Abstract:
Embodiments of a mobile communications system to service multiple users in fishing boats over same spectrum in a communication satellite network and a method for the system are generally described herein. Signals of data streams for transmission to user equipment (UE) in spoke-and-hub configurations will utilize multiple transponders of satellites. Radiation patterns from ground terminals with distributed apertures feature orthogonal beams (OB). A tracking OB beam from a moving platform dynamically shall autonomously be formed as a shaped beam by a digital-beam-forming (DBF) network with a peak to a desired satellite, and nulls to undesired satellites to minimize mutual interferences among multiple satellite spatially. Comparing with many current mobile VSAT schemes via spreading transmitting power to a broader bandwidth reducing mutual interference to an acceptable level, the advanced terminals are more bandwidth efficient in utilizing space assets. Furthermore, to access reasonably low priced space assets, advanced ground hubs and mobile terminals feature “coherent” bandwidth aggregating capability from multiple available but non-contiguous slices of frequency slots in many transponders by wavefront multiplexing/demultiplexing (WF muxing/demuxing) techniques. These available residual frequency slots are negotiable to become “low priced” in general. The aggregated assets from slots in various transponders will function as individual virtual wideband channels. These individual frequency slots must be dynamically selected, calibrated and equalized continuously in receivers via embedded probing signals as a part of WF muxing/demuxing techniques. Among many other benefits of WF muxing, we may utilize linearly polarized (LP) space asset to service circularly polarized (CP) mobile users. Generally, CP mobile ground terminals are cheaper than LP ones.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/172,620, filed Nov. 29, 2012, entitled “Accessing LP transponders with CP terminal via Wavefront Multiplexing Techniques,” is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/778,171, filed Feb. 27, 2013, entitled “Multi-Channel Communication Optimization Methods and Systems,” is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]    This disclosure describes exemplary embodiments on improving the operation and use of satellite communication methods and systems such as through concurrent data delivery with redundancy and privacy ranking and related calibration. The present invention relates to smart antenna methods on fishing boats providing affordable communications services for fishing boats community in coastal regions via satellites and/or airborne platforms such as UAVs. 
         [0003]    There are two sets of communications payloads on fishing boats; one in foreground to interface with users on a boat via their own personal mobile communications devices such as cell phones, laptops, and other advanced personal handhelds such as IPads or Surface tablets. Most of these devices are both using cell services frequency bands and WiFi accessible. The other payload in the background, also referred as “back channel communications,” is connecting to land based gateways, via a satellite mobile VSAT service at Ku, C and/or other available frequency bands, which may communicate with other land based communications infrastructures. The distributed apertures on a boat are for the satellite communications links and shall provide good quality of service for the back channel communications. 
         [0004]    The disclosed embodiments may also be extended using airborne platforms as surrogated communications satellites, including UAVs on improving operation and use of backchannel communication methods to the gateways. 
         [0005]    A service provider may provide many dynamic communications architectures for different groups fishing boats concurrently. For a first service group which subscribes one group of embodiments, the architectures for communications among many fishing boats are spoke-and-hub type via land based ground gateways. For a second service group which subscribes another group of embodiments, the architectures for communications among many fishing boats are mesh type with very little engagement via land based ground gateways. For a third service group which subscribes a third group of embodiments, the architectures for communications among many fishing boats are spoke-and-hub type but via boat-based gateways, which are connected to land based ground gateways via point-to-point type of connectivity. Both types of connectivity may be through satellites, UAVs, or combinations of satellites and UAVs. 
         [0006]    Service providers may support other groups of services featuring combinations of all above-mentioned connectivity through both commercial satellites and UAVs performing communications relays. 
