Abstract: A communication technique based on direct sequence spread spectrum signaling employs, for all users sharing an access channel, a single spreading code that has a duration sufficiently longer than the symbol length that the likelihood of confusion between users is minimized if not eliminated. The length of the spreading code is sufficiently long that contention events can occur only when two bursts occur at the receiver within one chip time of one another.

Abstract: A method for communicating includes utilizing a satellite comprising receivers, transmitters, transmit switches, and a gateway switch structure. Prior to a time T, each of at least P receivers are used to receive one of at least P signals from P gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least P signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least P signals are switched into fixed location beams. After time T and before a time T2, each of at least Q receivers are used to receive a different one of at least Q signals from Q gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least Q signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least Q signals are switched into fixed location beams. Q and P are non-zero positive integers and Q<P.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting more flexible coverage areas and spatial capacity assignments using satellite communications systems are disclosed. A hub-spoke, bent-pipe satellite communications system includes: terminals; gateways; a controller for specifying data for controlling satellite operations in accordance with a frame definition including timeslots for a frame and defining an allocation of capacity between forward and return traffic; and a satellite including: pathways; at least one LNA, an output of which is for coupling to a pathway and to amplify uplink beam signals in accordance with the allocation; and at least one HPA, an input of which is for coupling to the pathway and to amplify downlink beam signals in accordance with the allocation, and wherein the frame definition specifies at least one pathway as a forward pathway for at least one timeslot and as a return pathway for at least one other timeslot in the frame.

Abstract: One or more satellites may generate multiple beams. The beams may facilitate communication over multiple communication frequency bands including a relatively high capacity frequency band and a relatively fade-resilient frequency band. The beams may overlap. User terminals and/or gateways in a beam intersection may select from among the multiple communication frequency bands to communication with the satellite(s). Responsive to detection of rain fade, some of the user terminals and/or gateways may be instructed to use the relatively fade-resilient frequency band. The multiple communication frequency bands may be assigned to the user terminals and/or gateways so as to maximize total system capacity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calculating pre-distortion coefficients in a closed-loop communication system are presented. Transmission terminals that include high power amplifiers are difficult to operate at or near the saturation point without transmitting signals with nonlinear distortions. By pre-distorting the signal prior to amplification the transmitted nonlinear distortions may be decreased. A closed-looped pre-distortion system may include a receiver that calculates the pre-distortion coefficients and transmits these coefficients back to the transmitter. These coefficients may be stored in a pre-distortion coefficient lookup table and may be updated by the receiver terminal.

Abstract: A method for communicating includes providing a hub-spoke satellite comprising receivers, transmitters, transmit switches, and a gateway switch structure. Prior to a time T, each of at least P receivers are used to receive one of at least P signals from P gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least P signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least P signals are switched into fixed location beams. After time T, each of at least Q receivers are used to receive a different one of at least Q signals from Q gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least Q signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least Q signals are switched into fixed location beams. Q and P are non-zero positive integers and Q>P.

Abstract: A communication technique based on direct sequence spread spectrum signaling employs, for all users sharing an access channel, a single spreading code that has a duration sufficiently longer than the symbol length that the likelihood of confusion between users is minimized if not eliminated. The length of the spreading code is sufficiently long that contention events can occur only when two bursts occur at the receiver within one chip time of one another.

Abstract: A communication technique based on direct sequence spread spectrum signaling employs, for all users sharing an access channel, a single spreading code that has a duration sufficiently longer than the symbol length that the likelihood of confusion between users is minimized if not eliminated. The length of the spreading code is sufficiently long that contention events can occur only when two bursts occur at the receiver within one chip time of one another.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting more flexible coverage areas and spatial capacity assignments using satellite communications systems are disclosed. Antenna elements are arranged in one or more phased arrays. The phased arrays may be used to receive uplink communications, transmit downlink communications, or both receive uplink communications and transmit downlink communications. Beam forming networks (BFN's) associated with the one or more phased arrays may be dynamic, allowing for movement of the locations of the receive beams, the transmit beams, or both the receive beams and transmit beams. The beams may then “hop” from location to location according to a predefined or dynamic hopping pattern. In some embodiments, the hopping patterns may be time-varying and may be changed or updated on-the-fly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting more flexible coverage areas and spatial capacity assignments using satellite communications systems are disclosed. Antenna elements are arranged in one or more phased arrays. The phased arrays may be used to receive uplink communications, transmit downlink communications, or both receive uplink communications and transmit downlink communications. Beam forming networks (BFN's) associated with the one or more phased arrays may be dynamic, allowing for movement of the locations of the receive beams, the transmit beams, or both the receive beams and transmit beams. The beams may then “hop” from location to location according to a predefined or dynamic hopping pattern. In some embodiments, the hopping patterns may be time-varying and may be changed or updated on-the-fly.

Abstract: A system for managing data traffic in a multi-user multiple-simultaneous-access (MUMSA) environment, for example in a code reuse multiple access (CRMA) environment or other physical environment having true random access with more than one transmission present at the same time, the system including a channel load estimator for multiple users, a congestion threshold calculator using the estimate of channel load to calculate threshold on an ongoing basis, a tester at each terminal performing an experiment using that congestion threshold value and a random number generator to determine if a packet is eligible to be transmitted, a traffic controller for transferring downstream virtual channel traffic and a redistributing mechanism for redistributing user terminals to affiliate with the proper downstream virtual channel.

