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: A system and method for beamforming beams including: matching weights T to a distribution of resources for each of the beams based on a traffic variation for each of the beams; calculating, with a signal processor for each of the beams based on the weights T, a power scalar ? and a weighted minimum mean squared error (WMMSE) matrix WWMSE; and transmitting/receiving the beams based on the power scalar ? and the WMMSE matrix WWMSE, where the power scalar ? satisfies a total power constraint of an antenna subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling a variable stayout distance when beam hopping, the method including providing an illumination area of a satellite and candidate beam centers disposed in the illumination area; measuring a respective scan angle from an antenna boresight to a respective beam center of the candidate beam centers; and determining a reuse factor k for each of the candidate beam centers, based on a proportion of the respective scan angle to a maximum scan angle. Each candidate beam center may be processed sequentially. Prior to adding each candidate beam center to a current beam center set, checking whether a candidate beam center meets the stayout distance criteria from all beam centers already in the beam center set.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling a variable stayout distance when beam hopping, the method including providing an illumination area of a satellite and candidate beam centers disposed in the illumination area; measuring a respective scan angle from an antenna boresight to a respective beam center of the candidate beam centers; and determining a reuse factor k for each of the candidate beam centers, based on a proportion of the respective scan angle to a maximum scan angle. Each candidate beam center may be processed sequentially. Prior to adding each candidate beam center to a current beam center set, checking whether a candidate beam center meets the stayout distance criteria from all beam centers already in the beam center set.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling a variable stayout distance when beam hopping, the method including providing an illumination area of a satellite and candidate beam centers disposed in the illumination area; measuring a respective scan angle from an antenna boresight to a respective beam center of the candidate beam centers; and determining a reuse factor k for each of the candidate beam centers, based on a proportion of the respective scan angle to a maximum scan angle. Each candidate beam center may be processed sequentially. Prior to adding each candidate beam center to a current beam center set, checking whether a candidate beam center meets the stayout distance criteria from all beam centers already in the beam center set.

Abstract: A system and method for beamforming beams including: matching weights T to a distribution of resources for each of the beams based on a traffic variation for each of the beams; calculating, with a signal processor for each of the beams based on the weights T, a power scalar ? and a weighted minimum mean squared error (WMMSE) matrix WWMSE; and transmitting/receiving the beams based on the power scalar ? and the WMMSE matrix WWMSE, where the power scalar ? satisfies a total power constraint of an antenna subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for beamforming beams including: matching weights T to a distribution of resources for each of the beams based on a traffic variation for each of the beams; calculating, with a signal processor for each of the beams based on the weights T, a power scalar ? and a weighted minimum mean squared error (WMMSE) matrix WWMSE; and transmitting/receiving the beams based on the power scalar ? and the WMMSE matrix WWMSE, where the power scalar ? satisfies a total power constraint of an antenna subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for beamforming beams including: matching weights T to a distribution of resources for each of the beams based on a traffic variation for each of the beams; calculating, with a signal processor for each of the beams based on the weights T, a power scalar ? and a weighted minimum mean squared error (WMMSE) matrix WWMSE; and transmitting/receiving the beams based on the power scalar ? and the WMMSE matrix WWMSE, where the power scalar/3 satisfies a total power constraint of an antenna subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling a variable stayout distance when beam hopping, the method including providing an illumination area of a satellite and candidate beam centers disposed in the illumination area; measuring a respective scan angle from an antenna boresight to a respective beam center of the candidate beam centers; and determining a reuse factor k for each of the candidate beam centers, based on a proportion of the respective scan angle to a maximum scan angle. Each candidate beam center may be processed sequentially. Prior to adding each candidate beam center to a current beam center set, checking whether a candidate beam center meets the stayout distance criteria from all beam centers already in the beam center set.

Abstract: A system and method for timing synchronization of satellite switching instants with gateway switching instants is described.

