the calculating is based on computing THS+TSR from the satellite ephemeris vector, a gateway transmits the SFNP and receives the burst in the slot X within the frame number M of the inroute, and N is greater than or equal to M.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for training and using machine learning models to classify network traffic as IoT traffic or non-IoT traffic and managing the traffic based on the classification. In some implementations, machine learning parameters of a local machine learning model trained by the edge device is received each of at least a subset of a set of edge devices. The machine learning parameters received from an edge device are parameters of the local machine learning model trained by the edge device based on local network traffic processed by the edge device and to classify the network traffic as Internet of Things (IoT) traffic or non-IoT traffic. A global machine learning model is generated, using the machine learning parameters, to classify network traffic processed by edge devices as IoT traffic or non-IoT traffic.

Abstract: A user terminal (UT) for a mobile satellite communications system, and an associated method for managing tracking areas for such a UT is provided. When initiating establishment of a radio connection, the UT transmits a connection request message to a satellite gateway (SGW) of the mobile satellite communications system, where the connection request message includes position information identifying a current location of the UT. The UT processes a connection setup message received in response to the connection request message, where the connection setup message includes a first tracking area identifier (TAID) that identifies a one of a plurality of tracking areas that is associated with the current location of the UT. The UT transmits a connection complete message to the SGW, together with an attach request message for a core network of the mobile satellite communications system, which includes the first TAID.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing single-hop communication sessions in a satellite network. A timing offset is selected based on a system timing reference, and used to establishing a common timing reference. A synchronization signal is transmitted from a gateway to a satellite based on time slots aligned with the common timing reference, and subsequently forwarded from the satellite to all terminals managed by the gateway. Communication sessions are initiated by terminals using the common timing reference, and downlink transmissions from the satellite to the terminals are aligned with the synchronization signal.

Abstract: A hybrid scanning antenna including: a reflector having a focal line; a first mechanical movement to move the reflector about a first axis; a second mechanical movement to move the reflector about a second axis; a linear array fixedly disposed along the focal line to electronically scan at a scan angle about a third axis; and a controller to control the first mechanical movement, the second mechanical movement and the scan angle of the linear array to orient the hybrid scanning antenna to a look angle of a remote transceiver.

Abstract: An AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array), including: a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) substrate having an obverse surface; TRMs (Transmit/Receive Modules) disposed on the obverse surface; thermal pedestals wherein each thermal pedestal includes a wall, having a wall height, including wall surfaces and one of the wall surfaces being a contact surface; and a TIM (Thermal Interface Material), having a TIM height, disposed between a respective contact surface of the thermal pedestals and the obverse surface. The thermal pedestals are discrete with respect to one another, the contact surfaces of the thermal pedestals are interspersed about the TRMs, the thermal pedestals do not contact the TRMs, the TIM is electrically and thermally conductive, and the wall height plus the TIM height is sufficient to suppress resonances of the TRMs below a frequency greater than the Tx and Rx frequency bands of the TRMs.