A method is described for use in a satellite communication network, utilizing available resources (e.g. when operating in an idle mode) of at least one first terminal. that belongs to a cluster comprising a plurality of terminals that are adapted to communicate with a satellite, by at least one other terminal being a second terminal that belongs to that cluster of terminals, and wherein the utilization of idle resources is done by enabling communications between the first and second terminals is carried out by using a communication link that is not part of the satellite communication network.

A method and a system for transmitting data in a satellite system comprising at least one satellite, a gateway and a user terminal, comprises at least the following steps: transmitting a data content request Rq sent by a user to the gateway, upon receipt of the content of the request Rq, the gateway sends an order to the satellite so that the satellite transmits the content requested by the user to the user, the user acknowledges receipt of all or of at least a portion of this content to the gateway.

A method and a system for transmitting data in a satellite system comprising at least one satellite, a gateway and a user terminal, comprises at least the following steps: transmitting a data content request Rq sent by a user to the gateway, upon receipt of the content of the request Rq, the gateway sends an order to the satellite so that the satellite transmits the content requested by the user to the user, the user acknowledges receipt of all or of at least a portion of this content to the gateway.

A vehicle messaging method (600) and system (100) can include any number of data sources (101-103), an interface (104) that formats messages and addresses from the data sources, and a corresponding number of messaging servers (111-113) that receive targeted messages intended for a predetermined subset of subscribers associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN). Each messaging server can include a corresponding controller (121-123) programmed to assign (604) targeted messages to a predetermined channel and encode (606) the addresses of the targeted messages to the predetermined subset of subscribers using a VIN or portion thereof. The controller can be further programmed to transfer (608) the targeted messages and addresses to a satellite uplink (107) and satellite (110) via a messaging uplink interface (106) for retransmission and reception by a plurality of selective call receivers 109 addressable individually using a predetermined VIN or portion thereof.

An Internet protocol low noise block downconverter (IP LNB) assembly, which is within a satellite dish assembly, may be operable to collect information received from one or more sensors that are integrated within or coupled to the IP LNB assembly. The IP LNB assembly may provide data and/or services associated with the satellite dish assembly based on the collected information received from the sensor(s). The collected information may be stored locally or remotely. The sensor(s) may comprise a camera, an atmospheric sensor, a motion sensor, a directional sensor, an insolation sensor, an acoustic sensor and/or a seismic sensor. The IP LNB assembly may communicate, to at least a user, one or more alarms based on temporal or spatial changes in the collected information. The sensor(s) may perform infrared (IR), cosmic radiation, ultraviolet (UV), far infrared (FIR), terahertz (THz) radiation, millimeter wave (MMW) and/or microwave sensing.

An apparatus and method for combining transponder bandwidths comprises a wide-band virtual transponder for transmitting a single data stream. The wide-band virtual transponder is comprised of a plurality of narrow-band physical transponders. A plurality of elementary streams are statistically multiplexed to create the single data stream, wherein the single data stream is forward error correction encoded and demultiplexed into a plurality of transponder streams for transmission by the plurality of physical transponders. The physical transponders each use a different portion of a signal spectrum, wherein the different portion may be guard bands or a combination of legacy bands and guard bands. Upon receipt, the transponder streams are multiplexed to recover the single data stream, wherein the recovered single data stream is forward error correction decoded and statistically demultiplexed to recover the plurality of elementary streams.

A method for generating a circular polarisation signal from at least two transponders of a satellite able to process linearly polarised signals includes: a transmission of at least two linearly polarised signal components so as to produce a circularly polarised signal by at least two transponders of a satellite; processing signals by the two transponders of the satellite to produce a circular polarisation of the signals transmitted by the satellite; ground receiving by at least one circularly polarised antenna; measuring a physical parameter from the received signals, and determining a correction parameter to be applied to the generation of the components of linearly polarised signals; generating a compensation of the components of linearly polarised signals transmitted to the satellite.

A method for generating a circular polarisation signal from at least two transponders of a satellite able to process linearly polarised signals includes: a transmission of at least two linearly polarised signal components so as to produce a circularly polarised signal by at least two transponders of a satellite; processing signals by the two transponders of the satellite to produce a circular polarisation of the signals transmitted by the satellite; ground receiving by at least one circularly polarised antenna; measuring a physical parameter from the received signals, and determining a correction parameter to be applied to the generation of the components of linearly polarised signals; generating a compensation of the components of linearly polarised signals transmitted to the satellite.

A system for mapping a signal distribution network containing a central communication unit and preferably, a plurality of communication nodes installed at known locations, a method related thereto. The central communication unit and the plurality of communication nodes are capable of requesting and sending mapping information over known frequencies to map signal distribution networks at the known locations.

A system for mapping a signal distribution network containing a central communication unit and preferably, a plurality of communication nodes installed at known locations, a method related thereto. The central communication unit and the plurality of communication nodes are capable of requesting and sending mapping information over known frequencies to map signal distribution networks at the known locations.