Abstract: Various antenna systems are presented that have independently steerable receive and transmit beams. The antenna system may include multiple antenna element systems. Each antenna element system may include multiple phase shifters that alter the phase of received signals and signals to be transmitted. Directions of a first transmit beam, a second transmit beam, a first receive beam, and a second receive beam may be steered independently using the phase shifters. Each antenna element system may include a polarization system.

Abstract: Various antenna systems are presented that have independently steerable receive and transmit beams. The antenna system may include multiple antenna element systems. Each antenna element system may include multiple phase shifters that alter the phase of received signals and signals to be transmitted. Directions of a first transmit beam, a second transmit beam, a first receive beam, and a second receive beam may be steered independently using the phase shifters. Each antenna element system may include a polarization system.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of signal measurement circuits is included in a terminal. Each measurement circuit receives a signal from a transmitter in a satellite and measures characteristics of the signal. A computer is programmed to receive data from the signal measurement circuits. The data indicates characteristics of the signal, including a strength of the signal. The computer determines an initial estimated satellite pointing direction, and generates subsequent estimated satellite pointing directions. For the initial and subsequent estimated pointing directions, the strength of the signal received by each measurement circuit is compared with an expected strength of the signal based on the respective estimated pointing direction. Each subsequent estimate is based at least in part on the comparison of the immediately preceding estimate. Based on the comparisons, the computer estimates a current satellite pointing direction.

Abstract: Various antenna systems are presented that have independently steerable receive and transmit beams. The antenna system may include multiple antenna element systems. Each antenna element system may include multiple phase shifters that alter the phase of received signals and signals to be transmitted. Directions of a first transmit beam, a second transmit beam, a first receive beam, and a second receive beam may be steered independently using the phase shifters. Each antenna element system may include a polarization system.

Abstract: A processor includes a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include determining a capacity of a plurality of satellite beams based at least in part on a beam traffic density associated with each of the plurality of satellite beams and transmitting, to a communication satellite, a control signal that commands the communication satellite to transmit the plurality of satellite beams in accordance with the beam traffic density determined by the processor. The processor may be incorporated into a telecommunications system that includes a communication satellite programmed to transmit signals in accordance with a plurality of beams.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of signal measurement circuits is included in a terminal. Each measurement circuit receives a signal from a transmitter in a satellite and measures characteristics of the signal. A computer is programmed to receive data from the signal measurement circuits. The data indicates characteristics of the signal, including a strength of the signal. The computer determines an initial estimated satellite pointing direction, and generates subsequent estimated satellite pointing directions. For the initial and subsequent estimated pointing directions, the strength of the signal received by each measurement circuit is compared with an expected strength of the signal based on the respective estimated pointing direction. Each subsequent estimate is based at least in part on the comparison of the immediately preceding estimate. Based on the comparisons, the computer estimates a current satellite pointing direction.

Abstract: A processor includes a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include determining a capacity of a plurality of satellite beams based at least in part on a beam traffic density associated with each of the plurality of satellite beams and transmitting, to a communication satellite, a control signal that commands the communication satellite to transmit the plurality of satellite beams in accordance with the beam traffic density determined by the processor. The processor may be incorporated into a telecommunications system that includes a communication satellite programmed to transmit signals in accordance with a plurality of beams.

Abstract: A receiver is used with third code blocks based on first code blocks, second code blocks, and a planning code block. The first code blocks are associated with a first sequence number and modulated with a first modulation scheme. The second code blocks are associated with a second sequence number and modulated with a second modulation scheme. The planning code block associates the third code blocks with the first code blocks and the second code blocks. The receiver includes a de-multiplexing portion, which includes a code block selector and a look up table, that outputs a de-multiplexed signal based on the third code blocks. The code block selector selects a code block from the third code blocks to output as the de-multiplexed signal based on entries in the look up table. The receiver also includes a recovery portion that outputs received code blocks based on the de-multiplexed signal.

Abstract: A receiver is used with third code blocks based on first code blocks, second code blocks, and a planning code block. The first code blocks are associated with a first sequence number and modulated with a first modulation scheme. The second code blocks are associated with a second sequence number and modulated with a second modulation scheme. The planning code block associates the third code blocks with the first code blocks and the second code blocks. The receiver includes a de-multiplexing portion, which includes a code block selector and a look up table, that outputs a de-multiplexed signal based on the third code blocks. The code block selector selects a code block from the third code blocks to output as the de-multiplexed signal based on entries in the look up table. The receiver also includes a recovery portion that outputs received code blocks based on the de-multiplexed signal.

Abstract: A receiver is used with third code blocks based on first code blocks, second code blocks, and a planning code block. The first code blocks are associated with a first sequence number and modulated with a first modulation scheme. The second code blocks are associated with a second sequence number and modulated with a second modulation scheme. The planning code block associates the third code blocks with the first code blocks and the second code blocks. The receiver includes a de-multiplexing portion, which includes a code block selector and a look up table, that outputs a de-multiplexed signal based on the third code blocks. The code block selector selects a code block from the third code blocks to output as the de-multiplexed signal based on entries in the look up table. The receiver also includes a recovery portion that outputs received code blocks based on the de-multiplexed signal.

