A terminal receives a first request by a client for a slice of a data stream, and transmits the request to a streaming server. The terminal receives a first request by another client for the slice of the data stream and, in response, transmits the first request by the other client to the streaming server. The terminal receives a multicast packet that encapsulates the slice of the data stream, and extracts the slice. The terminal, then responds to the first request, by sending the client the extracted slice.

The disclosure herein describes using satellites and ground sinks and/or stations for routing IoT device data packets from IoT devices. A target ground sink in range of the satellite is identified and an expected reception (ER) score for the target ground sink is calculated based on ER parameter data and location data of the satellite. A data packet in a first level of a multi-level data structure of the satellite is sent to the target ground sink and, based on an ER threshold exceeding the ER score, the packet is moved to a second level of the multi-level data structure, whereby the data packet is queued to be sent to another ground sink. The disclosure further includes using cell towers as ground sinks and/or using them for backhauling with other ground sinks. The flexibility of the disclosure enables large ground sink networks to be established, reducing latency of packet routing.

An integrated mobility terminal may include a modem to modulate/demodulate digital data to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; an RF Conversion Module (RCM) to communicate between the IF signal a Radio Frequency (RF) signal for satellite communications; a Beam Forming Array (BFA) to transceive the RF signal and a Common Control Module (CCM) to manage the modem, the RCM and the BFA. The integrated mobility terminal may include a chassis to house the modem, the RCM, the BFA and the CCM, wherein the chassis is of an integrated-unitary construction.

Techniques related to methods, non-transitory computer readable mediums and computing devices configured to share content received from a satellite in an ad-hoc network are generally described. One example method may include configuring a first moving node in the ad-hoc network to receive a first version of the content from a second moving node in the ad-hoc network and to receive a second version of the content from a third moving node in the ad-hoc network. The example method may further include processing the first version of the content and the second version of the content at the first moving node according to the characteristics of the first version of the content and the second version of the content, respectively. The example method may also include transmitting a processed version of the content based on the processed first version of the content and the processed second version of the content to the second moving node and the third moving node.

Various arrangements for performing transmodulation of a forward feeder link are presented. A first data stream and a second data stream can be modulated into a higher-order modulation forward feeder link having a higher-order digital modulation scheme. A satellite can receive the higher-order modulation forward feeder link. The satellite can demodulate the higher-order modulator forward feeder link into a bit stream. This bit stream may then be remodulated and retransmitted as multiple forward user links.

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 method for reducing expected switchovers in antennas tracking at least one satellite. The method predicts an operation of a predetermined number of subsets of antennas during a simulated time interval. The subsets are derived from at least three antennas. Each of the at least three antennas has a field of view and is operative to selectively receive signals from and selectively transmit signals to a satellite in the respective field of view. The method determines, based on the predicted operation, an expected number of switchovers for each of the subsets during the simulated time interval. The method selects a selected subset from the subsets for communicating with the satellite. The selection of the selected subset is based on the expected number of switchovers.

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.

A data storage system is disclosed that includes a recirculating loop storing data in motion. The data may be carried by a signal via the loop including one or more satellites or other vessels that return, for example by reflection or regeneration, the signals through the loop. The loop may also include a waveguide, for example an optical fiber, or an optical cavity. Signal multiplexing may be used to increase the contained data. The signal may be amplified at each roundtrip and sometimes a portion of the signal may be regenerated.

A method of communication in a satellite network including a hub, a satellite, a remote terminal, an upstream switch connected to the hub, at least one upstream communication device connected to the upstream switch, and plural remote-connected communication devices connected to the remote terminal, is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving at the hub, via the satellite from the remote terminal, a correspondence information carrying message including plural correspondence information entries, each correspondence information entry identifying a virtual network identifier associated with a media access control (MAC) address of one of the plural remote-connected communication devices connected to the remote terminal; and transmitting a data carrying message from one of the upstream communication devices to one of the plural remote-connected communication devices via the hub, the satellite and the remote terminal based on a correspondence information entry in the correspondence information carrying message.