Abstract: Beam hopping (BH) approaches are described herein for integrated terrestrial-non-terrestrial network (iTNTNs) having a terrestrial radio access network integrated with multi-beam satellite communications. A macro-level BH configuration can be generated, based on present and projected network data, to include synchronized traffic channel and acquisition channel BH cycles, each with respective cycle durations and dwell resolutions. The configuration can also include a PNT channel BH cycle with its own cycle duration and dwell resolution for use by a dedicated PNT beam. The macro-level configuration can be used to define a micro-level configuration for each of multiple traffic and control (TnC) beams, including certain time slots for cell acquisition and remaining time slots for allocating TnC communications to cells in proportion to their traffic demands.

Abstract: MAC layer enhancements in protocol stacks of a user terminal of a satellite communication system such as a 5G based system. The MAC layer may include a scheduler that allows resource aggregation by allocating additional radio resources to users on one beam using carriers allocated to an adjacent beam. The MAC layer enhancements may also provide user terminals the ability to report their battery status to the scheduler which can then send signals to the user terminal that allow the terminal to shut down electronics to conserve power resources based on the battery status.

Abstract: A method for communicating with a legacy terminal supporting a legacy air interface and a new terminal supporting a next generation air interface including: assigning a same carrier to the legacy terminal and the new terminal; receiving a terminal identifier and an optional payload for transmission at a MAC/RLC layer; determining if the terminal identifier is associated with the legacy terminal or the new terminal; composing, based on the determining, a burst header; formatting, a burst including the burst header and the optional payload; and transmitting the burst. In the method, the burst header is set to one of the one or more valid burst headers when the burst is associated with the legacy terminal, and the burst header is set to one of the one or more undefined burst headers when the burst is associated with the new terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a hybrid 4G satellite network. The method includes providing a NGSG including a satellite AS/NAS stack, a terrestrial 4G stack and a relay to connect the satellite AS/NAS stack and the terrestrial 4G stack; transporting a 4G traffic between a 4G UE and the NGSG using a satellite air interface; utilizing a terrestrial network between the NGSG and a 4G CN to transport the 4G traffic; and mapping, with the relay, the 4G traffic between the satellite AS/NAS stack and the terrestrial 4G stack and vice versa, where the satellite air interface is better suited for satellite communications than the terrestrial network. A system and method for multiplexing a first-generation UE and a second-generation UE on a satellite channel.

Abstract: An improved air interface for satellite systems such as a 5G-based non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite system. The air interface includes an improved physical interface for efficient operation over NGSO satellite systems. The air interface includes an improved forward link for communicating from the satellite gateway to the user terminal and a return link for communicating from the user terminal to the satellite gateway.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with an Internet Of Things (IoT) device via a satellite link. The method includes assigning a transmission mode to a physical channel, where the physical channel supports multiple timeslot durations and the transmission mode is selected from a single user (SU) or a multi-user (MU); selecting a timeslot duration from the multiple durations for a payload; obtaining, when the transmission mode is SU, a timeslot grant for use of the physical channel for the timeslot duration; and transmitting a burst including the payload, where the burst is transmitted synchronized with the timeslot grant when the transmission mode is SU and the burst is transmitted without synchronization when the transmission mode is MU.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for providing network and protocol architectures to achieve efficient high speed data services in an integrated terrestrial-non-terrestrial network (iTNTN). The iTNTN can include at least a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite system and terrestrial radio access and core network infrastructures based on cellular standards (e.g., 5G). Embodiments specially configure packet-based routing and dynamic cell-CU-DU (cell to centralized unit to distributed unit) association to accommodate dynamically changing LEO satellite locations and other iTNTN characteristics. These and other configurations are used to enable features, including end-to-end IP data and Layer 2 data services, integrated LEO-GEO (low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous Earth orbit) and LEO-MEO (low-Earth orbit and medium-Earth orbit) services, direct UT-UT (user terminal to user terminal) services, and resource efficient multicast services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for providing network and protocol architectures to achieve efficient high speed data services in an integrated terrestrial-non-terrestrial network (iTNTN). The iTNTN can include at least a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite system and terrestrial radio access and core network infrastructures based on cellular standards (e.g., 5G). Embodiments specially configure packet-based routing and dynamic cell-CU-DU (cell to centralized unit to distributed unit) association to accommodate dynamically changing LEO satellite locations and other iTNTN characteristics. These and other configurations are used to enable features, including end-to-end IP data and Layer 2 data services, integrated LEO-GEO (low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous Earth orbit) and LEO-MEO (low-Earth orbit and medium-Earth orbit) services, direct UT-UT (user terminal to user terminal) services, and resource efficient multicast services.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing usage of satellite channelizers including dividing a frequency spectrum into sub-bands; providing a satellite channelizer for each of the sub-bands, where each of the sub-bands may include channels; multiplexing service channels into the channels of one of the sub-bands, where the service channels convey data for a plurality of MSSs. A system and method for obtaining high throughput on a satellite network. A system and method for providing a Fair Access Policy (FAP) in a 4G system.

