Patents Assigned to Viasat, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20250047612
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for traffic classification that integrate a plurality of complementary tiered classifiers to improve or enhance the results of a primary classification technique. Results from the individual tiered traffic classifiers can be analyzed to determine an output classification. The resulting output traffic classification can be used to determine a preferred or desirable link between nodes on a network where the network includes parallel links or network paths between the nodes. The disclosed systems and methods may be particularly advantageous where the different network paths have different characteristics such as latency, capacity, congestion, cost, bandwidth, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Ravikiran D. KERUR, Pawan UBEROY, Praveen V. MADHAV, Siddharth B. VAJIRKAR
  • Patent number: 12218743
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for robust scheduling of beam switching patterns in satellite communications systems. Embodiments operate in context of a hub-spoke satellite communications architecture having a number of gateway terminals servicing large numbers of user terminals over a number of spot beams. The satellite includes switching subsystems that distribute capacity to the user beams from multiple of the gateway terminals in a shared manner according to a beam group switching pattern. The beam group switching pattern is robustly formulated to continue distributing capacity during gateway outages (e.g., when one or two gateway terminals are temporarily non-operational due to rain fade, equipment failure, etc.). For example, the beam group switching pattern can be formulated to minimize worst-case degradation of capacity across user beams, to prioritize certain beams or beam groups, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hai O'Neill, Donald W. Becker, Mark J. Miller
  • Patent number: 12218995
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for improving utilization of a communications system through various atom-based techniques for enhancing the viewing experience for Internet protocol content. Some embodiments exploit atom-based processing to determine which content atoms to broadcast (e.g., multicast) over which channels to which subscribers. Other embodiments make atom-based filtering, caching, and/or other determinations at the user terminal. For example, low-level (e.g., physical layer) filtering may be used to limit the amount of user-layer processing needed, and to facilitate delivery of content to those users most likely to desire that content. Still other embodiments allow users to create customized channels of cached content for viewing as a shared channel. Embodiments include techniques for addressing synchronization of channel content and viewing, and social networking, for subscribers to the shared channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventor: William B. Sebastian
  • Patent number: 12212401
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth V. Buer, Mark J. Miller
  • Patent number: 12212402
    Abstract: The described features generally relate to adjusting a native antenna pattern of a satellite to adapt communications via the satellite. For example, a communications satellite may include an antenna having a feed array assembly, a reflector, and a linear actuator coupled between the feed array assembly and the reflector. The feed array assembly may have a plurality of feeds for communicating signals associated with a communications service, and the reflector may be configured to reflect the signals transmitted between the feed array assembly and one or more target devices. The linear actuator may have an adjustable length, or otherwise provide an adjustable position between the feed array assembly and the reflector. By adjusting the position of the feed array assembly relative to the reflector, the communications satellite may provide a communications service according to a plurality of native antenna patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Mendelsohn, Donald Runyon
  • Patent number: 12212993
    Abstract: A system supporting remote sensing of information may include a processing capability configured for determining differences between the sensed information and a baseline condition, such as a base map of information. The determined differences from the baseline condition may be communicated over communication link (e.g., a wireless communication link, a satellite communication link), which may be referred to as or be otherwise associated with a “delta coding” of information sensed by the remote sensor system. In some examples, delta coding may support a smaller transfer of information over a communication link than communicating an entirety of sensed information. By communicating such difference information, the remote sensor system may accordingly support updating information more efficiently, more frequently, more rapidly, or more reliably, among other benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Greenidge, Steve Chacko
  • Patent number: 12206156
    Abstract: An AMC antenna apparatus includes a ground plane and a flexible antenna element layer above the ground plane. The ground plane includes a conductive base surface, a plurality of flexible conductors, and a frequency selective surface (FSS) layer above the base surface, where the FSS layer includes a plurality of conductive patches separated from one another. Each of the flexible conductors electrically connects one of the conductive patches to the base surface. A latch mechanism is arranged between the base layer and the FSS layer. An inflatable bladder system between the base layer and the FSS layer is configured to receive a gas input during deployment of the antenna apparatus and inflate to produce force sufficient to cause the latch mechanism to transition from an unlatched state to a latched state in which the conductive base surface is fixedly separated from the FSS layer at a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Wittwer, David D. Greenidge, Michael T. Kretsch, Kevin D. House, Mark D. Vossler
  • Publication number: 20250023801