         [0007]    We shall use satellite communications as examples for these applications. Those who are familiar with the technologies shall be easily develop similar architectures via airborne platforms 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0008]    It is expensive to build a communications networks for fishing boats on coastal regions. As IP services continuously expand over land mass, it becomes more demanding beyond the land mass coverage. Current communications infrastructures are either not adequate to reach these moving platforms on sea, to support adequate bandwidths, and/or to be too costly to service these communities. Not aiming for a goal of having a link to every users on a fishing boat, we are aiming for wideband IP connectivity to a small moving ocean surface vehicle which will efficiently aggregate and distribute all IP traffic dynamically on the platform to/from gateways on land via satellites or UAVs. There are three required elements on board moving platforms to make a coastal communications system successful; (1) user&#39;s communication equipment, (2) aggregating and distributing equipment, and (3) communications equipment connecting the platform to/from IP gateways on lands. 
         [0009]    In order to support a coastal satellites communications system, it is desirable to develop antennas with a distributed aperture on fishing boats for satellite communications (Satcom) capability. An objective system that can be used over the existing commercial communications satellites covering coastal regions of Asia, features both C, Ku, and other commercial communications bands, such as those from many commercial satellite operators, including those in Asia operating Chinasat 5, Chinasat 12, and those of ST-2, covering West Pacific, and part of Indian Ocean. 
         [0010]    There are many current Satcom terminal development efforts supporting various frequencies. Size, weight, and power (SWaP) are usually design drivers. These efforts are struggling with integration issues for different hosting moving platforms/vehicles. There are other constraints on vehicle antennas besides the key design driver with a low size, weight and power consumptions (SWaP). The desired solutions take into account of vehicle integration issues, featuring (1) flexible and scalable approaches with multiple smaller apertures and (2) minimized physical footprints for easy installation, such as on a short mast, and limited volume for installation. 
         [0011]    As to the flexible and scalable approach with multiple smaller apertures, the designs must be configurable to different small vehicles accommodating re-calibrations and testing at final integration. In addition, the designs may consist of different types of subarrays or elements without impacting overall communications performance. These arrays shall be distributed on the topside of an ocean surface vehicle operating coherently, and may not be plannar. 
         [0012]    As to the minimized physical footprint for easy installation, the designs shall be low profile apertures to avoid the presence of high physical profile and excessive high wind loading, and shall tolerate “soft” blockage to commercial SATCOM space assets of Geo-synchronous satellites, taking advantage of elements not with hemispherical FOV. 
       Uniqueness of Approach  
       [0013]    In order to achieve low cost and cost effective IP communications for fishing boats, there are several advanced communications technologies involved using available space assets efficiently and dynamically; 
         [0014]    From point of view of operation aspects: linear polarized (LP) Ku band space assets will be used to service circularly polarized (CP) mobile platforms to enable power and bandwidth sharing via coherent WF muxing/demuxing. It will be an economical way to use fixed-service-satellite (FSS) assets servicing mobile users without expansive dynamic polarization realignment mechanisms. This asset sharing via polarizations among users with more private communications and redundant communication channels are benefits derived from coherent WF muxing/demuxing. 
         [0015]    For service of East Asia market, one shall explore lower cost space assets available from various provider such as ChinaSat in China and JSat in Japan. WF muxing techniques offer the capability of aggregating dynamically available communications assets from multiple satellite concurrently. The communication architectures feature always with dynamic assignments of multiple concurrent channels for communications; which may not from the same operators. 
         [0016]    Communications with existing small aperture terminals with &lt;85 cm in diameters for Ku VSAT on mobile platforms usually feature spread spectrum to minimize interferences to/from adjacent Ku satellites; with significant reduction in efficiency of bandwidth utility. Distributed aperture arrays are designed for OB beams to minimize interferences to/from adjacent satellites. These OB beams are multiple beams pointed to many satellites concurrently and dynamically. The arrays usually feature (1) numbers of RF power amplifiers with more graceful degradation and thus more reliable and less cost, (2) a cost effective tracking mechanisms, (3) in field recalibration capability as built-in features, and (4) Orthogonal-beam (OB) beam forming techniques for enhancements of low interferences. 
