Abstract: A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.

Abstract: Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described for the transmission and reception of broadband signals between a gateway and subscriber terminals via satellite. In one set of embodiments, a wireless signal is generated and transmitted including a series of frames including a physical layer header and payload. A sub-channel identifier may be included in the physical layer header to identify the sub-channel for the payload, and allow for various novel filtering techniques at the subscriber terminal. The frames may be generated to be of substantially equal duration. Novel subscriber terminal configurations are described to leverage this formatting.

Abstract: A method is presented for communicating data in a multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel, and a plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink service beam and at least one downlink service beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink service beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel, and the at least one downlink service beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel.

Abstract: Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described for the transmission and reception of broadband signals between a gateway and subscriber terminals via satellite. In one set of embodiments, a wireless signal is generated and transmitted including a series of frames including a physical layer header and payload. A sub-channel identifier may be included in the physical layer header to identify the sub-channel for the payload, and allow for various novel filtering techniques at the subscriber terminal. The frames may be generated to be of substantially equal duration. Novel subscriber terminal configurations are described to leverage this formatting.

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, devices, processors, and methods are described for the transmission and reception of broadband signals between a gateway and subscriber terminals via satellite. In one set of embodiments, a wireless signal is generated and transmitted including a series of frames including a physical layer header and payload. A sub-channel identifier may be included in the physical layer header to identify the sub-channel for the payload, and allow for various novel filtering techniques at the subscriber terminal. The frames may be generated to be of substantially equal duration. Novel subscriber terminal configurations are described to leverage this formatting.

Abstract: A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.

Abstract: A satellite system for broadband communication utilizing load balancing of satellite modems between physical forward sub-channels. The bandwidth requirements of the various satellite modems allocated to a domain are analyzed. Satellite modems, which can be moved between various physical forward sub-channels, are moved among physical forward sub-channels of a plurality of domains to balance loading between domains and/or physical forward sub-channels within domains. Buffering and latency are monitored in the subscriber modem termination system (SMTS) to allow dividing physical forward channel delay either uniformly or according to tiers of quality of service.

Abstract: A satellite system for broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations is described. The system includes a satellite and a plurality of service spot beams from the satellite. A plurality of forward channels are transported on carriers in the service spot beams. A plurality of sub-channels pass on the plurality of forward channels. The system further includes a plurality of independently managed domains, wherein the plurality of sub-channels are divided among the plurality of domains. The system may further include a plurality of satellite modems addressed by a plurality of service identifiers. Each of the plurality of service identifiers may be exclusively addressable within one of the plurality of domains.

Abstract: Use of multi-user detection (MUD) with a frequency-multiplexed satellite return link (scheduling algorithms, etc) is described. The satellite return link may utilize multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA). The satellite return link may include a plurality of return sub-channels, wherein one or more of the return sub-channels may operate in a contention mode during some time periods and a non-contention mode at different time periods.

Abstract: A satellite modem for broadband communication. The satellite modem receives a satellite signal on a single carrier from a satellite. The satellite signal is divided by time division multiplexing into physical sub-channels encapsulating logical downstreams. The satellite modem includes a filter which removes a subset of the physical sub-channels intended for the subscriber terminal. The satellite modem includes a demodulator, a decoder, and a medium access channel. The MAC processes the logical downstreams.

Abstract: A scalable subscriber terminal for bi-directional communication with a gateway through one or more satellites is provided according to another embodiment of the invention. The scalable subscriber terminal may comprise a plurality of antennas and be configured to operate in at least a first communication mode prior to switching to a second communication mode. The first communication mode may comprise communicating with the gateway through a first satellite. The second communication mode may include communicating with the gateway through the first satellite and a second transceiver. The scalable subscriber terminal may download MIMO operational firmware from the gateway through the first satellite prior to switching to the second communication mode. The first communication mode may be a SISO or SIMO mode. The second communication mode may be a MISO or MIMO mode. The second transceiver may be a second satellite or a terrestrial repeater.

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: A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.

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: A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.

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.