    Abstract: Described herein are hybrid adaptive networks (HAN) that enable the use of multiple, independent communications networks as a unified communications system. The disclosed HAN includes multiple communications networks that user terminals can simultaneously access. The disclosed HAN enables a user terminal to seamlessly roam across multiple communications networks. The disclosed HAN can increase the capabilities and resilience of user terminals by providing simultaneous access to multiple communications networks. For example, these communications networks may span multiple orbital regions, operate over multiple frequency bands, provide independent terrestrial infrastructure, and/or feature different network management and cyber defense implementations thereby providing inherent diversity and removing single points of failure and/or targets for attack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Applicant: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Craig A. MILLER, Meredith L. CALIGIURI, Richard A. VANDERMEULEN
  • Patent number: 12199329
    Abstract: A removeable satellite antenna pointing tool can include a mounting gear releasably engageable with a pole that supports a satellite antenna. The removeable satellite antenna pointing tool can also include an azimuth gear subsystem housed in a frame and engaged with the mounting gear and a motor that drives the azimuth gear subsystem, wherein actuation of the motor causes the frame to rotate about the pole. The removeable satellite antenna pointing tool can further include a linear drive that controls an elevation of a control shaft engageable with a fixture attached to the satellite antenna. Actuation of the motor can change an azimuth of the satellite antenna and actuation of the linear drive can change an elevation of the satellite antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: James M. McNichols, Andrew Galaud
  • Patent number: 12199704
    Abstract: A system for communications may include an antenna array, where an inter-element spacing of antennas of the antenna array may be different across the antenna array; antenna managers that are coupled with respective antennas and configured to transmit and receive ranging signals used to measure parameters representative of distances between a respective antenna and the other antennas; a calibration unit that determines positions of the antennas based on the measured parameters and positions of reference antennas; and a communications manager that communicates with a terminal according to beam coefficients determined for the antenna array based on the determined positions of the antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: David J Hancharik, Parker A Robinson, Peter S. Wyckoff
  • Patent number: 12199711
    Abstract: An apparatus as described herein may include an antenna array that receives radio frequency signals and outputs analog signals. The apparatus may also include analog to digital signal converters that convert the analog signals into digital sample streams. Also, the apparatus may include a sample buffer that buffers subsets of the digital sample streams and a beamformer that uses the digital sample streams to generate one or more beam signals. Additionally, the apparatus may include a processor that determines a spatial characteristic or a spectral characteristic for the radio frequency signals based on the subsets of the digital sample streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Kiesel, Christopher A. Rose, David R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 12198549
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a network communication system onboard a vehicle comprises a network interface and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to obtain location data indicating geographic locations of a plurality of vehicles within a geographic area, generate a first interface comprising a first portion and a second portion, and generate first graphical interface data within the first portion of the first interface. The first graphical interface data represents a map of the geographic area and a plurality of vehicle icons. Each of the plurality of vehicle icons is selectable via user input and at a position on the map corresponding to a respective geographic location of one of the plurality of vehicles. The control circuitry is further configured to generate second graphical interface data within the second portion of the first interface. The second graphical interface data represents vehicle identifiers for the plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard G Walsh
  • Patent number: 12192118
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for using opportunistically delayed delivery of content to address sub-optimal bandwidth resource usage in network infrastructures that allow subscribers to share forward link resources. According to some embodiments, content is identified as delayable and assigned to a delaycast queue and/or service flow. For example, a server system of a satellite communications system identifies content that can be delayed to exploit future excess link capacity through multicasting and to exploit subscriber-side storage resources. Some implementations attempt to exploit any excess link resources at any time, while others exploit unused bandwidth only during certain times or when a certain threshold of resources is available. Various embodiments also provide content scoring and/or other prioritization techniques for optimizing exploitation of the delaycast queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Dankberg, Daniel M. Newman
  • Patent number: 12184718
    Abstract: Avoiding redundant data transfers using delta coding techniques when reliably and opportunistically communicating data to multiple user systems. According to embodiments, user systems track received block sequences for locally stored content blocks. An intermediate server intercepts content requests between user systems and target hosts, and deterministically chucks and fingerprints content data received in response to those requests. A fingerprint of a received content block is communicated to the requesting user system, and the user system determines based on the fingerprint whether the corresponding content block matches a content block that is already locally stored. If so, the user system returns a set of fingerprints representing a sequence of next content blocks that were previously stored after the matching content block. The intermediate server can then send only those content data blocks that are not already locally stored at the user system according to the returned set of fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: VIASAT INC.
