A satellite constellation provides communication between user terminals (UTs) and ground stations that connect to other networks, such as the Internet. Satellites transmit beacon transmissions to particular areas on Earth as particular times. The beacon transmissions include information used by a UT to use a random access channel (RACH) uplink to request communication. Responsive to the request, encryption is established between the satellite and the UT. The satellite may then allocate uplink resources, send data to the UT on a downlink, and so forth. The UT receives additional data about future handovers to other satellites. Based on previously received data the UT may quickly re-establish communication with a satellite after an interruption, such as due to a power outage at the UT. If the previously received data has expired, the UT may again use a beacon transmission.

The present disclosure relates, in part, to non-terrestrial communication systems, and in some embodiments to the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication systems. Non-terrestrial communication systems can provide a more flexible communication system with extended wireless coverage range and enhanced service quality compared to conventional communication systems.

A method and system for improving link performance for a user terminal (UT) in a satellite network is disclosed. The method including: providing a first beam servicing a first service area that is adjacent a second service area serviced by a second beam; transmitting, from the first service area, a transmission via the first beam to a receiver via a satellite; beamforming the first beam and the second beam at the receiver; extracting the first beam and a remnant signal of the first beam from the second beam; and processing the first beam and the remnant signal to receive the transmission, wherein the remnant signal may include a portion of the transmission received by a second beam antenna of the satellite.

The present invention relates to a method for a logon procedure in a satellite communication system comprising at least one terminal, a satellite and either a gateway proxy on-board the satellite or a gateway. The method comprises transmitting a logon burst signal from a terminal of the satellite communication system to the gateway proxy on-board the satellite or the gateway, whereby the logon burst signal comprises one or more transmit parameter fields, each transmit parameter field corresponding to a signal transmit time or a signal transmit level or a signal transmit frequency of the logon burst signal in the terminal.

A high-altitude platform (HAP) node provides communication service during an emergency. The HAP node uses a first network to provide communication services for handling calls initiated by at least one user equipment (UE). The HAP node detects that an emergency disruption has occurred that prevents the use of the first network. In response to detecting the occurrence of the emergency disruption, a mobile terminal (MT) in the HAP node searches for a second network able to accept emergency calls. The HAP node determines whether the second network will handle all calls initiated by the at least one UE or only emergency calls generated by the at least one UE. The HAP node handles the calls based on the determining and through the use of the second network.

The disclosure relates in some aspects to forbidden area procedures and connection release management for a user terminal (UT). Forbidden area-related procedures include, for example, using a special paging area code (PAC) in conjunction with a forbidden area, defining a location reporting threshold for a UT based on the proximity of the UT to a forbidden area, or using a default paging area code if a service restriction for a UT has ended. Connection release management includes, for example, a UT sending a request to cause the release of a Radio Connection that the UT no longer needs, or a UT sending a Location Indication (e.g., including a flag requesting release of a connection) to release the connection used for location reporting when a UT is done sending the location information and is going to go back to idle mode.

A base station is provided. The base station includes a base band unit and one or more remote radio heads, a satellite-based content delivery network (S-CDN) device, and a local serving gateway (LS-GW). The base station unit and the one or more remote radio heads wirelessly communicate with a user equipment. The S-CDN device receives and caches content from a satellite-based content delivery network. The LS-GW is connected to the S-CDN device and the base band unit. The LS-GW receives a request for content from the user equipment, determines whether the content is already stored in the S-CDN device, and when the content is already stored in the S-CDN device, delivers the content to the user equipment from the S-CDN device.

Systems and methods for transmitting data using a satellite communication network are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a satellite communication network includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a base station. The first terminal is configured to collect first target data. The second terminal is configured to receive a first data packet including the first target data from the first terminal via a local connection. The base station is in communication with the first terminal and the second terminal via at least one satellite. The base station is configured to: (i) receive copies of the first data packet from each of the first and second terminals via the at least one satellite; (ii) process a first copy of the first data packet; and (iii) delete a second copy of the first data packet.

Systems and methods for controlling satellites are provided. In one example embodiment, a computing system can obtain a request for image data. The request can be associated with a priority for acquiring the image data. The computing system can determine an availability of a plurality of satellites to acquire the image data based at least in part on the request. The computing system can select from among a plurality of communication pathways to transmit an image acquisition command to a satellite based at least in part on the request priority. The plurality of communication pathways can include a communication pathway via which the image acquisition command is indirectly communicated to the satellite via a geostationary satellite. The computing system can send the image acquisition command to the selected satellite via the selected communication pathway.

The disclosure relates in some aspects to managing paging area information for a user terminal (UT) and connection signaling. In some aspects, paging area information is provided for an idle UT by defining a default paging area code (PAC) that is known by the network and the UT. In some aspects, paging area information is communicated via connection signaling. In some aspects, connection signaling may be used to force a UT to invoke an update procedure (e.g., a reconnection).