A method of operating a satellite communication network is disclosed. The network includes a plurality of satellites interconnected by a plurality of satellite-to-satellite communication links. Each of the plurality of satellites is configured to communicate with at least one ground station using respective ground-satellite communication links. The method includes transmitting a routing table to each of the satellites. Each routing table has a list of destination satellites, and defines at least two possible routes leading to it. An alert message identifying a problem communication link is transmitted to a subset of the plurality of satellites. In response to receiving the alert message, subsequent data packets are routed through the communication network by the satellites using their respective routing table to avoid the problem communication link.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, an end-to-end beamforming system include a relay satellite and a ground network to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground network includes geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system (CPS). Beamformers of the ground network generate forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the satellite, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form forward user beams.

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 and apparatus for link adaptation in a satellite communication system, wherein a satellite is configured to receive reverse-link (RL) communications from a user terminal (UT) via a service link and retransmit the RL communications to a satellite access network (SAN) via a feeder link. The SAN may select a reference location for the UT within a footprint of the satellite, and determine a set of operating parameters for the RL communications to achieve a target power efficiency of the satellite based on the reference location. The SAN may dynamically adjust one or more of the operating parameters, while maintaining the target power efficiency of the satellite, based at least in part on channel conditions in at least one of the service link, the feeder link, or a combination thereof. Among other advantages, the method disclosed herein may optimize RL communications based on the capabilities of the satellite.

A method is provided that can include designating as a control node, a first communication node of a plurality of communication nodes associated with a satellite communications system. The method can include, designating as a listening node, a second communication node of the plurality of communication nodes. The listening node is responsive to instructions provided by the control node. The method includes receiving, at a tuning module, one or more input tuning factors, wherein the one or more input tuning factors can include at least a resource burden factor. Responsive to receiving the one or more input tuning factors, the method includes adjusting by the tuning module, one or more tunable output parameters. The method includes sending, from the control node to the listening node, instructions comprising one or more of the tunable output parameters, and executing the instructions at the listening node.

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.

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 and apparatus for link adaptation in a satellite communication system, wherein a satellite is configured to receive reverse-link (RL) communications from a user terminal (UT) via a service link and retransmit the RL communications to a satellite access network (SAN) via a feeder link. The SAN may select a reference location for the UT within a footprint of the satellite, and determine a set of operating parameters for the RL communications to achieve a target power efficiency of the satellite based on the reference location. The SAN may dynamically adjust one or more of the operating parameters, while maintaining the target power efficiency of the satellite, based at least in part on channel conditions in at least one of the service link, the feeder link, or a combination thereof. Among other advantages, the method disclosed herein may optimize RL communications based on the capabilities of the satellite.

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.

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.