Hughes Network Systems, LLC

Hughes Electronics Corporation

The Directv Group, Inc.

Jack Lundstedt

John Alfred Schmid

Peter Hou

Guy Bryan Montgomery

Bahman Salamat

Yezdi F Antia

Michael J Scott

Thomas Jackson

Mohammad Soleimani

George Eapen

Michael Scott

Yogesh Sethi

Nimesh Ambeskar

Walter Kepley

Yeqing Tang

Robert Kepley

Patrick O'Neil

Tom Jackson

Brian Smith

Doug Ricker

Richard Sims

D Ray Lowe

Henry Eck

John Schmid

Patrick Marrone

David Farrow

Lawrence Cronise

Ramesh Kollipara

Eryx Malcolm

Royce Hernandez

Guy Montgomery

Tyler Horwat

Communication systems and methods are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a communication system includes a grandmaster clock and a modem unit. The grandmaster clock is configured to output a primary clock reference based on a received signal. The modem unit is configured for communication with a remote terminal. The modem unit includes a network clock configured to be tuned based on the primary clock reference. The network clock is further configured to output a first signal to be used for a time reference for communications with the remote terminal. The modern unit also includes a master clock configured to be tuned based on the primary clock reference. The master clock is further configured to output a second signal to be used for a frequency reference for communications with the remote terminal.

Communication systems and methods for synchronizing clock timing and frequency

An antenna pedestal including: a body having an inner cavity defined by a wall and a top ledge; a Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to provide climate control for the inner cavity; and a door to access the inner cavity of the body, wherein the top ledge supports a mechanical steering.

Integrated radio frequency transmitter and modem

A system to reduce a count of satellite gateways is disclosed. The system includes: a feeder link capacity of a satellite; a spectrum ranging from 26.5 GHz to 75 GHz; a gateway feeder link capacity that is an aggregate of capacities of channels defined in the spectrum; and RF gateways communicating with the satellite via the channels, wherein the count of the satellite gateways is less than or equal to a rounded-up integer of the feeder link capacity divided by the gateway feeder link capacity, and the satellite is a geosynchronous orbit satellite.

Increased feeder link capacity for geosynchronous satellite communications

An antenna system comprises an antenna feed support and a driver. The antenna feed support is configured to mount a circularly polarized antenna feed to an antenna dish to extend outward along a longitudinal axis of the circularly polarized antenna feed with respect to a reflective surface of the antenna dish. The driver is configured to rotate the circularly polarized antenna feed to adjust alignment between the circularly polarized antenna feed and a remote antenna. The driver can rotate the circularly polarized antenna feed mechanically, electrically or both to adjust alignment between the circularly polarized antenna feed and a remote antenna to reduce cross-pol discrimination at the circularly polarized antenna feed.

Antenna system employing a rotatable circularly polarized antenna feed

Power spectral density in an aeronautical satellite communication system is controlled through the use of adaptive inroute selection and spreading. Once a communication session has been established between the aircraft and the satellite, environmental conditions and aircraft conditions are monitored to detect events capable of affecting transmit/receive properties during the communication session. A maximum allowable transmission output is determined based, at least in part, on governmental regulations and the conditions being monitored. One or more transmit parameters are adjusted during the time interval in order to maintain transmission output power of the aircraft terminal below the maximum allowable transmission output power.

Power spectral density control using AIS and spreading in an aeronautical SATCOM terminal using a low profile antenna

Power spectral density in an aeronautical satellite communication system is controlled through the use of adaptive inroute selection and spreading. Once a communication session has been established between the aircraft and the satellite, environmental conditions and aircraft conditions are monitored to detect events capable of affecting transmit/receive properties during the communication session. A maximum allowable transmission output is determined based, at least in part, on governmental regulations and the conditions being monitored. One or more transmit parameters are adjusted in order to maintain transmission output power of the aircraft terminal below the maximum allowable transmission output power.

It is determined, e.g., in a communications terminal, that a test triggering event has occurred. A test is initiated based on the determination that the test triggering event has occurred. One or more transmissions are transmitted at one or more respective specified power levels. Measurement data is received from a remote measurement unit indicating respective received power levels of the one or more transmissions by the remote measurement unit. Based on the measurement data, a maximum transmit power level is determined.

Communications terminal with linear operating point determination

A mobile terminal for satellite communications receives communication, e.g., from a gateway via a satellite link. A frequency lock loop unit locks to the carrier frequency of the received communication. The mobile terminal includes a global positioning system for receiving global positioning data. The mobile terminal determines the Doppler frequency shift of the received communications based on the global positioning data. The mobile terminal generates a reference clock for return transmissions based on the frequency of the frequency lock loop, corrected for the Doppler shift. A correction factor of two times the determined Doppler frequency shift is used, to compensate for both a forward and return transmission link.

Mobile terminal with frequency lock loop

A method of pointing an antenna at a transmitter comprising the steps of: (a) varying the azimuth of the antenna dish a predetermined number of degrees in a first direction from a predetermined azimuth angle; (b) measuring a first signal strength of an incoming signal received by the antenna dish; (c) varying the azimuth of the antenna dish the same predetermined number of degrees in a second direction from the predetermined azimuth angle, where the second direction is opposite to the first direction; (d) measuring a second signal strength of the incoming signal received by the antenna dish; and (e) comparing the first signal strength to the second signal strength, and if the first signal strength substantially equals the second signal strength, the current predetermined azimuth angle represents the optimal angle of azimuth for the antenna dish. However, if the first signal strength does not substantially equal the second signal strength, the process further comprises the steps of: (f) adjusting the predetermined azimuth angle, and (g) repeating steps (a)&#x2013;(e). The same process is then repeated for the elevation adjustment.

Method and apparatus for satellite antenna pointing

An approach for providing a multiple-beam antenna system for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic signals from a plurality of closely spaced satellites is disclosed. Dielectric inserts are selectively coupled to the feedhorn bodies to alter the radiation patterns according to dielectric constants of the dielectric inserts. A reflector produces multiple antenna beams based upon the altered radiation patterns of the feedhorn bodies. The antenna provides simultaneous transmissions to satellites that are spaced about 2&deg; or less.

Multiple-beam antenna employing dielectric filled feeds for multiple and closely spaced satellites

A method and system for using a low-cost, fixed output power radio in a multi-carrier communication system is disclosed herein. This system measures the output power of the multiple channel units within the system, obtains the current output power of the system, calculates a composite power and an expected power, compares the expected power and the current output power to calculate a gain adjustment value, and adjusting the output power of the system via the amplifier. The method for adjusting the power can also allow at least one of the carriers in the multi-carrier system to operate in a burst mode, and at least one of the remaining carriers to operate in a continuous mode during power measurement and gain adjustment steps.

Operation of low-cost, fixed output power radio in fixed gain mode

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Monrovia, MD, United States of America

Jack Lundstedt