Abstract: Optical transmission systems and methods are provided herein. The system includes a modulator configured to impress an input radio frequency (RF) signal onto an input optical signal to generate a first modulated optical signal and a second modulated optical signal. The system also includes a signal adjustment controller configured to apply a delay to the first modulated optical signal or the second modulated optical signal, interleave the first modulated optical signal and the second modulated optical signal, and transmit the interleaved first and second modulated optical signals as one optical signal. The system also includes a single optical link coupled to the modulator and configured to carry the interleaved first and second modulated optical signals to a receiver.

Abstract: Optical transmission systems and methods are provided herein. The system includes a modulator configured to impress an input radio frequency (RF) signal onto an input optical signal to generate a first modulated optical signal and a second modulated optical signal. The system also includes a signal adjustment controller configured to apply a delay to the first modulated optical signal or the second modulated optical signal, interleave the first modulated optical signal and the second modulated optical signal, and transmit the interleaved first and second modulated optical signals as one optical signal. The system also includes a single optical link coupled to the modulator and configured to carry the interleaved first and second modulated optical signals to a receiver.

Abstract: A method of designing an interplanetary communications network with an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) at each node. Object functions are generated that relate network characteristics and performance. Each object function is driven to an extreme (min or max) to provide an optimum network configuration. The optimum network configuration includes the number of nodes and the number of antennas for each node, node placement, specific node storage capacity and communications capacity for nodes and for links between nodes.

Abstract: A method for mitigating interference using a phased array receiving antenna is provided. The method includes perturbing a first communications beam and a second communications beam received at the phased array receiving antenna to generate a first composite beam and a second composite beam, cross-correlating the first composite beam and the second composite beam, receiving communications data using the first composite beam and the second composite beam, and determining a direction of a received interference signal based on the cross-correlation of the first composite beam and the second composite beam.

Abstract: A method for mitigating interference using a phased array receiving antenna is provided. The method includes perturbing a first communications beam and a second communications beam received at the phased array receiving antenna to generate a first composite beam and a second composite beam, cross-correlating the first composite beam and the second composite beam, receiving communications data using the first composite beam and the second composite beam, and determining a direction of a received interference signal based on the cross-correlation of the first composite beam and the second composite beam.

Abstract: A method, apparatus for uplinking data is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of receive antennae, independently directable to a plurality of ground stations, each disposed in one of a plurality of cells; a time domain concentrator, communicatively coupled to the plurality of receive antennae, the time domain concentrator for selectably directing each of the plurality of receive antennae to one or more of the plurality of cells, and for concatenating each of the uplink transmissions in a time domain; and a frequency domain concentrator, communicatively coupled to the time domain concentrator, for concatenating the uplink transmissions in a frequency domain.

Abstract: A method of selecting a gateway node in a remote network and for handing over to the selected gateway node. Nodes in a remote energy aware network connect through a gateway node to a backbone network in an interplanetary communications network. Each node optimizes a stability function describing communications to neighboring nodes and to the backbone. Optimization is for maximum network stability and for efficient node energy consumption. Optimization identifies a handover time and nodes initiate handover sufficiently in advance of the identified handover time to complete at that time. Nodes continually monitor and update network characterization parameters to identify a next optimal handover time.

Abstract: A method of designing an interplanetary communications network with an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) at each node. Object functions are generated that relate network characteristics and performance. Each object function is driven to an extreme (min or max) to provide an optimum network configuration. The optimum network configuration includes the number of nodes and the number of antennas for each node, node placement, specific node storage capacity and communications capacity for nodes and for links between nodes.

Abstract: A method of selecting a gateway node in a remote network and for handing over to the selected gateway node. Nodes in a remote energy aware network connect through a gateway node to a backbone network in an interplanetary communications network. Each node optimizes a stability function describing communications to neighboring nodes and to the backbone. Optimization is for maximum network stability and for efficient node energy consumption. Optimization identifies a handover time and nodes initiate handover sufficiently in advance of the identified handover time to complete at that time. Nodes continually monitor and update network characterization parameters to identify a next optimal handover time.

Abstract: A switch network for switching network inputs to network outputs includes an initial terminal, an intermediate, and a final terminal layer of switches. The initial terminal layer of switches provides fan-out of the network inputs to widely separated locations in the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer of switches includes two sublayers: a first sublayer providing horizontally aligned fan-outs to the final terminal layer of switches and a second sublayer providing vertically aligned fan-outs to the final terminal layer of switches. The final terminal layer of switches includes a left sublayer and a right sublayer. The left sublayer provides fan-in from the vertically aligned fan-outs and the horizontally aligned fan-outs to the network outputs; the right sublayer provides fan-in from the vertically aligned fan-outs and the horizontally aligned fan-outs to the network outputs; and the fan-in provided by the left sublayer is orthogonal to the fan-in provided by the right sublayer.

