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 high capacity communication system and method, and a high capacity communications configuration system are provided. The high capacity communication system includes a transmitter. The transmitter includes a signal generator to generate a signal including, wherein for a first frame portion extending from zero to τ time the signal is generated per a first color reuse plan of a frequency spectrum and one or more polarizations, and for a second frame portion extending from τ to T the signal is generated per a second color reuse plan of the frequency spectrum and the one or more polarizations; and an RF system to beam the signal concurrently to a first geographic area and a second geographic area. In the high capacity communication system, τ is less than T, the first frame portion is intended for a first VSAT population disposed in the first geographic coverage area and the second frame portion is intended for a second VSAT population disposed in the second geographic coverage area, and the first color reuse plan maps the frequency spectrum and the one or more polarizations into fewer colors than the second color reuse plan.

A satellite communication system includes a phased antenna array having a field of view (FoV) and configured to communicate with a plurality of cells in the FoV via a plurality of beams. Each of the plurality of beams is associated with one of the plurality of cells. A phased antenna array is configured to apply adaptive taper selection, based on both the satellite position (in relation to a satellite service beam) and its surrounding interference scenario.

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.

Methods and systems for low earth orbit satellite communications, utilizing fractionated satellites and constellations with large baselines. The latter, combined with spatial multiplexing protocols, provides access to user equipment on the ground with much greater spatial resolution than hitherto possible. Methods include overcoming the problem posed by the round-trip delay of satellite links when adaptive, downlink, beamforming is attempted in Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems. Methods include using of uplink and downlink pilot signals which eliminate the need for controlling the physical integrity of the fractionated satellite through an electromechanical servo-control system in space.

A beam plan that defines beams generated by a satellite that satisfy a set of communication service requirements is obtained. Fade condition information that indicates an amount of fade at particular geographic areas for one or more of the beams is obtained. A modification to the beam plan that mitigates the amount of fade at the particular geographic areas for the one or more of the beams is determined. The beam plan is modified based on the determined modification.

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.