Abstract: A wireless satellite communication device is provided according to one embodiment of the invention. The wireless satellite communication device may include one or more satellite antennas, one or more local antennas and circuitry. A satellite antenna may be configured to communicate with one or more satellites. The local antenna may be configured to communicate with one or more wireless user devices within the vicinity of the wireless satellite communication device. The local antennas may include a local antenna. The circuitry may be coupled with the satellite antenna and the local antenna and may be configured to receive data from the satellite antenna and transmit the data with the local antenna. The wireless satellite communication device may also include a solar panel configured to provide electrical power to at least the satellite antenna, the local antenna, and the circuitry.

Abstract: One or more satellites may generate multiple beams. The beams may facilitate communication over multiple communication frequency bands including a relatively high capacity frequency band and a relatively fade-resilient frequency band. The beams may overlap. User terminals and/or gateways in a beam intersection may select from among the multiple communication frequency bands to communication with the satellite(s). Responsive to detection of rain fade, some of the user terminals and/or gateways may be instructed to use the relatively fade-resilient frequency band. The multiple communication frequency bands may be assigned to the user terminals and/or gateways so as to maximize total system capacity.

Abstract: A satellite communication system is provided according to one embodiment of the invention. The satellite communication system includes a plurality of satellites, a gateway and a plurality of subscriber terminals in communication with the gateway through the satellites. The gateway includes a plurality of antennas pointed toward a specific satellite. Each antenna may transmit the same signal to the satellites. The signal may be an OFDM signal. The subscriber terminals may include an antenna pointed toward at least one of the satellites and configured to receive OFDM signals. The OFDM signal time is proportional to the longest transmission time difference of all subscriber terminals within the geographic area serviced by the satellites. The transmission time difference is a measure of the difference between the transmission time of a signal over the longest transmission path and the transmission time of a signal over the shortest transmission path at a subscriber terminal.

Abstract: A satellite communication system is provided according to one embodiment of the invention. The satellite communication system includes a gateway with first and second antennas. The first antenna receives a signal from a first satellite that includes at least a first signal from a first user. The second antenna receives a second signal from a second satellite, that includes at least a second primary signal from a second user and a version of the first signal. The gateway may include circuitry to isolate the first signal from the second signal. The gateway may also include a combiner configured to combine the first signal from the first satellite and the first signal isolated from the second signal. Various other embodiments are disclosed that isolate a secondary signal received from a satellite and combine the secondary signal with the same signal received from other antennas at the gateway.

Abstract: Downstream satellite communication systems and methods are disclosed according to embodiments of the invention. According to embodiments of the invention, a composite signal may be received by a subscriber terminal that includes at least a first signal that is transmitted from a first user through a first satellite, a second signal that is transmitted from the first user through a second satellite, and a third signal that is transmitted from a second user through the second satellite. The first signal and the second signal are transmitted to the first and second satellites as the same signal from a gateway, transmitter or subscriber terminal. The third signal is isolated from the composite signal and the subtracted from the composite signal.

Abstract: Satellite communication systems and methods are disclosed. The communication system may include a gateway in communication with two satellites. The satellites are configured to receive polarized signals from a first plurality of users and orthogonally polarized signals from a second plurality of users. Each satellite may transmit the polarized signals and the orthogonally polarized signals to the gateway. The first satellite may also receive first feeder signals from the gateway and transmit the first feeder signals to the first plurality of users and the second satellite may also receive second feeder signals from the gateway and transmit the second feeder signals to the second plurality of users.

Abstract: System and method for communicating data in a multibeam satellite system having feeder beams associated with a plurality of gateways and a plurality of service beams associated with a plurality of user subscriber terminals utilizing frequency re-use by service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals, wherein the service beams are transmitted to and from the satellite by re-using at least one common frequency channel of the service beam, such that the beam allocation is asymmetric among available frequency channels. The result is a potential for reduction of transponder resources.

Abstract: A method for managing data traffic in a multi-user multiple-simultaneous-access (MUMSA) environment, for example in a code reuse multiple access (CRMA) environment or other physical environment having true random access with more than one transmission present at the same time, the method including estimating channel load for multiple users, then using the estimate of channel load to calculate a congestion threshold on an ongoing basis, at each terminal performing an experiment using that congestion threshold value and a random number generator to determine if a packet is eligible to be transmitted, transferring downstream virtual channel traffic and redistributing user terminals to affiliate with the proper downstream virtual channel.

Abstract: A system for managing data traffic in a multi-user multiple-simultaneous-access (MUMSA) environment, for example in a code reuse multiple access (CRMA) environment or other physical environment having true random access with more than one transmission present at the same time, the system including a channel load estimator for multiple users, a congestion threshold calculator using the estimate of channel load to calculate threshold on an ongoing basis, a tester at each terminal performing an experiment using that congestion threshold value and a random number generator to determine if a packet is eligible to be transmitted, a traffic controller for transferring downstream virtual channel traffic and a redistributing mechanism for redistributing user terminals to affiliate with the proper downstream virtual channel.