         [0017]    It is the purposes of the proposed satellite communications systems serving communities of fishing boats by taking advantages existing space assets at Ku and C-band. It is the capability of aggregating multiple unused space assets from many different satellites to function as a resourceful virtual transponder. Such an operation shall not rely on one satellite operator. The participating transponding satellites may include small portion of unused existing assets of many active GEO satellites, retired ones in slightly inclined orbit periodically, or/and low orbit satellites over coverage areas for a short period of connectivity services individually. 
         [0018]    Our initial phase shall focus on Ku band service near coastal regions. The proposed open architecture shall be easily expandable to cover many mobile platforms over deep blue oceans beyond coastal region via Ka, Ku and C-bands. These mobile platforms include earth surface and air borne ones. 
         [0019]    Since most existing and available space assets are in linearly polarized (LP) commercial fixed service satellites (FSS) while circularly polarized (CP) terminals are easier to installed on moving platforms and cost less to operate, it becomes our unique service features of using LP space assets to service CP terminals via wavefront multiplexing/de-multiplexing (WF muxing/demuxing) techniques; as outlined in the referenced SDS inventions [1, 2, 3]. 
         [0020]    There are many existing Ku band mobile VSAT types of terminals featuring gimbaled apertures with diameters less than 1 meter. These apertures are usually linearly polarized (LP) using existing Ku band fixed-satellite-service (FSS) satellites which are linearly polarized (LP) space assets. Since they are on mobile platforms; these apertures require 2 axis position tracking and an additional mechanism for polarizations realignments. These mobile VSAT systems usually feature increased network efficiency through advanced mobile terminal burst transmission, and optimized capacity enabled by closed loop power control and advanced network management. However, their apertures may be as small as 50 cm and as big as 85 cm with linear polarizations. Since such small apertures, adjacent Ku satellites at ±2° shall be in the main beams of these apertures when these VSAT terminals are operating; either in a transmitting and/or a receiving modes. To maintaining reliable Ku-band communication, without harmful adjacent satellite interference issues, additional modifications from conventional VSAT networks are used via spread spectrum waveforms. Usually the spreading are 2-to-1 (or 4-to-1) using twice (or 4 times) more bandwidths to provide a 3 (or 6 dB) more isolation. 
         [0021]    In an extreme, a 50-to-1 spreading in frequency spectrum shall provide 17 dB additional isolations to assure minimized mutual interferences to and from adjacent Ku satellites be in an acceptable level. As a result, the efficiency of bandwidth utility unfortunately shall be reduced accordingly by a factor of 50. For instance, an allocated satellite channel of 1 Mbps for a conventional fixed VSAT with lm or 1.2 m apertures, can only support a channel capacity of 20 kbps data transport for a mobile VSAT with 50 to 85 cm apertures when a 50-to-1 spread spectrum waveform is used. 
         [0022]    SDS proposes different approaches for the mobile VSAT exhibit the following features;
       i. Distributed apertures for the mobile VSAT terminals to form Ku band orthogonal beams (OB), or Ku OB beams, which feature guaranteed isolations and yet without the penalty of reduced efficiency of bandwidth utility.   ii. Existing LP Ku space assets to service CP user via WF muxing/demuxing;
           1. eliminating the need for polarization re-alignments,
               a. lower the cost for the mobile VSAT terminals   
               2. and enabling more resource sharing capabilities among multiple users
               a. more effectively use the allocated space assets   
               
               
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0029]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a communication network configuration for ocean surface platforms, such as fishing boats, tankers, oil exploring/drilling platforms, or other commercial ships, to a land based ground gateways via multiple satellites concurrently in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0030]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates a communication network configuration for ocean surface platforms, such as fishing boats, tankers, oil exploring/drilling platforms, or other commercial ships, to a land based ground gateways via multiple UAVs concurrently in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0031]      FIG. 1   c  illustrates examples of differences in radiation patterns from antennas of Ku band ground VSAT terminals for both transmit and receiving to those of orthogonal-beams (OB) by advanced Ku terminals in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2   a  depicts a Ku-band “representative” coverage of a transponding satellite near 88° E with EIRP contours in dBw. It was launched on late 1990s. Both C-band and Ku bands are still active in this old satellite, covering coastal regions of western Pacific Ocean. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2   b  depicts another Ku-band “representative” coverage of a transponding satellite near 88° E with EIRP contours in dBW. The satellite was launched on early 2010s. Both C-band and Ku bands are active, covering coastal regions of western Pacific Ocean. 
