Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing prioritization of real-time data involving forward and return communication links of a vehicle. In embodiments, a multi-user network access terminal serving multiple communication devices on a vehicle via a communication link receives an indication associated with a pre-defined triggering event from a triggering device on a vehicle, identifies real-time data associated with the pre-defined triggering event for transmission via the communication link, prioritizes the real-time data relative to other data associated with the multiple communication devices for transmission via the communication link, and transmits the prioritized real-time data via the communication link. In embodiments, methods, systems, and devices are also described for data prioritization involving network controllers.

Abstract: Embodiments provide efficient multicast handover for content delivery to client devices in multi-carrier communications systems. For example, client devices in a transport craft can consume a media channel offering via a first carrier during transport through the communications system. Embodiments can establish respective multicast groups for the media channel offering in at least the first carrier and a subsequent second carrier, and can notify the craft of the multicast groups prior to the craft being serviced by the second carrier. Such pre-notification can permit multicast handover of the media channel offering from the first carrier to the second carrier in a manner that avoids typical handover-related. For example, embodiments can direct multicast delivery of the media channel offering to the craft in accordance with the first multicast group while being serviced by the first carrier and in accordance with the second multicast group while being serviced by the second.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for improving utilization of a communications system (e.g., a satellite communications system) are provided, using delayed reliability techniques as part of a multicast transport protocol. Embodiments may operate in a client-server context, in which the server-side of the communication link multicasts data to requesting users and to users where the data is being speculatively prepositioned. Requesting users may implement reliability checks to verify receipt of complete data in response to the request while user systems where data is being speculatively prepositioned may receive multicast reliability information in response to reliability requests from other users, but may not request replacement of missing or corrupted data themselves until a request is made for the data by that system.

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.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method comprises: identifying past trips, each of the past trips having a past trip characteristic similar to a particular trip characteristic of a particular trip; obtaining a vehicle identifier used during each of the past trips; obtaining status of one or more onboard services provided during each of the past trips; generating interface data representing: a past trip header, the past trip characteristic for each of the past trips, the vehicle identifier used during each of the past trips, an icon for each of the past trips having a feature indicating the status of one or more onboard services provided during the past trip, and an additional icon indicating status of onboard services provided during the particular trip; transmitting the interface data to cause a display device to generate/display a viewer.

Abstract: Embodiments provide techniques for providing return-link routing in a hybrid communications network that includes a number of different networks having different characteristics. User terminal routing systems (UTRSs) provide interfaces between local user networks and the multiple communications networks of the hybrid network. Each UTRS can include a routing table having stored mappings that are populated according to forward-link communications (implicitly or explicitly), each associating a respective one of a plurality of routing table entries with one of the communications networks. When a UTRS receives return-link data from its respective local user network, the received data indicates a destination node. The UTRS can determine which of the stored mappings corresponds to the destination node and can route the received return-link data over a selected one of the communications networks in accordance with the identified one of the mappings.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antenna apparatus including a first subassembly having a plurality of antenna elements, and a second subassembly adhered to the first subassembly. The second subassembly may include a plurality of components of a beamforming network encapsulated within a molding material. One or more interconnect layers may be disposed on the molding material to electrically couple the plurality of components of the beamforming network to the plurality of antenna elements. Methods of fabricating the antenna apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and devices for gain slope equalization in a radio frequency (RF) amplifier (200). The RF amplifier (200) may include an input stage (210) for receiving an RF signal. In conjunction with the input stage (210), the RF amplifier (200) may incorporate an amplification stage (215) to amplify the RF signal. Coupled with the amplification stage (215) may be a transformer (220) including a first winding to receive the amplified RF signal, a second winding providing an RF output signal, and a resonator including a third winding that is coupled to the first and second windings. The resonator may be coupled to a circuit network which may be tuned to affect the resonance frequency and the gain slope of the RF output signal.

Abstract: A communication system comprises an onboard server situated onboard a mobile platform and a remote server situated outside the mobile platform. The remote server is configured to generate one or more linear media channels for use by the onboard server. The communication system further comprises a virtual media client situated onboard the mobile platform. The virtual media client is configured to receive linear media channels from the onboard server and transmit performance data to the onboard server. The onboard server is configured to receive one or more media requests from a plurality of user media clients onboard the mobile platform. The one or more media requests specify one or more linear media channels.

Abstract: A media content management server is configured to receive, from a first remote server, first metadata associated with a first set of content items, the first metadata representing a first parameter for each of the first set of content items in a first data format, and further to receive, from a second remote server, second metadata associated with a second set of content items, the second metadata representing a second parameter for each of the second set of content items in a second data format different than the first data format. Reformatted metadata is generated by reformatting the first parameter and the second parameter to a common data format. Rules engine circuitry is configured to generate a data transfer package by comparing the reformatted first and second parameters to content access rule data to determine subsets of content items for inclusion in the data transfer package.

