Abstract: A system and method for Time Division Multiplexing a signal for a beam hopping relay including generating the signal by interleaving first multi-variable length SuperFrames (VLSFs) with second multi-VLSFs; and transmitting the signal to the beam hopping relay. In the method, the first multi-VLSFs includes at least one first VLSF, the second multi-VLSFs includes at least one second VLSF, each of the first multi-VLSFs has a duration of a first dwell period, each of the second multi-VLSFs has a duration of a second dwell period, each of the at least one first VLSF and each of the at least one second VLSFs includes at least one SuperFrame unit (SFU). Further, the first dwell period is an integral multiple of the first duration, the second dwell period is an integral multiple of the second duration, and the first duration is different than the second duration.

Abstract: A system and method for Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) a signal for a beam hopping relay including generating the signal by interleaving a first multi-variable length SuperFrames (VLSFs) with a second multi-VLSFs; and transmitting the signal to the beam hopping relay. In the method, the first multi-VLSFs includes at least one first VLSF, the second multi-VLSFs includes at least one second VLSF, each of the first multi-VLSFs has a duration of a first dwell period, each of the second multi-VLSFs has a duration of a second dwell period, each of the at least one first VLSF and each of the at least one second VLSFs includes at least one SuperFrame unit (SFU).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting the transmission power of satellite transceivers based on estimated interference. In some implementations, a satellite transceiver receives a data structure that specifies an interference compensation value for at least one frequency channel on which the satellite transceiver can transmit. The interference compensation value for the frequency channel is based on estimated interference imposed on satellite transmissions transmitted by the transceiver on the frequency channel. The transceiver receives data specifying a second transmit frequency channel to use for a second satellite transmission. A first interference compensation value for a first frequency channel and a second interference compensation value for the second frequency channel are identified from the data structure.

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

Abstract: A satellite communication system includes a communication terminal, and a ground station. The ground station is configured to communicate with the communication terminal through a satellite communication path between the ground station and the communication terminal via a satellite. The ground station includes a diversity switch, and an electronic controller. The diversity switch is configured to switch the satellite communication path from a first satellite communication path to a second satellite communication path different from the first satellite communication path. The electronic controller is configured to determine whether a predetermined switching condition is satisfied based on signal attenuations of the first and second satellite communication paths. The electronic controller is further configured to control the diversity switch to switch the satellite communication path upon elapsing a first predetermined time period after determining that the predetermined switching condition is satisfied.

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: A satellite communication system includes a communication terminal, and a ground station. The ground station is configured to communicate with the communication terminal through a satellite communication path between the ground station and the communication terminal via a satellite. The ground station includes a diversity switch, and an electronic controller. The diversity switch is configured to switch the satellite communication path from a first satellite communication path to a second satellite communication path different from the first satellite communication path. The electronic controller is configured to determine whether a predetermined switching condition is satisfied based on signal attenuations of the first and second satellite communication paths. The electronic controller is further configured to control the diversity switch to switch the satellite communication path upon elapsing a first predetermined time period after determining that the predetermined switching condition is satisfied.

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

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting the transmission power of satellite transceivers based on estimated interference. In some implementations, a satellite transceiver receives a data structure that specifies an interference compensation value for at least one frequency channel on which the satellite transceiver can transmit. The interference compensation value for the frequency channel is based on estimated interference imposed on satellite transmissions transmitted by the transceiver on the frequency channel. The transceiver receives data specifying a second transmit frequency channel to use for a second satellite transmission. A first interference compensation value for a first frequency channel and a second interference compensation value for the second frequency channel are identified from the data structure.