           [0034]      FIG. 2   c  depicts a C-band “representative” coverage of a transponding satellite near 88° E with EIRP contours in dBw. It was launched on early 2010s. The C band global beam EIRP contours covers almost all coastal regions of Asia and East Africa. 
           [0035]      FIG. 3   a  depicts a functional block diagram of a mobile VSAT terminal on an ocean surface vessel via C-band transponding satellites. Mobile users on board the vessel are connected to the rest of the world by the C-band satellites and via their own personnel communications devices. 
           [0036]      FIG. 3   b  depicts a functional block diagram of a mobile VSAT terminal on an ocean surface vessel via Ku-band transponding satellites. Mobile users on board the vessel are connected to the rest of the world by the Ku-band satellites and via their own personnel communications devices 
           [0037]      FIG. 3   c  depicts a functional block diagram of a mobile VSAT terminal on an ocean surface vessel via C-band transponding payloads of UAVs. Mobile users on board the vessel are connected to the rest of the world by the C-band relaying UAVs and via their own personnel communications devices 
           [0038]      FIG. 3   d  depicts a functional block diagram of a mobile VSAT terminal on an ocean surface vessel via Ku-band transponding payloads of UAVs. Mobile users on board the vessel are connected to the rest of the world by the Ku-band relaying UAVs and via their own personnel communications devices 
           [0039]      FIG. 4   a  depicts an example of a distributed array antenna with 7 C-band elements and an L/S band mini hub on a ship mast in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0040]      FIG. 4   b  depicts an example of a distributed array antenna with 7 Ku-band elements and an L/S band mini hub on a ship mast in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0041]      FIG. 4   c  depicts an example of a distributed array antenna with 7 C-band elements and 7 Ku-band elements on a ship mast in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0042]      FIG. 5   a  depicts an example of a C-band array antenna with digital beam forming (DBF) processor to form multiple orthogonal beams (OB) dynamically tracking multiple satellites concurrently with minimized mutual interferences in accordance with some embodiments. Each dynamic OB beam features a smart tracking loop via auxiliary diagnostic beams. 
           [0043]      FIG. 5   b  depicts an example of a Ku-band array antenna with digital beam forming (DBF) processor to form multiple orthogonal beams (OB) dynamically tracking multiple satellites concurrently with minimized mutual interferences in accordance with some embodiments. Each dynamic OB beam features a smart tracking loop via auxiliary diagnostic beams. 
           [0044]      FIG. 5   c  depicts an example of a wavefront multiplexing/de-multiplexing (WF muxing/demuxing) processor via multiple satellites for transporting three independent data streams to a fishing in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0045]      FIG. 5   d  depicts an example of a wavefront de-multiplexing (WF demuxing) processor in a Ku-band array antenna with a multibeam DBF processor to form multiple orthogonal beams (OB) dynamically aggregating power and bandwidth of multiple tracked transponding satellites in accordance with some embodiments. It is a special case for a receiver configuration in  FIG. 5   c.    
