Abstract: An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a phased array antenna and control circuitry associated therewith to be carried by the aircraft and to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting modulation in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a remote unit of an OFDM multipoint-to-point communications system comprises: establishing communication between a first remote unit and a host unit, the first remote unit and a plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting a plurality of tones from the first remote unit such that tones from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit are simultaneously received at the host unit, the plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM; modulating up to a plurality of tones using a first modulation scheme when transmitting a first type of upstream information; and modulating up to a plurality of tones using a second modulation scheme when transmitting a second type of upstream information.

Abstract: Systems for multiple use subchannels are provided. In one embodiment, a bidirectional communication system comprises: a first remote unit for communicating with a host using OFDM, the host communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration. The first remote unit is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM, the first remote unit including a modulator for modulating the up to a plurality of tones using OFDM. The modulator is configured to adjust a carrier frequency and timing of the plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host unit is improved. Both control data and payload data are transmitted on a first tone of the plurality of tones.

Abstract: Systems and methods for OFDM tone allocation are provided. In one embodiment, an end-user communication device comprises: a first remote unit for communicating with a host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the host unit communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration, wherein OFDM waveform from distinct remote units of the plurality of remote units combine to a unified OFDM waveform at the host unit. The first remote unit is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM. The first remote unit is configured to determine when bandwidth is needed for upstream transmission to the host unit. The first remote unit is configured to transmit a request for bandwidth to the host unit on a first tone of the plurality of tones, wherein access to the first tone is contention-based.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronization techniques in multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a method for multipoint-to-point communication comprises: receiving at a host a plurality of upstream symbols transmitted from a plurality of remote units, the upstream symbols transmitted on a plurality of orthogonal carriers modulated using an inverse Fourier transform; and determining respective round trip path delay values associated with each of at least two of the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host and a plurality of remote units, wherein a plurality of tones is shared among the plurality of remote units in order to communicate with the host using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, wherein the plurality of tones is shared in a manner that permits at least two of the remote units to transmit to the host at any one time using the plurality of tones. The host causes at least one remote unit to adjust a timing of symbols transmitted on at least one of the plurality of orthogonal tones in order to improve an alignment of multiframes received at the host.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a method for ranging comprises: receiving at a host a plurality of upstream symbols transmitted from a plurality of remote units, the upstream symbols transmitted on a plurality of orthogonal carriers modulated using an inverse Fourier transform; comparing a phase of at least one ranging symbol received from at least one of the plurality of remote units with a phase of a symbol transmitted by the host; and transmitting an adjustment instruction instructing the at least one of the plurality of remote units to vary a phase of transmissions transmitted from the at least one of the plurality of remote units based on a difference in phase between the at least one ranging symbol and the symbol transmitted by the host unit.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system comprises establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; and adjusting a round trip path delay associated with the first remote unit.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host unit to communicate with a plurality of remote units using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; and wherein the host unit is configured to adjust a round trip path delay associated with at least one of the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tone hopping are provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multipoint-to-point communications system comprises: establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit modulated with upstream information using OFDM; adjusting at least one characteristic of the up to a plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units, the orthogonality of the tones received at the host unit is improved; and dynamically switching modulation between tones of the up to a plurality of tones based on an error-rate history of at least one of the tones.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a receiver configured to receive a waveform comprising a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals from at least two of a plurality of remote units, wherein the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals are modulated using an inverse Fourier transform algorithm; a transmitter; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission to the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform algorithm to the data provided to the transmitter; a controller programmed to instruct the transmitter to transmit a predetermined identifier on at least one of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals, the predetermined identifier identifying to a first remote unit a range of the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals for the first remote unit to receive control information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a receiver configured to receive a waveform comprising a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals from at least two of a plurality of remote units, wherein the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals are modulated using an inverse Fourier transform algorithm; a transmitter; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission to the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform algorithm to the data provided to the transmitter; and a controller programmed to analyze a training signal received from a first remote unit and adjust receiver equalizer parameters based on the training signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a receiver configured to receive a waveform comprising a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals from at least two of a plurality of remotes, the carrier signals are modulated using an inverse Fourier transform; a transmitter; a processor coupled to the transmitter, the processor outputs data for transmission to the transmitter, the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data provided to the transmitter; a controller programmed to instruct the transmitter to transmit timing adjustments to the at least two of the plurality of remotes, the timing adjustments instruct the at least two of the plurality of remotes to adjust transmission timing so that transmitted symbols associated with frames of a predetermined multiframe structure are received in sequence from the at least two of the plurality of remotes based on the structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises:a receiver configured to de-modulate symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter; the processor programmed to encode upstream information using a forward error correction algorithm based on forward error correction parameters received by the receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bidirectional communication are provided. In one embodiment, a multipoint-to-point, orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communication system comprises: a plurality of remote units, a host unit; wherein the host sends an adjustment signal to a remote instructing the remote to adjust the timing of transmissions from the remote to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform received at the host, wherein the host sends an adjustment signal to a remote instructing the remote to adjust the frequency of transmissions from the remote to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform received at the host, wherein payload data is transmitted between a remote and the host over a first orthogonal tone within the OFDM communication system during a first time interval, and wherein control data is transmitted between a remote and the host over the first orthogonal tone within the OFDM communication system during a second time interval.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forward-looking tone allocation are provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multipoint-to-point communications system comprises: establishing communication between a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the remote units communicatively coupled to the host in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting a plurality of tones from the remote units, such that tones from more than one remote unit are simultaneously received at the host, the tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM; adjusting at least one characteristic of at least one tone at least one remote unit, in response to adjustment commands from the host, such that the orthogonality of the simultaneously received tones is improved as received at the host unit; and dynamically switching modulation from at least a first tone of the plurality of tones to a second tone based on an error-rate history of the second tone.

Abstract: Systems for multiple use subchannels are provided. In one embodiment, a bidirectional communication system comprises: a first remote for communicating with a host using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the host communicatively coupled to a plurality of remotes in a multipoint-to-point configuration; wherein the first remote is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM; the first remote including a modulator for modulating the up to a plurality of tones with upstream information using OFDM, wherein the modulator is configured to adjust a carrier frequency of the plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote and at least one other remote of the plurality of remotes, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host is improved; and wherein both control data and payload data are transmitted on a first tone of the plurality of tones.

Abstract: Methods for multiframe alignment are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises sharing upstream bandwidth capacity among a plurality of remote units in a manner that permits at least two of the remote units to transmit to a host at any one time using the upstream bandwidth capacity, the upstream bandwidth capacity provided by using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with a plurality of tones; and causing at least one remote unit to adjust the timing of symbols transmitted on at least one of the plurality of tones in order to improve an alignment of multiframes received at the host.