Abstract: Techniques described herein provide transmit power density limit normalization for electronically steerable antenna subsystems in user terminals having scan angle varying power spectral density limits. Embodiments can further simplify or eliminate impacts on UT modem and/or satellite ground networks, and can remove dependencies on the UT antenna type and its antenna performance characterization.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing usage of satellite channelizers including dividing a frequency spectrum into sub-bands; providing a satellite channelizer for each of the sub-bands, where each of the sub-bands may include channels; multiplexing service channels into the channels of one of the sub-bands, where the service channels convey data for a plurality of MSSs. A system and method for obtaining high throughput on a satellite network. A system and method for providing a Fair Access Policy (FAP) in a 4G system.

Abstract: A satellite communication system with software defined network orchestration which provides differentiated quality of service (QoS). Implementations include a route manager (RM) that receives link status from the satellites and determines routing tables with QoS attributes which are uploaded to the satellites. The routing tables and the QoS attributes allow the satellites to route data based on a QoS attributes in a data header to achieve differentiated QoS for data routed in the network. The QoS attributes may also be used to prioritize data through a satellite node.

Abstract: A satellite communication system with software defined network orchestration. Implementations include a route management function (RMF) that receives link status from the satellites and determines simple routing tables which are uploaded to the satellites. The routing tables allow the satellites to route data based on a satellite ID placed in a data header to reduce the memory and computing load on satellite resources. Further, implementations include secure user terminal (UT) to UT IP routing in the constellation for direct UT to UT communication. The satellite communication system may combine the benefits of Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems into an MEO-LEO satellite system.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a hybrid 4G satellite network. The method includes providing a NGSG including a satellite AS/NAS stack, a terrestrial 4G stack and a relay to connect the satellite AS/NAS stack and the terrestrial 4G stack; transporting a 4G traffic between a 4G UE and the NGSG using a satellite air interface; utilizing a terrestrial network between the NGSG and a 4G CN to transport the 4G traffic; and mapping, with the relay, the 4G traffic between the satellite AS/NAS stack and the terrestrial 4G stack and vice versa, where the satellite air interface is better suited for satellite communications than the terrestrial network. A system and method for multiplexing a first-generation UE and a second-generation UE on a satellite channel.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a hybrid 4G satellite network. The method includes providing a NGSG including a satellite AS/NAS stack, a terrestrial 4G stack and a relay to connect the satellite AS/NAS stack and the terrestrial 4G stack; transporting a 4G traffic between a 4G UE and the NGSG using a satellite air interface; utilizing a terrestrial network between the NGSG and a 4G CN to transport the 4G traffic; and mapping, with the relay, the 4G traffic between the satellite AS/NAS stack and the terrestrial 4G stack and vice versa, where the satellite air interface is better suited for satellite communications than the terrestrial network. A system and method for multiplexing a first-generation UE and a second-generation UE on a satellite channel.

Abstract: An integrated HOFS meander line polarizer radome including: a substrate including layers having a dielectric constant (dk) greater than 2.0 and less than 5.0; a Higher Order Floquet-mode Structure (HOFS) may include HOFS lines disposed in a first subset of the layers; and meander lines, to provide a phase shift and match, disposed in a second subset of the layers, where at least one layer of the first subset is disposed between the second subset of the layers.

Abstract: A method for communicating with a legacy terminal supporting a legacy air interface and a new terminal supporting a next generation air interface including: assigning a same carrier to the legacy terminal and the new terminal; receiving a terminal identifier and an optional payload for transmission at a MAC/RLC layer; determining if the terminal identifier is associated with the legacy terminal or the new terminal; composing, based on the determining, a burst header; formatting, a burst including the burst header and the optional payload; and transmitting the burst. In the method, the burst header is set to one of the one or more valid burst headers when the burst is associated with the legacy terminal, and the burst header is set to one of the one or more undefined burst headers when the burst is associated with the new terminal.

Abstract: A smart network edge (SNE) selectively mutes data packets via an optimal data path using available networks, either terrestrial or non-terrestrial. The SNE includes: a processor; a memory storing programming for the processor, a steerable antenna; and a number of modems corresponding to gateways in the available networks. The SNE is programmed to determine one or more selected data paths for data packets of a session based on avoiding or mitigating inter-constellation interference.

Abstract: A satellite communication system that combines the benefits of Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems into an MEO-LEO satellite system. The MEO-LEO system includes an LEO constellation combined with a MEO constellation where the LEO constellation may provide global coverage with broad average capacity and may support ‘hot spot’ coverage where desired. The MEO constellation may provide unique advantages including backhaul to ground in remote areas, higher traffic density for key locations, and a secure global backhaul for key customers. Data may be routed over optical inter-satellite links using Software Defined Networking concepts to provide MEO-LEO (backhaul and ground access), LEO-LEO (upstream & downstream); and (3) MEO-MEO (crosslinks & downlinks). Further, implementations described herein include secure user terminal (UT) to UT IP routing in the constellation for direct UT to UT communication.

Abstract: An adaptive transmit power control process enables the uplink transmit power of a user terminal to be adjusted based on a scan angle of the antenna for the user terminal. The antenna periodically reports the scan angle to the user terminal, and a current maximum transmit power for the user terminal is determined based on the scan angle. The current maximum transmit power is then used as the basis for determining an allocation of resources to the user terminal. The transmit power control process enables resources to be assigned as needed across multiple carriers and enables a power spectral density of a user terminal to be adjusted based on nominal and offset transmit power parameters.