           [0046]      FIG. 6   a  depicts three major building blocks in a C-band mobile terminal; (1) a C-band active array, (2) a multibeam DBF processor to form multiple orthogonal beams (OB), a Tx/Rx processor including wavefront muxing/demuxing transforms, which dynamically aggregating power and bandwidth of multiple tracked transponding satellites in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0047]      FIG. 7   a  depicts another example of array antenna for a mobile terminal. It features 4 gimbal small reflectors in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0048]      FIG. 7   b  depicts a block diagram for transmitting functions of 2 concurrent beams via the 4 element array in  FIG. 7   a  in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0049]      FIG. 8  depicts relationships in a earth centered coordinate of three satellites; S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 , in GEO orbit slots and a mobile terminal on a moving ground platform in New-York City bearing north in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0050]      FIG. 9  depicts a snap shot of the dynamic receiving patterns from a 4 element array on the moving platform in  FIG. 8 . The depicted array receiving pattern is a result of an optimization based on a performance constraint of forming beam peak toward the direction pointed to S 2  satellite in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0051]      FIG. 10  depicts a snap shot of the dynamic receiving patterns from the same 4 element array on the moving platform in  FIG. 8 . The depicted array receiving pattern is a result of an optimization based on three concurrent performance constraints; (1) forming beam peak toward the direction pointed to S 2  satellite, (2) steering a beam null toward the direction pointed to S 1  satellite, and (3) steering a beam null toward the direction pointed to S 3  satellite. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0052]    The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalents of those claims. 
         [0053]    Error! Reference source not found. a illustrates a SATCOM operational scenario for various fishing boats  130   s.  The multibeam Satcom antennas on the boats must provide adequate high gain links  123  toward different directions of various relay satellites  120   s  continuously, while the boats  130   s  are on operation. The desired antenna may have multiple tracking beam capability following relay satellites  120   s  independently. There are three satellites, which are individually connected to a ground hub  110  via three independent antennas or a ground antenna with three tracking beams  121 . The ground hub is connected to other ground IP infrastructures  100  via a gateway  105 . The architecture works for both forward links from a ground hub  110  via satellites  120  to fishing boats  130 , and return links from fishing via satellite  120  to a ground hub  110  boats  130   
         [0054]    Error! Reference source not found. b illustrates an operational scenario via UAVs  140  for various fishing boats  130   s.  The multibeam VSAT antennas on these boats must provide adequate high gain links  143  toward different directions of various relay UAVs  140   s  continuously, while the boats  130   s  are on operation. The desired antenna may have multiple tracking beam capability following relay UAVs  120   s  independently. There are three UAVs, which are individually connected to a ground hub  110  via three independent antennas or a ground antenna with three tracking beams  141 . The ground hub is connected to other ground IP infrastructures  100  via a gateway  105 . 
         [0055]    There are other operational scenarios (no shown) via UAVs  140  and satellites  120  for various fishing boats  130   s.  The multibeam VSAT antennas on these boats must provide adequate high gain links  143  toward different directions of various relay UAVs  140   s  and satellites  120  continuously, while the boats  130   s  are on operation. The desired antenna may have multiple tracking beam capability following relaying UAVs  140  and satellites  120   s  independently. There will be many UAVs  140   s  and satellites  120   s,  which are individually connected to a ground hub  110  via multiple independent antennas or a ground antenna with multiple tracking beams  141  and  121 . The ground hub is connected to other ground IP infrastructures  100  via a gateway  105 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 1   c  depicts one-dimensional radiation patterns of near boresite beams from a gimbal dish with a 5-element array feed; (a) a conventional receiving beam  195   a  at 12 GHz, (b) a receiving orthogonal beam  195   b  at 12 GHz with deep nulls at ±2° and ±4°, (c) a conventional transmitting beam  195   c  at 14 GHz, and (d) a transmitting orthogonal beam  195   d  at 14 GHz with deep nulls at ±2° and ±4°. Both OB beams  195   b  and  195   d  at shaped beams under five performance constraints. There are 5 individual Ku transponding satellites servicing a same coverage at the following directions along a geo-stationary orbital arc; (1) a boresite of the gimbal dish, or 0 degrees; (2) +2 degree away from the boresite; (3) +4 degrees away from the boresite; (4) −2 degree away from the boresite; and (5) −4 degrees away from the boresite. 