    Inventor: David Lerner
  • Patent number: 12183976
    Abstract: The phased array antenna system is described. The phased array antenna system formed on one or more layers of a printed circuit board (PCB). The phased array antenna system be may include a beam forming network to convert between one or more element signals and a beam signal. The phased array antenna system may include one or more control circuits, where each control circuit may receive the element signals for corresponding antenna element. Each of the control circuits may further may establish a control signal path and an element signal path between the antenna elements and the beamforming network, where the signal path may carry multiplexed element and control signals. The control circuits may include a signal adjustment circuit that may adjust the corresponding element signal (e.g., in phase or amplitude) based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth V. Buer, Ronald S. Lipton, Ashitkumar J. Tripathi
  • Patent number: 12183982
    Abstract: A rotatable antenna is disclosed comprising a wireless rotatable interconnect comprising: a stator coil pad, a rotor coil pad, and a radiating element coupled to the rotor coil pad. In an embodiment, changes in a rotation of the rotor coil pad about an axis change a pointing direction of the radiating element. Moreover, a first channel of a plurality of wireless channels transfers power from the stator coil pad to the rotor coil pad and a second channel of the plurality of wireless channels transfers data between the stator coil pad and the rotor coil pad. Also, a data encoder may be coupled to the rotor coil pad that modulates at least a portion of the data transmitted through the second channel of the plurality of wireless channels onto a radio frequency (RF) signal, and provides the RF signal to the radiating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Eric B. Shin, Kevin M. Skinner
  • Publication number: 20240429602
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a phased array antenna having a boresight direction. A scan angle within a defined range of scan angles is selected for the phased array antenna such that the selected scan angle is different from a scan angle associated with the boresight direction. An antenna port impedance associated with each of a plurality of antenna elements comprising the phased array antenna varies with the scan angle of the phased array antenna. A plurality of amplifiers are each coupled to an antenna port of one of the plurality of antenna elements. Each of the plurality of amplifiers is configured such that a maximum value for a performance characteristic of the plurality of amplifiers is achieved when an impedance at the antenna port corresponds to the selected scan angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventor: KONRAD MIEHLE
  • Patent number: 12170406
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes a first component layer having a plurality of RFICs arranged in a first lattice geometry (e.g., rectangular), where each RFIC comprises beamforming circuitry. A second, parallel component layer overlays the first component layer and includes a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a second, different lattice geometry (e.g., triangular). The antenna elements have respective feed points each coupled to an input/output (I/O) pad of an RFIC. Each I/O pad is aligned with the feed point coupled thereto along an axis orthogonal to the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventor: Steven Franson
  • Publication number: 20240413843
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are disclosed for a variable-rate true-time delay (VR-TTD) decimator for receiving an input data signal and providing an output decimated signal. The VR-TTD decimator may comprise: a VR-TTD decimator input for receiving the input data signal; and a VR-TTD decimator output for outputting the output decimated signal; a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) for receiving a time delay control signal and a desired rate signal and for controlling coarse filtering, fine filtering and decimation of the input data signal; and an accumulator for generating the output decimated signal, wherein the accumulator comprises a plurality of shift registers, controlled by the NCO. The system may comprise a beamformer for providing an output signal coherently summed from a plurality of paths, where each path comprises a VR-TTD decimator for providing VR-TTD to the respective signals of the plurality of paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory N. Kiesel, Charles R. Gibson
  • Patent number: 12164590
    Abstract: A method of loading a web page that includes: receiving, by a client computing device over a communications network, hint information that identifies a first plurality of child objects associated with a web page; prefetching, by the client computing device over the communications network, one or more of the first plurality of child objects identified in the hint information; and receiving, by the client computing device over the communications network, the web page, wherein the web page identifies a second plurality of child objects. The method further includes: loading, by the client computing device, the web page, the loading including: loading one or more of the second plurality of child objects that are prefetched child objects of the first plurality of child objects. The metho further includes fetching, over the communications network, and loading one or more of the second plurality of child objects that are non-prefetched child objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lepeska, William B. Sebastian