Systems, devices and methods for a user equipment (UE) to perform public land mobile network (PLMN) selection with a non-terrestrial network (NTN). A UE performs a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure with a public land mobile network (PLMN) of an NTN. The UE receives a NAS message from the PLMN, and the NAS message indicates that the UE is not allowed to access a core network of the NTN. The NAS message may indicate that the UE is not allowed to access the core network of the NTN because a location of the UE is unknown to the NTN, that access to the NTN is not allowed in a country in which the UE is located, or that a location of the UE is not within a country associated with the NTN. The UE modifies its PLMN search procedure responsive to receiving the NAS message.

Communication network architectures, systems and methods for supporting a network of mobile nodes. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide communication network architectures, systems, and methods for supporting a dynamically configurable communication network comprising a complex array of both static and moving communication nodes (e.g., the Internet of moving things). For example, systems and method for vehicular positioning based on wireless fingerprinting data in a network of moving things including, for example, autonomous vehicles.

LEO satellites of orbital planes are configured to communicate with at least one GEO satellite based at least on present line of sight. GEO satellites are configured to communicate with ground gateways and convert among uplink communications and optical communications of GEO-to-LEO optical links established with selected LEO satellites and comprising optical beams within a wavelength multiplexed arrangement individually assigned to corresponding LEO satellites in each orbital plane. Selected LEO satellites are configured to optically demultiplex a GEO-to-LEO optical link into local optical beams on optical fibers, direct a demultiplexed assigned optical beam of an incoming LEO optical link from a previous in-plane LEO satellite to an onboard destination with an optical splitter on a corresponding optical fiber, and multiplex the local optical beams on the optical fibers for an outgoing free space LEO optical link directed to a subsequent in-plane LEO satellite.

Systems, devices and methods for a user equipment (UE) to perform public land mobile network (PLMN) selection with a non-terrestrial network (NTN). A UE performs a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure with a public land mobile network (PLMN) of an NTN. The UE receives a NAS message from the PLMN, and the NAS message indicates that the UE is not allowed to access a core network of the NTN. The NAS message may indicate that the UE is not allowed to access the core network of the NTN because a location of the UE is unknown to the NTN, that access to the NTN is not allowed in a country in which the UE is located, or that a location of the UE is not within a country associated with the NTN. The UE modifies its PLMN search procedure responsive to receiving the NAS message.

Systems and methods for providing broadband internet access to mobile platforms such as vehicles, aircraft, and portable devices, using a network of one or more entities such as drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In one embodiment, the drone communication system comprises an antenna sub-system, a radio sub-system and a data switching sub-system. The mobile platforms comprise antenna and radio sub-systems to communicate with the drones, detect changes in the mobile platforms azimuth and elevation changes, and adjust the mobile platform's antenna beam to compensate for the orientation changes to optimally point toward the drones. The exemplary mobile platform further comprises methods to detect the need for handoff to a different drone and to carry out the handoff.

Methods and systems for femtocell positioning using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals may comprise receiving an initial position of a wireless communication device (WCD) as entered by as user, service provider, or manufacturer, wherein the WCD comprises a LEO satellite signal receiver path (Rx). The WCD may be operable to provide wireless communication services to other WCDs. LEO signals may be received for determining a position of the WCD, which may be compared to a threshold radius defined by the initial position. The communication services may be enabled when the measured position is within the threshold radius. The WCD may comprise a femtocell device, a WiFi access point, or may provide cellular telephone service to the other WCDs. The position of the WCD may be measured upon powering up of the WCD, on a periodic basis, and/or when one or more motion sensors in the WCD detect motion.

Systems and methods are described that use the downlink and uplink frequency bands of the fixed satellite service (FSS) and direct broadcast service (DBS) systems to provide broadband access to aerial platforms including aircraft, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as balloons. The secondary service aerial platform transmitters are configured to avoid interference into the primary satellite service receivers. The aerial platform may be able to detect and connect to the cell site with the strongest signal. The aerial platform may be able to handoff from one cell site to another. Systems and methods are described that provide broadband access to ground terminal via aerial platforms such as drones and UAVs such as balloons.

In a system for geopositioning receivers in areas substantially inaccessible to satellite signals, multiple access points configured to periodically transmit management frames (i) via a single shared communication channel and (ii) using a modulation scheme associated with a rate of at least 50 Mbps. A database stores respective locations for each of the access points. A portable computing device is configured to retrieve the location of the access points from the database and, when moving through a region in which the of access points are disposed, receive at least one management frame from each of the access points within a limited time interval on the single shared communication channel. The portable computing device is further configured to determine a current position of the portable computing device based on the management frames using the retrieved locations of the access points.

In a geographic area with limited satellite coverage, multiple signal sources are statically disposed along a path through the geographic area. To automatically determine geographic positions of the signal sources, signal data collected by a receiver moving along the path is received, where the signal data indicates changes, over a period of time, in strength of respective signals emitted by the signal sources. Indications of a first position of the receiver at a first time prior to entering the geographic area and a second position of the receiver at a second time subsequent to leaving the geographic area are received, and positions for the signal sources are determined using the received signal data and the received indications of the positions and the times. The determined positions for the signal sources are used to geoposition a device moving along the path.

Systems and methods for providing broadband internet access to mobile platforms such as vehicles, aircraft, and portable devices, using a network of one or more entities such as drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In one embodiment, the drone communication system comprises an antenna sub-system, a radio sub-system and a data switching sub-system. The mobile platforms comprise antenna and radio sub-systems to communicate with the drones, detect changes in the mobile platforms azimuth and elevation changes, and adjust the mobile platform's antenna beam to compensate for the orientation changes to optimally point toward the drones. The exemplary mobile platform further comprises methods to detect the need for handoff to a different drone and to carry out the handoff. A mechanism to improve coverage to mobile platforms that may see obstruction on their path to the drone network is also disclosed, as are apparatus and methods for cost efficiently providing reliable internet access to portable devices.