       Space Assets  
       [0057]    There are many available space assets covering East and South coastal regions of Asia. Let us look at both C and Ku band coverage of satellites near 88° E. 
         [0058]    Error! Reference source not found.  FIG. 2   a  depicts a Ku-band coverage of a retired satellite near 88° E with “representative” EIRP contours in dBW. “Representative” contours are not real performance EIRP contours but representing of coverage regions with the radiated EIRP in the same order of magnitudes of real EIRP. 
         [0059]    The retired satellite was launched on late 1990s. Both C- and Ku-band payloads are still active in this retired satellite. The innermost Ku EIRP contour  223  is 52 dBw, the second contour  222  at 50 dBw and the outer-most contour  221  at 45 dBW. It covers all Yellow sea, majority of Eastern China sea and South China Sea. 
         [0060]    Its C-band coverage (not shown) features EIRP contours of 41 dBw over East Asia, Southeastern Asia, and Western Pacific Ocean. It covers Siberia, Northern Indian Ocean, and most of Middle East with &gt;35 dBW. Almost all the Sea of Okhotsk, Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, coastal region of South Asia, Arabian Sea, New Guinea, Indonesia, northern portion of Australia are under the coverage of the C-band beam. 
         [0061]      FIG. 2   b  depicts another Ku-band coverage of a recently launched satellite near 88° E intended for the replacement of the Ku coverage in  FIG. 2   a  of the old satellite. The newer satellite was launched on late 2012. It is parked in the same orbital slot as that of of the old satellite and comprises two Ku beams, and a C-band global beam, all in LP. The depicted represented EIRP contours feature 50, 48, 46 and 44 dBW coverage, from the innermost  234  to the outer-most  231 . 
         [0062]    The representative EIRP contours of the C band global beam from the newer satellite depicted in  FIG. 2   c  feature 39, and 36 dBw coverage, from the innermost  253  to the outer-most  251 . It covers almost all coastal regions of Asia and some of East Africa. 
         [0063]    Minimized SWaP consumptions are very important design features for the Satcom array antennas on fishing boats. Furthermore, the C or Ku antenna must be designed for easy integration, including testing and calibrations, on to different versions of fishing boats. Costs of equipment and accessible space assets are key drivers for this satellite service. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3   a  depicts one such a mobile terminal at C-band. There are three parts of a terminal, two mast top units  311  and  381 , and an in-cabin unit. The C-band mast top unit  311  comprises of transmitting and receiving antennas and RF frontends aiming toward multiple C-band satellites  120 . The L/S band mast-top unit  381  shall function as mini or small base stations for connecting portable and fixed devices  1301  which may include PC, notebook, cellphones, smart phones and others. This unit  381  may use commercial cell bands, and/or wifi bands to communicate with the user devices  1301 . 
         [0065]    The in-cabin unit  371 , interconnecting satellite communications functions with the on-ship communication functions, comprise of 6 functional blocks; a DBF processor block  321 , a block for Satcom receiving/transmitting processors  331 , a router block  3391 , a mobile modem block  351 , a block for mobile receiving/transmitting processor  361  and a block for monitoring and controlling  341 . 
         [0066]    The DBF processors  321  performs beam forming for multiple tracking beams concurrently for both transmit and receiving functions. The beam forming capability shall feature the ones for multiple shaped beams concurrently, including the one for concurrent OB beams. OB beams are for minimizing mutual interferences among concurrent multiple beams at a common frequency slot. 