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 of satellite switching instants with gateway switching instants is described.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting the transmission power of satellite transceivers based on estimated interference. In some implementations, a satellite transceiver receives a data structure that specifies an interference compensation value for at least one frequency channel on which the satellite transceiver can transmit. The interference compensation value for the frequency channel is based on estimated interference imposed on satellite transmissions transmitted by the transceiver on the frequency channel. The transceiver receives data specifying a second transmit frequency channel to use for a second satellite transmission. A first interference compensation value for a first frequency channel and a second interference compensation value for the second frequency channel are identified from the data structure.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of ranging terminals programmed to communicate with a plurality of satellites over a plurality of frequencies. A processor, having a memory, is programmed to receive ranging data from each of the plurality of ranging terminals, determine a plurality of power levels for each of the plurality of terminals, and transmit the plurality of power levels to each of the plurality of ranging terminals. Each power level is associated with one of the plurality of frequencies. The plurality of ranging terminals is programmed to transmit signals to the plurality of satellites over the plurality of frequencies in accordance with the power levels determined by the processor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting the transmission power of satellite transceivers based on estimated interference. In some implementations, a satellite transceiver receives a data structure that specifies an interference compensation value for at least one frequency channel on which the satellite transceiver can transmit. The interference compensation value for the frequency channel is based on estimated interference imposed on satellite transmissions transmitted by the transceiver on the frequency channel. The transceiver receives data specifying a second transmit frequency channel to use for a second satellite transmission. A first interference compensation value for a first frequency channel and a second interference compensation value for the second frequency channel are identified from the data structure.

Abstract: A satellite terminal and a machine-implemented method are provided for encoding a burst header of a burst for transmission on an inroute. One component of a group of satellite terminal components consisting of an ASIC, a FPGA, and a DSP, generates a burst header having five information bits encoded therein. The five information bits may be encoded using a Reed-Muller code, a (32, 5) block code or a convolutional code having a code rate of either 1/5 or 1/10. The five information bits may represent one or more of a modulation type for a payload of the burst, a code rate for encoding the payload, a code type, and a spreading factor for spreading the payload during transmission. A satellite gateway and a machine-implemented method are also provided for decoding a burst header of a burst received on an inroute as described above.

Abstract: An uplink power control system and a machine-implemented method for determining clear sky and adjusting uplink power are provided. A receiving station, which may be a satellite terminal or a satellite gateway, receives a reference signal from a satellite. The reference signal may be sampled over a sampling time period in order to compute a filtered short-term average downlink SINR. A filtered long-term average downlink SINR may be adjusted toward the filtered short-term average downlink SINR using either a first time constant or second time constant, based on a relationship between the filtered long-term average downlink SINR and the filtered short-term average downlink SINR. In some implementations, the second time constant is less than the first time constant.

Abstract: Power spectral density in an aeronautical satellite communication system is controlled through the use of adaptive inroute selection and spreading. Once a communication session has been established between the aircraft and the satellite, environmental conditions and aircraft conditions are monitored to detect events capable of affecting transmit/receive properties during the communication session. A maximum allowable transmission output is determined based, at least in part, on governmental regulations and the conditions being monitored. One or more transmit parameters are adjusted during the time interval in order to maintain transmission output power of the aircraft terminal below the maximum allowable transmission output power.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of ranging terminals programmed to communicate with a plurality of satellites over a plurality of frequencies. A processor, having a memory, is programmed to receive ranging data from each of the plurality of ranging terminals, determine a plurality of power levels for each of the plurality of terminals, and transmit the plurality of power levels to each of the plurality of ranging terminals. Each power level is associated with one of the plurality of frequencies. The plurality of ranging terminals is programmed to transmit signals to the plurality of satellites over the plurality of frequencies in accordance with the power levels determined by the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically re-ranging a satellite terminal. A satellite system may comprise a satellite comprising an inroute channel and an outroute channel, and a terminal configured to receive an outroute signal from the satellite on the outroute channel and transmit an inroute signal to the satellite on the inroute channel. The satellite terminal may automatically determine when to perform ranging by monitoring the quality of the outroute signal; monitoring the quality of the inroute signal; and determining if there has been a sustained degradation in the monitored inroute signal quality or the monitored outroute signal quality.