Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

A dynamic satellite load balancing system measures geographic position and travel information of in-flight aircraft in a fleet of aircraft equipped to establish in-flight connectivity services from a plurality of satellite beams. The in-flight aircraft include an on-board satellite map program with satellite map parameters to indicate which satellite beam of a group of available satellite beams is the most desirable based on the in-flight aircraft's geographic location. The system selects in-flight aircraft, determines load balanced satellite map parameters for the selected aircraft, and transmits the load balanced satellite map parameters to the aircraft to assemble load balanced satellite map programs to relieve wireless data communication saturation conditions on one or more of the satellite beams. The dynamic satellite load balancing system may transmit the load balanced satellite map parameters over an existing satellite data connection to make up-to-date adjustments to the communications load among the group of available satellite beams.

A gateway device and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within an in-wall housing, which also interconnectedly includes a processor, memory, various physical ports and wireless transceivers. To improve convenience, the gateway device may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the gateway device may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network.

Systems and methods for supporting more flexible coverage areas and spatial capacity assignments using satellite communications systems are disclosed. A hub-spoke, bent-pipe satellite communications system includes: terminals; gateways; a controller for specifying data for controlling satellite operations in accordance with a frame definition including timeslots for a frame and defining an allocation of capacity between forward and return traffic. The satellite communications system may employ a satellite with a feed array assembly and may use on-board beamforming or ground-based beamforming. Beam hopping within timeslots of the frame may be used to provide coverage to different cells in different time periods. The flexible coverage areas may be provided using changes in satellite position, antenna patterns, or beam resource allocations.

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate efficient cell acquisition in a wireless communication system. In one aspect, a reference signal for use in cell acquisition can be constructed in a bandwidth-agnostic manner such that it contains a common central portion in a predetermined frequency band that is independent of a bandwidth utilized by an associated wireless communication system. The central portion can be constructed as a two-dimensional block in time and frequency that spans a default cell search bandwidth, a predetermined bandwidth specified by synchronization codes or other signals, or another suitable bandwidth. A reference signal can then be constructed form the central portion by tiling or expanding the central portion such that it spans the entire system bandwidth.

A demultiplexing apparatus includes a signal receiving unit that receives signals, an analog demultiplexing unit that analog-demultiplexes, in predetermined units of channels, received signals received by the signal receiving unit and generates analog demultiplexed signals, and a plurality of digital demultiplexing units that digital-demultiplex the analog demultiplexed signals in units of sub-channels and generate digital demultiplexed signals. The analog demultiplexing unit controls, concerning the analog demultiplexed signals output to the digital demultiplexing units, a total value of bandwidths in which a signal is present so as to be a predetermined value or less.

Systems and methods are described for scintillation mitigation in satellite communications systems with geographically distributed access nodes. Some embodiments operate in context of a bent-pipe satellite that illuminates user and gateway coverage areas with fixed spot beams. Beamforming can be used, along with coordinated, phase-synchronized communication by the distributed access nodes, to generate signals that coherently combine via the satellite. Scintillation and/or other atmospheric irregularities can degrade phase synchronization at the access nodes. Accordingly, embodiments can monitor phase tracking performance of the access nodes to detect when a phase tracking error occurs in at least one of the access nodes. In response to detecting the phase tracking error, embodiments can inhibit transmitting of forward uplink data signals by at least that access node.

Systems and methods are described for robust scheduling of beam switching patterns in satellite communications systems. Embodiments operate in context of a hub-spoke satellite communications architecture having a number of gateway terminals servicing large numbers of user terminals over a number of spot beams. The satellite includes switching subsystems that distribute capacity to the user beams from multiple of the gateway terminals in a shared manner according to a beam group switching pattern. The beam group switching pattern is robustly formulated to continue distributing capacity during gateway outages (e.g., when one or two gateway terminals are temporarily non-operational due to rain fade, equipment failure, etc.). For example, the beam group switching pattern can be formulated to minimize worst-case degradation of capacity across user beams, to prioritize certain beams or beam groups, etc.

Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing network access services to mobile users via mobile terminals over a satellite system. In embodiments, dynamic multiplexing of traffic from fixed terminals and mobile users on the same satellite beam can take advantage of statistical multiplexing of large numbers of users and on different usage patterns between fixed terminals and mobile users. In embodiments, quality-of-service (QoS) is controlled for mobile devices at a per-user level. Mobile users may be provisioned on the satellite system according to a set of traffic policies based on their service level agreement (SLA). System resources of the satellite may be allocated to mobile users based on the demand of each mobile user and the set of traffic polices associated with each mobile user, regardless of which mobile terminal is used to access the system.

Communicating transmission power information that specifies a transmission power used by a reference point for use in estimating a position of a mobile device. Systems and methods measure an amount of power present in a signal received from the reference point, receive an identifier of the reference point and transmission power information that specifies the transmission power used by the reference point, transmit the identifier of the reference point to a location server, and also transmit the transmission power information or an estimate of a distance separating the mobile device and the reference point to the location server.