         [0067]    The Satcom Rx/Tx processors  331  perform many communications functions such as frequency tracking, time synchronization, channelization, modulation and demodulations. In many embodiments, it may also perform wavefront multiplexing (WF muxing) and wavefront de-multiplexing (WF demuxing) transformations 
         [0068]    The Routers  3391  performs routine functions package by packages (1) from various Satcom links to different WLAN terminals and (2) from various WLAN terminals to different Satcom links 
         [0069]    The mobile modems  351  perform both modulation, and demodulation for an on-ship communications converting data to signal waveforms targeting for user equipment  1301 , and de-modulating the received signal waveforms to a data stream aiming for Satcom connectivity. 
         [0070]    The local network Rx/Tx processors  361  performs functions other than modulation and demodulations; such as timing synchronization, channelization, carrier tracking and many others 
         [0071]    As a result, a wife of a crew member on a fishing boat may send a stream of real-time video or a set of pictures on their son&#39;s graduation ceremony through this service under a low and affordable cost, when the fish boat is a few thousand miles away from their home. 
         [0072]      FIG. 3   b  depicts one such a mobile terminal at Ku-band. There are three parts of a terminal, two mast top units  391  and  381 , and an in-cabin unit. The Ku-band mast top unit  391  comprises of transmitting and receiving antennas and RF frontends aiming toward multiple Ku-band satellites  120 . The L/S band mast-top unit  381  shall function as mini or small base stations for connecting portable and fixed devices  1301  which may include PC, notebook, cellphones, smart phones and others. This unit  381  may use commercial cell bands, and/or wifi bands to communicate with the user devices  1301 . 
         [0073]    The in-cabin unit  371 , interconnecting satellite communications functions with the on-ship communication functions, comprise of 6 functional blocks; a DBF processor block  321 , a block for Satcom receiving/transmitting processors  331 , a router block  3391 , a mobile modem block  351 , a block for mobile receiving/transmitting processor  361  and a block for monitoring and controlling  341 . It is identical to the one in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0074]    The DBF processors  321  performs beam forming for multiple tracking beams concurrently for both transmit and receiving functions. The beam forming capability for Ku-band beams shall feature the ones for multiple shaped beams concurrently, including the one for concurrent OB beams. OB beams are for minimizing mutual interferences among concurrent multiple beams at a common frequency slot. 
         [0075]    In other embodiments to communicate with C-and Ku band satellites concurrently, a mobile terminal may comprise of a Satcom Mast-top unit (not shown) with functions of both a C-band unit  311  and a Ku band unit  391  aiming for various transponders of different satellites at C and/or Ku-bands. The mast top unit comprises of transmitting and receiving antennas and RF frontends aiming toward multiple C- and/or Ku-band satellites  120 . The L/S band mast-top unit  381  shall function as mini or small base stations for connecting portable and fixed devices  1301  which may include PC, notebook, cellphones, smart phones and others. This unit  381  may use commercial cell bands, and/or wifi bands to communicate with the user devices  1301 . 
         [0076]    The in-cabin unit  371 , interconnecting satellite communications functions with the on-ship communication functions, comprise of 6 functional blocks; a DBF processor block  321 , a block for Satcom receiving/transmitting processors  331 , a router block  3391 , a mobile modem block  351 , a block for mobile receiving/transmitting processor  361  and a block for monitoring and controlling  341 . It is identical to the one in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0077]    The DBF processors  321  performs beam forming for multiple tracking beams concurrently for both transmit and receiving functions. The beam forming capability for both C-band and Ku-band beams shall feature the ones for multiple shaped beams concurrently, including the one for concurrent OB beams. OB beams are for minimizing mutual interferences among concurrent multiple beams at a common frequency slot. 
         [0078]      FIG. 3   c  depicts a mobile terminal at C-band aiming for multiple UAVs. There are three parts of a terminal, two mast top units  311  and  381 , and an in-cabin unit. The C-band mast top unit  311  comprises of transmitting and receiving antennas and RF frontends aiming toward multiple C-band UAVs  140 . The L/S band mast-top unit  381  shall function as mini or small base stations for connecting portable and fixed devices  1301  which may include PC, notebook, cellphones, smart phones and others. This unit  381  may use commercial cell bands, and/or wifi bands to communicate with the user devices  1301 . 
