Abstract: Systems and methods for processing bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) signals from a BICM transmitter to generate information bit estimates of information in the BICM signals, including a decoder to generate the information bit estimates of the information in the received BICM signals and a symbol a posteriori probability (APP) generator to generate first symbol a posteriori probabilities (APPs) by processing the BICM signals based on Euclidean distances derived from the BICM signals, and further based on symbol probability log-likelihood ratios (SPLLRs) provided to the symbol APP generator by an extrinsic-information-based symbol probability log-likelihood ratio (SPLLR) generator. The SPLLR generator generates the SPLLRs directly from extrinsic information based on updated symbol APPs output from the decoder, without converting the extrinsic information into log-likelihoods (LLs), and the decoder generates the information bit estimates based on the first symbol APPs output from the symbol APP generator.

Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing free space optical (FSO) ground-to-satellite communications. In general, an optical ground station communicates optically with a satellite via a ground-to-satellite FSO communication link. Embodiments described herein deploy at least two FSO relays at one or more aerial platform altitudes to effectively segment the ground-to-satellite FSO communication link into three or more FSO sub-links. Each FSO sub-link has better optical link performance (e.g., lower outage probability) than a single direct link. The FSO relays can include tropospheric FSO relays on low-altitude platforms and/or stratospheric FSO relays on high-altitude platforms, and architectures can use the FSO relays in a serial and/or parallel manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating and implementing pulse-shaping filters for efficient utilization of limited spectral resources in wireless communication systems. Wireless communication systems operating at high spectral efficiency conventionally use pulse shaping filters that rely on Nyquist waveforms for good main lobe performance with low inter-symbol interference (ISI) power. Conventional uses of non-Nyquist waveforms typically involve an orthogonalization process to convert those non-Nyquist waveforms to Nyquist waveforms for ISI free performance. Embodiments of pulse shaping filters described herein generate a non-Nyquist partial response (NNPR) transmit filter and/or matched receive filter based on applying a tunable second-weighted orthogonalization to a tunable first-weighted non-Nyquist waveform to obtain a pulse-shaping waveform with parametric control over throughput and power penalty.

Abstract: Various arrangements for performing transmodulation of a forward feeder link are presented. A first data stream and a second data stream can be modulated into a higher-order modulation forward feeder link having a higher-order digital modulation scheme. A satellite can receive the higher-order modulation forward feeder link. The satellite can demodulate the higher-order modulator forward feeder link into a bit stream. This bit stream may then be remodulated and retransmitted as multiple forward user links.

Abstract: Various arrangements for performing transmodulation of a forward feeder link are presented. A first data stream and a second data stream can be modulated into a higher-order modulation forward feeder link having a higher-order digital modulation scheme. A satellite can receive the higher-order modulation forward feeder link. The satellite can demodulate the higher-order modulator forward feeder link into a bit stream. This bit stream may then be remodulated and retransmitted as multiple forward user links.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for transmodulation in multi-beam satellite communication systems. In some implementations, a gateway receives bitstreams for transmission on different forward links from a satellite to terminals. The gateway is configured to modulate data for transmission on a feeder link for transmissions from the gateway to a satellite, including using a same symbol constellation to modulate data to provide different numbers of bits per symbol. The gateway can be configured to select symbols for transmission from among different subsets of the symbols in the symbol constellation to achieve different numbers of bits per symbol. The gateway can also be configured to select symbols for transmission from among one of the subsets determined based at least in part on a measure of signal strength for the feeder link.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for improving adaptive satellite communication. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, by a receiver and from a transmitter, code blocks transmitted according to a first set of parameters that comprises one or more of a first modulation used to transmit the code blocks or a first coding used to encode the code blocks for transmission. A number of corrupted code blocks and a number of parity blocks in a series of the code blocks received are determined. The number of corrupted code blocks are compared with the number of parity blocks. A second set of parameters are determined based on the comparison of the number of corrupted code blocks with the number of parity blocks. The second set of parameters are communicated to the transmitter for subsequent transmissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enabling reliable signaling in the presence of strong phase noise and frequency offset. To this end, a method is provided comprising receiving, at a receiver, a communication signal, including data, from a transmitter via a communication channel, and jointly tracking and jointly correcting phase noise errors and frequency errors in the communication signal with a joint detector using an iterative feedback correction process between an output decoder of the receiver and the joint detector.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for improving adaptive satellite communication. In some implementations, a method includes receiving, by a receiver and from a transmitter, code blocks transmitted according to a first set of parameters that comprises one or more of a first modulation used to transmit the code blocks or a first coding used to encode the code blocks for transmission. A number of corrupted code blocks and a number of parity blocks in a series of the code blocks received are determined. The number of corrupted code blocks are compared with the number of parity blocks. A second set of parameters are determined based on the comparison of the number of corrupted code blocks with the number of parity blocks. The second set of parameters are communicated to the transmitter for subsequent transmissions.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enabling reliable signaling in the presence of strong phase noise and frequency offset. To this end, a method is provided comprising receiving, at a receiver, a communication signal, including data, from a transmitter via a communication channel, and jointly tracking and jointly correcting phase noise errors and frequency errors in the communication signal with a joint detector using an iterative feedback correction process between an output decoder of the receiver and the joint detector.