Abstract: A system and method for timing synchronization with a modified DVB-S2X waveform for a forward beam hopping satellite is described. The method includes: transmitting a channel including a plurality of beams per a Beam Hopping Time Plan (BHTP), wherein each beam includes a discontinuous signal including a superframe including timing markers and a Beam Hopping Forward Synchronization Pattern (BHFSP); receiving a synchronization information, without a loopback beam, for one of the plurality of beams; determining an adjustment period and an adjusted symbol rate for generation of terrestrial switching instants, based on the synchronization information, for a transmission of the plurality of beams such that at least a portion of a respective BHFSP of one of the beams aligns with one of satellite switching instants; and adjusting a timing and symbol rate of the transmission according to the adjustment period and the adjusted symbol rate, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method for timing synchronization with a modified DVB-S2X waveform for a forward beam hopping satellite is described. The method includes: transmitting a channel including a plurality of beams per a Beam Hopping Time Plan (BHTP), wherein each beam includes a discontinuous signal including a superframe including timing markers and a Beam Hopping Forward Synchronization Pattern (BHFSP); receiving a synchronization information, without a loopback beam, for one of the plurality of beams; determining an adjustment period and an adjusted symbol rate for generation of terrestrial switching instants, based on the synchronization information, for a transmission of the plurality of beams such that at least a portion of a respective BHFSP of one of the beams aligns with one of satellite switching instants; and adjusting a timing and symbol rate of the transmission according to the adjustment period and the adjusted symbol rate, respectively.

Abstract: An RF communications transmitter system comprising a processor, a switch and a plurality of feedhorns. The switch is configured to receive a feed signal of a frequency bandwidth. The processor is configured to control the switch to provide the feed signal to each of at least two of the feedhorns for a respective time period. Each of the at least two feedhorns is configured to generate a beam during the respective time period that the feed signal is provided thereto, wherein the beam is formed based on the feed signal and is transmitted to cover a geographic area of the Earth. The formation and transmission of the beams by the feedhorns is controlled by the processor to provide a time-based allocation of bandwidth amongst the beams based on the time period that the feed signal is provided to each of the feedhorns and a respective frequency/polarization reuse scheme.

Abstract: A method for determining routes for a data circuit between source and destination terminals, where the circuit is formed via satellites traveling in respective non-geostationary orbits, and a total time during which the circuit is active is divided into time intervals. The determination of each route comprises, for each time interval, (i) selecting an uplink satellite to service the source terminal as an ingress node for the circuit, and (ii) determining a series of inter-satellite links connecting the uplink satellite to a downlink satellite servicing the destination terminal during the respective time interval, wherein the series of links is determined to be valid during the respective time interval. Each of the plurality of time intervals is of a duration based on a validity time, based on the satellites traveling in their respective orbits, for the inter-satellite link of all of the routes that is of the shortest duration.

Abstract: A system and method for timing synchronization of satellite switching instants with gateway switching instants is described.

Abstract: An RF communications transmitter system comprising a processor, a switch and a plurality of feedhorns. The switch is configured to receive a feed signal of a frequency bandwidth. The processor is configured to control the switch to provide the feed signal to each of at least two of the feedhorns for a respective time period. Each of the at least two feedhorns is configured to generate a beam during the respective time period that the feed signal is provided thereto, wherein the beam is formed based on the feed signal and is transmitted to cover a geographic area of the Earth. The formation and transmission of the beams by the feedhorns is controlled by the processor to provide a time-based allocation of bandwidth amongst the beams based on the time period that the feed signal is provided to each of the feedhorns and a respective frequency/polarization reuse scheme.

Abstract: A triple use satellite system includes a VSAT population including a VSAT, and a satellite including a broadcast beam for a broadcast service and spot beams for a broadband service, where each of the spot beams provides broadband service to VSATs in separate coverage areas in a geographic region and the broadcast beam provides a broadcast service to the VSAT population in the geographic region.

Abstract: A high capacity satellite communications system including a satellite with a beam for a forward downlink focused on a geographic area for which disproportionately higher capacity is desired, a hub located in a geographic area for which disproportionately lower capacity is desired, compared to the location of a VSAT, and the VSAT located in area where a beam for a forward downlink received by the VSAT from the satellite does not overlap with a beam for a return downlink received by the hub from a satellite.

Abstract: A system and method for timing synchronization of satellite switching instants with gateway switching instants is described.

Abstract: A telecommunications platform comprises an antenna configured to generate a plurality of communications beams within a respective footprint on the surface of the Earth, wherein each communications beam provides data communications services over a respective cell coverage area on the surface of the Earth. The telecommunications platform further comprises a processor configured to control the plurality of communications beams of the antenna to form the respective cell coverage areas in a fixed cell pattern that remains essentially fixed relative to the surface of the Earth, such that, as the telecommunications platform travels through an orbit around the Earth, the footprint of the antenna sweeps across the fixed cell pattern and provides the communications services via the cell coverage areas of the fixed cell pattern that are within the footprint of the antenna at any given point in time.