Abstract: A receiver is used with third code blocks based on first code blocks, second code blocks, and a planning code block. The first code blocks are associated with a first sequence number and modulated with a first modulation scheme. The second code blocks are associated with a second sequence number and modulated with a second modulation scheme. The planning code block associates the third code blocks with the first code blocks and the second code blocks. The receiver includes a de-multiplexing portion, which includes a code block selector and a look up table, that outputs a de-multiplexed signal based on the third code blocks. The code block selector selects a code block from the third code blocks to output as the de-multiplexed signal based on entries in the look up table. The receiver also includes a recovery portion that outputs received code blocks based on the de-multiplexed signal.

Abstract: A transmitter is provided for use with a first input signal and a second input signal. The transmitter includes a first modulating portion, a second modulating portion and a multiplexing portion. The first modulating portion can output a first plurality of code blocks based on the first input signal, wherein each of the first plurality of code blocks has a first sequence number associated therewith and is modulated with a first modulation scheme. The second modulating portion can output a second plurality of code blocks based on the second input signal, wherein each of the second plurality of code blocks has a second sequence number associated therewith and is modulated with a second modulation scheme, and wherein the second modulation scheme is different than the first modulation scheme. The multiplexing portion can a third plurality of code blocks based on the first plurality of code blocks, the second plurality of code blocks and planning code block.

Abstract: An approach for is provided for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions is disclosed. A source terminal generates a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload. The header is modulated using a default modulation scheme and is coded using a default coding scheme. A switch is configured to receive and to forward the packet data burst. A destination terminal is configured to demodulate the header using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, and to examine the header to determine a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the payload. The protocol can be applied to any radio communication system, particularly, to a satellite communication system with multiple satellite terminals.

Abstract: An approach for minimizing variation in transmit power of synchronized signals that are destined to a satellite is disclosed. A gateway station system for communicating with a communication satellite includes a multiple signal sources which generate the synchronized signals. The gateway station system utilizes a control logic that is coupled to the signal sources. The control logic operates to offset selectively transmission times of a portion of the synchronized signals according to a predetermined distribution and an offset period. The predetermined distribution specifies about half the number of the synchronized signals are to be offset. The offset period is half a symbol period. The terminals within the satellite communication system has a receiver that receives the synchronized signal from the communication satellite.

Abstract: A system and a methodology to improve the end-user quality of service both in terms of response time and reliability for the transport of in-call DTMF signals in wireless systems, particularly in geostationary mobile satellite systems. The methodology encompasses several techniques to provide acceptable end-to-end quality of service for DTMF. A technique is applicable for transport of DTMF in the wireless subscriber to network direction, where DTMF digits are carried in the form of an out-band message. The central part of the technique is to allow multiple key presses in the same message, thereby increasing efficiency and throughput in long-delay environment. Another technique utilizes the vocoder's functionality to carry DTMF in-band, thereby reducing system complexity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method, for use in a satellite-based communications network, for positioning offset zones in a spot beam coverage area to maximize call duration. The apparatus and method employs a spot beam segregator and an offset zone arranger. The spot beam segregator segregates a coverage area of a spot beam generated by a satellite in the network into at least one offset zone based on respective propagation time periods required for signals to travel between the satellite and respective different locations in the coverage area. The offset zone arranger arranges each offset zone such that each respective center of each one offset zone overlaps a respective geographical location in the coverage area, with each respective geographic location having a respective access terminal density greater than any other geographical region within its respective offset zone.

Abstract: A system and method employing an access terminal for maintaining discontinuous communications including a gateway receiver for receiving the discontinuous information, a radio frequency (RF) communication link via geosynchronous earth orbit satellite for conveying multiple communication channels using time division multiple access (TDMA), the access terminal initiating information communication with the receiver via at least one of the multiple communication channels. The access terminal further includes a memory for storing protocol processing information and a transmitter for establishing the radio frequency communication link to the receiver of the terrestrial gateway system. The access terminal memory provides for destroying of a signal pattern or protocol assigned to the access terminal by the gateway receiver or transmission of keep-alive bursts by the transmitter during periods of inactivity to maintain information communication with the receiver.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing single hop space segment terminal to terminal connections. The system includes a satellite-based radio frequency (RF) communication link for conveying multiple communication channels over the space segment via one or more spot beams. A terrestrial supervisory transceiver such as a gateway station is provided in communication with the satellite-based communication link. Mobile hand-held terminals (HHTs), herein first and second access terminals, may be located within one or more of the spot beams to communicate with one another via a single hop connection through a satellite of the system. A switch is provided for communication switching with the satellite of the system for the multiple communication channels to couple the first access terminal and the second access terminal over the space segment via one or more of the spot beams.