Devices, methods, and systems for uplink synchronization in time division multiple access (TDMA) satellite network. In one embodiment, an earth-based satellite terminal is configured to communicate with a satellite hub through a satellite using the TDMA communication protocol. The earth-based satellite terminal is configured to determine its own location, a location of the satellite, estimate a distance between the location of the terminal and the location of the satellite, determine a Coarse Timing Advance based on the distance that is estimated, and transmit data to the satellite based on the Coarse Timing Advance and the TDMA communication protocol. The Coarse Timing Advance may allow uplink TDMA communication without a preamble transmission on a random access channel, the preamble transmission being required in many conventional systems.

An apparatus and method for optimizing selection of data cap limited service plans. A model is created in order to predict bandwidth usage by existing subscribers in a satellite communication system. The model is trained with usage data for all subscribers of the satellite communication system over a predetermined time interval, and used to analyze usage patterns of each subscriber. Bandwidth usage is predicted for each subscriber relative to an existing service plan based, at least one recommendation is generated for optimizing use of bandwidth in the satellite communication system based on the analysis and predicted bandwidth usage.

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.

Systems and methods for communicating with one or more satellites to acquire information related to a region on a map that is displayed on a mobile device. A mobile device includes: a communication device for directly communicating data with a satellite; a display for displaying a graphic user interface (GUI) that shows an image of a map; one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes steps to be performed comprising: responsive to a touch on the GUI, sending a request signal for information related to a region on the map directly to the satellite via the communication device; receiving the information related to the region on the map directly from a satellite; and displaying the information on the display.

The disclosure provides for a system that includes a network controller. The network controller is configured to receive information from nodes of a network, where nodes include one node that is in motion relative to another node. The network controller is also configured to generate a table representing nodes, available storage at each node, and possible links in the network over a period of time based on the information, and determine a series of topologies of the network based on the table. Based on received client data including a data amount, the network controller is configured to determine flows for the topology. The network controller then is configured to generate a schedule of network configurations based on the flows, and send instructions to the nodes of the network for implementing the network configurations and transmitting client data.

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 system for a first node to transmit packets to a second none, comprising receiving a packet from a local area network (LAN) interface, inspecting the packet; determining whether the packet satisfies at least one packet condition; transmitting the packet through a predefined tunnel if the packet satisfies the at least one packet condition; transmitting the packet through a second tunnel if the packet does not satisfy the at least one packet condition. The predefined tunnel is a first tunnel and is established before the packet is received by the first node. The second tunnel belongs to a first tunnel group or a second tunnel group. The first tunnel, the second tunnel and other tunnels may together form an aggregated connection. Further, the use of predefined tunnel may be based on whether the packets satisfy a session condition.

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.

Systems and methods for accessing a satellite in real-time. A mobile device for accessing a satellite in real-time includes: a communication device for directly communicating data with a satellite; a display for displaying a graphic user interface (GUI); one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes steps to be performed comprising: responsive to a touch on the GUI, sending data directly to the satellite via the communication device. The data sent to the satellite includes information of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the mobile device and an identification of a user of the mobile device, a set of access parameters, a query for a list of satellites that are accessible in real-time according to the set of access parameters.

Methods and apparatuses for communicating in a satellite communication framework with spatial diversity are described. In one embodiment, a method for controlling communication in a satellite communication network having multiple constellations and a satellite terminal with a single electronically steered flat-panel antenna capable of generating a plurality of beams for communication links with multiple satellites, comprises: determining, under network control, availability of a plurality of networks by which network traffic may be exchanged with the single electronically steered flat-panel antenna; and managing, under network control, two or more satellite links between the single electronically steered flat-panel antenna and two or more satellites of different networks to route the network traffic, including determining when to use each of the two or more satellite links, the two or more satellite links being generated using two or more beams from the single electronically steered flat-panel antenna.