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.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for channelizing a wideband waveform for transmission on a spectral band comprising unavailable channel segments are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for transmitting and receiving wideband waveforms when channels of a system bandwidth are unavailable for transmission. A transmitter may separate a first wideband signal into segments, with each segment a bandwidth corresponding to a channel of the system bandwidth, and may map the segments to the available channels. The transmitter may combine the mapped segments into a second wideband waveform and transmit the second wideband waveform using the available channels. A receiver may receive a first wideband signal waveform and may separate the first wideband signal waveform into segments, de-map the segments and combine the de-mapped segments into a second wideband waveform for demodulation. The techniques may be used to transmit and receive wideband waveforms over tactical data links.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for compensating for mechanical acceleration at a reference oscillator. A reference oscillator provides an oscillator output signal and an accelerometer on a same platform as the reference oscillator, such that mechanical acceleration at the reference oscillator is detected at the accelerometer to produce a measured acceleration. A filter assembly, having an associated set of filter weights, receives the measured acceleration from the accelerometer and provides a tuning control signal responsive to the measured acceleration to a frequency reference associated with the system. An adaptive weighting component receives the oscillator output signal of the reference oscillator and an external signal that is provided from a source external to the platform and adjusts the set of filter weights for the filter assembly based on a comparison of the external signal and the oscillator output signal.

Abstract: Embodiments provide techniques for device-level traffic shaping in a communications network. Embodiments operate in communication networks providing connectivity to large numbers of user-side network nodes via shared communications links. For example, customer premises equipment (CPE) devices behind one of the user-side network nodes are classified into device types according to a predetermined rate-relevant characteristic of the CPE device. Upon receiving a forward-link (FL) traffic flow destined for one of the CPE devices, the device type of the CPE device is identified, and the FL traffic flow is shaped in accordance with a traffic shaping policy that corresponds to CPE device type. Various embodiments are tailored to support architectures having device-level shapers and/or network address translators (NAT) in user-side network nodes and/or in a provider-side network node.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing dynamic spatial allocation of satellite capacity based on aircraft load forecasting. In embodiments, a satellite communications system provides network access service over a service area via a plurality of satellite user beams, predicts spatial network resource demand for the service area over one or more service periods based at least in part on forecasted travel paths of a plurality of mobile multi-user terminals over the one or more service periods and respective predicted service demands for the plurality of mobile multi-user terminals, determines a satellite capacity resource configuration for the plurality of satellite user beams for the one or more service periods based on the predicted spatial network resource demand, and then adapts at least one characteristic of the plurality of satellite user beams for the one or more service periods based on the determined satellite capacity resource configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for steering network traffic over different access networks based on a classification of the network traffic. A first access network provides a first network path between a client device and a destination network and a second access network provides a second network path between the client device and the destination network. The access networks have different characteristics, such as latency or available bandwidth. A traffic classifier receives network messages and assigns classifications to the received network messages. A policy enforcer determines routes for individual network messages. The determined route is based at least in part on the classification assigned by the traffic classifier.

Abstract: A waveguide structure for a compact and scalable dual-polarized antenna array. In one example, a waveguide device comprises septum polarizers dividing common waveguides into first waveguides associated with a first polarization and second waveguides associated with a second polarization. The sets of septum polarizers may be inverted relative to each other to form first groups of four adjacent first waveguides for each type of waveguide. The waveguide device may also include a waveguide feed network including a first waveguide feed stage including waveguide combiner/dividers coupled between the four adjacent waveguides intermediate waveguides. The waveguide device may further include a second waveguide feed stage coupled with the first intermediate waveguides and the second intermediate waveguides, wherein the second waveguide feed stage extends in a direction perpendicular to the first waveguide feed stage.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that dynamically manage network traffic for individual subscribers based on past and current data usage rates. The disclosed systems and methods operate to control data traffic for a group of subscribers that share a common access network or that share a common access link to an access network. Prior to an individual subscriber reaching their data plan limit, the disclosed systems and methods track individual subscribers' past and current data rates and manage individual subscribers' current usage rates so that each subscriber's continually or periodically updating past usage rate stays within a provisioning rate for the group. This can improve user experience because rather than waiting until a subscriber has reached their plan data limit to impose strict data usage restrictions, the disclosed systems and methods use modest restrictions continuously or intermittently during the plan period.

Abstract: In one example, an antenna system is described. The antenna system includes a primary antenna on an aircraft. The primary antenna is mechanically steerable and has an asymmetric antenna beam pattern with a narrow beamwidth axis and a wide beamwidth axis at boresight. The antenna system also includes a secondary antenna on the aircraft, the secondary antenna including an array of antenna elements. The antenna system also includes an antenna selection system to control communication of a signal between the aircraft and a target satellite via the primary antenna and the secondary antenna. The antenna selection system switches communication of the signal from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna when a performance characteristic for communication with the target satellite satisfies a threshold due to a position of the aircraft relative to the target satellite.

Abstract: Determining movement for alignment of a satellite antenna using accelerometer data and gyroscope data of the satellite antenna. Described techniques include receiving accelerometer data for a first time period from an accelerometer mounted on the antenna and analyzing the accelerometer data to determine a movement time window for a movement event of the antenna. The techniques may include receiving gyroscope data for the first time period from a gyroscope mounted on the antenna and analyzing the gyroscope data during the movement time window to determine an amount of movement of the antenna due to the movement event.