Abstract: A telematic emergency communication system is provided. The system includes a user terminal that generates emergency communication signals within an emergency signal band. A spacecraft network has a first emergency mode receiver and attempts to receive the emergency signals via a spacecraft. A terrestrial network has a second emergency mode receiver and receives the emergency signals when the spacecraft network is unable to sufficiently detect the emergency signals and routes the emergency signals to a control center. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes multiple wireless communication platforms carrying reflectors for providing spot beams. By using multiple platforms, the payload can be split. Each platform carries only a part of the reflectors needed to provide coverage for a certain geographic area. That allows the reflectors to be of larger size providing smaller spot beams. The multiple platforms of the wireless communication system are designed to be interchangeable. Therefore, only one standby platform is necessary for backup. By further providing an closed-loop pointing control method it is possible to keep multiple platforms pointed accurately relative to each other and relative to the user coverage area.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes platforms that generate spot beams and wide-area beams. The system includes a network operations controller that receives signals from user terminals. User terminals determine the signal strengths of the spot beams and the wide-area beams and a ratio may therefore be calculated between the spot beam and the wide-area beams. Based upon the ratio of the spot beam strength and the wide-area beam strength, the network operations controller may adjust the orientation of the platforms relative to the earth to correct for pointing errors and, the network operation controller may compensate as is best possible depending on the type of antenna, a correction for distortion in the antenna.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting data to a plurality of users, each individual user disposed in one of a plurality of cells is disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of defining a first set of receivers from at least a portion of the plurality of receivers according to a first desired power level range, defining a first group of receivers from the first set of receivers according to a first spatial isolation constraint, defining a second set of receivers from a remaining plurality of receivers not a member of the first set of receivers according to a second desired power level range, defining a second groups of receivers from the second set according to a second spatial isolation constraint, and assigning a first transmission channel to the first group and a second transmission channel to the second group.

Abstract: A packet-based downlink level control subsystem is provided for a wireless communication system. The subsystem includes a mechanism for embedding into each packet a power level code. The subsystem further includes a packet transmitter mechanism responsive to the embedded power level code for adjusting the power of the transmitted signal in accordance with the embedded power level code. This enables the transmitted power levels to be tailored to fit the needs of different individual receiving stations.

Abstract: A mobile station communicates with both a cellular network, by which it is assigned a mobile identification number, and to a cordless cellular base station utilizing the same cellular frequency range and communications protocol. The cordless cellular base station is preferably connected to a public switched telephone network and is assigned a landline number. The cordless cellular base station acts as a conduit between the mobile station and the public switched telephone network. When the mobile station comes within range of a cordless cellular base station, it deregisters automatically from the cellular network and register with the cordless cellular base station. Once the mobile station is communicating with the cordless cellular base station, the cordless cellular base station communicates with the cellular network to instruct the cellular network to route all calls for mobile identification number to the cordless cellular base station's landline number.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes multiple wireless communication platforms carrying reflectors for providing spot beams. By using multiple platforms, the payload can be split. Each platform carries only a part of the reflectors needed to provide coverage for a certain geographic area. That allows the reflectors to be of larger size providing smaller spot beams. The multiple platforms of the wireless communication system are designed to be interchangeable. Therefore, only one standby platform is necessary for backup. By further providing an closed-loop pointing control method it is possible to keep multiple platforms pointed accurately relative to each other and relative to the user coverage area.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes platforms that generate spot beams and wide-area beams. The system includes a network operations controller that receives signals from user terminals. User terminals determine the signal strengths of the spot beams and the wide-area beams and a ratio may therefore be calculated between the spot beam and the wide-area beams. Based upon the ratio of the spot beam strength and the wide-area beam strength, the network operations controller may adjust the orientation of the platforms relative to the earth to correct for pointing errors and, the network operation controller may compensate as is best possible depending on the type of antenna, a correction for distortion in the antenna.

Abstract: A telematic emergency communication system is provided. The system includes a user terminal that generates emergency communication signals within an emergency signal band. A spacecraft network has a first emergency mode receiver and attempts to receive the emergency signals via a spacecraft. A terrestrial network has a second emergency mode receiver and receives the emergency signals when the spacecraft network is unable to sufficiently detect the emergency signals and routes the emergency signals to a control center. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: A mobile station communicates with both a cellular network, by which it is assigned a mobile identification number, and to a cordless cellular base station utilizing the same cellular frequency range and communications protocol. The cordless cellular base station is preferably connected to a public switched telephone network and is assigned a landline number. The cordless cellular base station acts as a conduit between the mobile station and the public switched telephone network. When the mobile station comes within range of a cordless cellular base station, it deregisters automatically from the cellular network and register with the cordless cellular base station. Once the mobile station is communicating with the cordless cellular base station, the cordless cellular base station communicates with the cellular network to instruct the cellular network to route all calls for mobile identification number to the cordless cellular base station's landline number.