Abstract: A method is provided for off-loading MAC (medium access control) functionalities that were previously carried out by satellites, and carry out these functionalities by control gateways that are located on the ground, and by implementing that to simplify the operation and maintenance of the satellite communications network.

Abstract: A method is provided for simultaneously transmitting a plurality of signals from a LEO satellite towards a plurality of ground terminals located within a pre-defined range of distances from the LEO satellite, wherein the plurality of signals have a pre-defined overall capacity; at least two of the plurality of signals have each a power level that is different from a power level of the other of the at least two signals; and each signal transmitted to a respective ground terminal is selected so as to ensure that its power level is the lowest from among the signals that are simultaneously transmitted, yet the selected signal has a sufficient power to enable its proper reception at a distance which extends between the respective ground terminal and the LEO satellite.

Abstract: A method is provided for off-loading MAC (medium access control) functionalities that were previously carried out by satellites, and carry out these functionalities by control gateways that are located on the ground, and by implementing that to simplify the operation and maintenance of the satellite communications network.

Abstract: A method is provided for conveying communications within a satellite communication network, by implementing a beam hopping technique for communicating with half-duplex user terminals.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling communications between one or more satellites and a plurality of terminals wherein the plurality of terminals are divided into M groups of terminals and wherein the method comprising: forwarding a plurality of communication frames in a forward link, wherein said plurality of frames are divided into N sub-frames, and wherein traffic being carried along the forward link by each of the N sub-frames serves one or more groups of terminals associated with a respective satellite, and assigning, by a satellite return link scheduler, a respective capacity of the return link for at least one of the one or more groups of terminals, wherein the assignment takes into account which of the sub-frames is associated with that at least one group of the terminals.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling communications between one or more satellites and a plurality of terminals wherein the plurality of terminals are divided into M groups of terminals and wherein the method comprising: forwarding a plurality of communication frames in a forward link, wherein said plurality of frames are divided into N sub-frames, and wherein traffic being carried along the forward link by each of the N sub-frames serves one or more groups of terminals associated with a respective satellite, and assigning, by a satellite return link scheduler, a respective capacity of the return link for at least one of the one or more groups of terminals, wherein the assignment takes into account which of the sub-frames is associated with that at least one group of the terminals.

Abstract: A computer appliance including a front-end interface communicating with a client computer, a back-end interface communicating with a storage, a compressor receiving native next generation sequencing (NGS) data from an application running on the client computer via the front-end interface, the application being programmed to process native NGS data, adding a compressed form of the native NGS data into a portion of an encoded data file or data object, and storing the portion of the encoded data file or data object in the storage via the back-end interface, and a decompressor receiving a portion of an encoded data file or data object from the storage via the back-end interface, decompressing the portion of the encoded data file or data object to generate therefrom native NGS data, and transmitting the native NGS data to the client via the front-end interface, for use by the application running on the client.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling communications between one or more satellites and a plurality of terminals wherein the plurality of terminals are divided into M groups of terminals and wherein the method comprising: forwarding a plurality of communication frames in a forward link, wherein said plurality of frames are divided into N sub-frames, and wherein traffic being carried along the forward link by each of the N sub-frames serves one or more groups of terminals associated with a respective satellite, and assigning, by a satellite return link scheduler, a respective capacity of the return link for at least one of the one or more groups of terminals, wherein the assignment takes into account which of the sub-frames is associated with that at least one group of the terminals.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling communications between one or more satellites and a plurality of terminals wherein the plurality of terminals are divided into M groups of terminals and wherein the method comprising: forwarding a plurality of communication frames in a forward link, wherein said plurality of frames are divided into N sub-frames, and wherein traffic being carried along the forward link by each of the N sub-frames serves one or more groups of terminals associated with a respective satellite, and assigning, by a satellite return link scheduler, a respective capacity of the return link for at least one of the one or more groups of terminals, wherein the assignment takes into account which of the sub-frames is associated with that at least one group of the terminals.