Abstract: Various arrangements for performing transmodulation of a forward feeder link are presented. A first data stream and a second data stream can be modulated into a higher-order modulation forward feeder link having a higher-order digital modulation scheme. A satellite can receive the higher-order modulation forward feeder link. The satellite can demodulate the higher-order modulator forward feeder link into a bit stream. This bit stream may then be remodulated and retransmitted as multiple forward user links.

Abstract: Various arrangements for performing transmodulation of a forward feeder link are presented. A first data stream and a second data stream can be modulated into a higher-order modulation forward feeder link having a higher-order digital modulation scheme. A satellite can receive the higher-order modulation forward feeder link. The satellite can demodulate the higher-order modulator forward feeder link into a bit stream. This bit stream may then be remodulated and retransmitted as multiple forward user links.

Abstract: Various arrangements for performing transmodulation of a forward feeder link are presented. A first data stream and a second data stream can be modulated into a higher-order modulation forward feeder link having a higher-order digital modulation scheme. A satellite can receive the higher-order modulation forward feeder link. The satellite can demodulate the higher-order modulator forward feeder link into a bit stream. This bit stream may then be remodulated and retransmitted as multiple forward user links.

Abstract: A communications apparatus to receive a composite signal including a desired signal and interferer signals, where the desired signal may include desired symbols and the interferer signals may include interferer symbols. The system may include N frameworks, each framework may include a detector to partition the desired symbols and the interferer symbols based on an interference severity into a dominant group and a non-dominant group, and to generate A Posteriori Probabilities (APP) of the desired symbols and the interferer symbols. The detector of each of the N frameworks generates the APP based on a feedback of a priori probabilities from each of the N frameworks.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to satellite transmitters and receivers for applying OFDM-like signaling in broadband satellite transmissions. In such systems, one or more data signals may be shaped and composited into a composite data signal at an OFDM-like transmitter for transmission over a satellite channel. The data signals that are carried over the satellite channel by the composited signal may have their own carrier, and each signal may carry multiple OFDM subcarriers. Further implementations are directed to correcting for distortion in satellite communications systems that utilize OFDM-like signaling.

Abstract: A communications apparatus to receive a composite signal including a desired signal and interferer signals, where the desired signal may include desired symbols and the interferer signals may include interferer symbols. The system may include N frameworks, each framework may include a detector to partition the desired symbols and the interferer symbols based on an interference severity into a dominant group and a non-dominant group, and to generate A Posteriori Probabilities (APP) of the desired symbols and the interferer symbols. The detector of each of the N frameworks generates the APP based on a feedback of a priori probabilities from each of the N frameworks.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to satellite transmitters and receivers for applying OFDM-like signaling in broadband satellite transmissions. In such systems, one or more data signals may be shaped and composited into a composite data signal at an OFDM-like transmitter for transmission over a satellite channel. The data signals that are carried over the satellite channel by the composited signal may have their own carrier, and each signal may carry multiple OFDM subcarriers. Further implementations are directed to correcting for distortion in satellite communications systems that utilize OFDM-like signaling.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to satellite transmitters and receivers for applying OFDM-like signaling in broadband satellite transmissions. In such systems, one or more data signals may be shaped and composited into a composite data signal at an OFDM-like transmitter for transmission over a satellite channel. The data signals that are carried over the satellite channel by the composited signal may have their own carrier, and each signal may carry multiple OFDM subcarriers. Further implementations are directed to correcting for distortion in satellite communications systems that utilize OFDM-like signaling.

Abstract: A receiver, transmitter and system are programmed to communicate based on a signal including a plurality of signal components associated respectively with a plurality of subcarriers over a communications channel. The receiver is programmed to determine, from the plurality of subcarriers, a subcarrier subject to interference and erase the signal component associated with the subcarrier subject to interference. The receiver is further programmed to reconstruct the signal based on the plurality of first signal components excluding the erased first signal component.

Abstract: An approach for optimizing power utilization of a satellite transponder, and thereby optimizing achievable modulation/coding schemes and data rates for terminals across the transponder beam, is provided. A signal power level is allocated to each of a plurality of carriers. The plurality of carriers are to be transmitted within a downlink beam via a transponder, each of the carriers is associated with a region of the beam, and the total power allocated to the carriers does not exceed a desired aggregate power level for the transponder. The signal power allocated to each carrier is determined relative to a gain realizable by satellite terminals within the respective beam region and assigned to receive the respective carrier, and the realizable gain of the terminals is based on locations within the beam. The signal power level allocated to each carrier is different from the power allocated to the other carriers.