Methods, systems, and apparatuses for providing layer-2 connectivity through a non-routed ground segment network, are described. A system includes a non-autonomous gateway in communication with a satellite configured to relay data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is configured to receive the data packets from the satellite at layer-1 (L1) of the OSI-model, generate a plurality of virtual tagging tuples within the layer-2 packet headers of the plurality of data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is further configured to transmit, at layer-2 (L2) of the OSI-model, the virtually tagged data packets. Each of the packets may include a virtual tagging tuple and an entity destination. The system further includes a L2 switch in communication with the non-autonomous gateway. The L2 switch may be configured to receive the data packets and transmit the data packets to the entity based on the virtual tuples associated with each of the data packets.

A telecommunications satellite payload includes a signal receiver (ANT) for receiving signals transmitted on an uplink, an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting the received signals into digital samples, a modem (MOD), an inter-satellite communication device (ISL) and a traffic management unit (GT) configured, on the basis of resource planning information (PL), so as to transmit the digital samples either to the modem (MOD) in order to be demodulated or to the inter-satellite communication device (ISL) in order to be transmitted to a recipient satellite responsible for demodulating the digital samples.

A telecommunications satellite payload includes a signal receiver (ANT) for receiving signals transmitted on an uplink, an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting the received signals into digital samples, a modem (MOD), an inter-satellite communication device (ISL) and a traffic management unit (GT) configured, on the basis of resource planning information (PL), so as to transmit the digital samples either to the modem (MOD) in order to be demodulated or to the inter-satellite communication device (ISL) in order to be transmitted to a recipient satellite responsible for demodulating the digital samples.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for providing layer-2 connectivity through a non-routed ground segment network, are described. A system includes a non-autonomous gateway in communication with a satellite configured to relay data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is configured to receive the data packets from the satellite at layer-1 (L1) of the OSI-model, generate a plurality of virtual tagging tuples within the layer-2 packet headers of the plurality of data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is further configured to transmit, at layer-2 (L2) of the OSI-model, the virtually tagged data packets. Each of the packets may include a virtual tagging tuple and an entity destination. The system further includes a L2 switch in communication with the non-autonomous gateway. The L2 switch may be configured to receive the data packets and transmit the data packets to the entity based on the virtual tuples associated with each of the data packets.

An enhanced L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) may include cellular telephone ground stations, and LDACS ground stations. In addition, the enhanced LDACS may also include a plurality of LDACS airborne stations, each configured to selectively communicate with either a corresponding LDACS ground station or a corresponding cellular telephone ground station based upon an altitude of the LDACS airborne station.

An enhanced L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) may include LDACS ground stations, and LDACS airborne stations configured to communicate with the LDACS ground stations. The enhanced LDACS may also include a network controller configured to operate a given LDACS ground station and LDACS airborne station to use a primary LDACS channel and at least one supplemental LDACS channel defining an aggregated bandwidth channel, with the primary LDACS channel changing at handover from one LDACS ground station to another LDACS ground station.

A satellite communications system includes both LEO and MEO satellites, a gateway node (GN) which includes a MEO-GN modem and a LEO-GN modem, and a user terminal (UT) which includes a MEO-UT modem and a LEO-UT modem. The MEO-GN modem transmits data communications to the UT via the MEO satellites. The MEO-UT modem receives the data communications from the MEO-GN modem. The MEO UT modem forwards control messages regarding the data communications received from the MEO-GN modem, via a control message tunnel, to the MEO-GN modem. Via the control message tunnel, (i) the MEO-UT modem provides the control messages to the UT-LEO modem, (ii) the LEO-UT modem transmits the control messages to the LEO-GN modem via the LEO satellites, and (iii) the LEO-GN modem provides the control messages to the MEO-GN modem.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a satellite communication system includes a satellite constellation including a plurality of satellites in non-geosynchronous orbit (non-GEO), wherein at least some of the plurality of satellites travel in a first orbital path at a first inclination, and an end point terminal having an earth-based geographic location, the end point terminal having an antenna system defining a field of regard for communicating with the satellite constellation, wherein the field of regard is a limited field of regard, wherein the field of regard is tilted from a non-tilted position to a tilted position, and wherein the tilt angle of the tilted position is a function of the latitude of the geographic location.

An enhanced L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) may include LDACS ground stations assigned to respective different ground communication networks; and LDACS airborne stations configured to communicate with selected ones of the LDACS ground stations based upon respective roaming agreements for the different ground communication networks. In addition, the system may include a network broker configured to authorize a connection between an LDACS airborne station and an LDACS ground station based upon a corresponding roaming agreement.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for providing layer-2 connectivity through a non-routed ground segment network, are described. A system includes a non-autonomous gateway in communication with a satellite configured to relay data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is configured to receive the data packets from the satellite at layer-1 (L1) of the OSI-model, generate a plurality of virtual tagging tuples within the layer-2 packet headers of the plurality of data packets. The non-autonomous gateway is further configured to transmit, at layer-2 (L2) of the OSI-model, the virtually tagged data packets. Each of the packets may include a virtual tagging tuple and an entity destination. The system further includes a L2 switch in communication with the non-autonomous gateway. The L2 switch may be configured to receive the data packets and transmit the data packets to the entity based on the virtual tuples associated with each of the data packets.