         [0079]    The in-cabin unit  371 , interconnecting satellite communications functions with the on-ship communication functions, comprise of 6 functional blocks; a DBF processor block  321 , a block for Satcom receiving/transmitting processors  331 , a router block  3391 , a mobile modem block  351 , a block for mobile receiving/transmitting processor  361  and a block for monitoring and controlling  341 . 
         [0080]    The DBF processors  321  performs beam forming for multiple tracking beams concurrently for both transmit and receiving functions. The beam forming capability shall feature the ones for multiple shaped beams concurrently, including the one for concurrent OB beams. OB beams are for minimizing mutual interferences among concurrent multiple beams at a common frequency slot. 
         [0081]      FIG. 3   d  depicts a mobile terminal at Ku-band aiming for multiple UAVs. There are three parts of a terminal, two mast top units  391  and  381 , and an in-cabin unit. The Ku-band mast top unit  391  comprises of transmitting and receiving antennas and RF frontends aiming toward multiple Ku-band UAVs  140 . The L/S band mast-top unit  381  shall function as mini or small base stations for connecting portable and fixed devices  1301  which may include PC, notebook, cellphones, smart phones and others. This unit  381  may use commercial cell bands, and/or wifi bands to communicate with the user devices  1301 . 
         [0082]    The in-cabin unit  371 , interconnecting satellite communications functions with the on-ship communication functions, comprise of 6 functional blocks; a DBF processor block  321 , a block for Satcom receiving/transmitting processors  331 , a router block  3391 , a mobile modem block  351 , a block for mobile receiving/transmitting processor  361  and a block for monitoring and controlling  341 . 
         [0083]    The DBF processors  321  performs beam forming for multiple tracking beams concurrently for both transmit and receiving functions. The beam forming capability shall feature the ones for multiple shaped beams concurrently, including the one for concurrent OB beams. OB beams are for minimizing mutual interferences among concurrent multiple beams at a common frequency slot. 
         [0084]    In other embodiments to communicate with C-and Ku band UAVs concurrently, a mobile terminal may comprise of a Satcom Mast-top unit (not shown) with functions of both a C-band unit  311  and a Ku band unit  391  aiming for various transponding UAVs  140  at C and/or Ku-bands. The mast top unit comprises of transmitting and receiving antennas and RF frontends aiming toward multiple C- and/or Ku-band UAVs  140 . The L/S band mast-top unit  381  shall function as mini or small base stations for connecting portable and fixed devices  1301  which may include PC, notebook, cellphones, smart phones and others. This unit  381  may use commercial cell bands, and/or wifi bands to communicate with the user devices  1301 . 
         [0085]    The in-cabin unit  371 , interconnecting satellite communications functions with the on-ship communication functions, comprise of 6 functional blocks; a DBF processor block  321 , a block for UAV-based receiving/transmitting processors  331 , a router block  3391 , a mobile modem block  351 , a block for mobile receiving/transmitting processor  361  and a block for monitoring and controlling  341 . It is identical to the one in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0086]    The DBF processors  321  performs beam forming for multiple tracking beams concurrently for both transmit and receiving functions. The beam forming capability for both C-band and Ku-band beams shall feature the ones for multiple shaped beams concurrently, including the one for concurrent OB beams. OB beams are for minimizing mutual interferences among concurrent multiple beams at a common frequency slot. 
         [0087]    In another set of embodiments to communicate with both satellites and UAVs concurrently at C-and Ku bands, a mobile terminal may comprise of a com mast-top unit (not shown) with functions of both a C-band unit  311  and a Ku band unit  391  aiming for various transponding UAVs  140  and/or satellites  120  at C and/or Ku-bands. The mast top unit comprises of transmitting and receiving antennas and RF frontends aiming toward multiple C- and/or Ku-band satellites  120  and/or UAVs  140 . The L/S band mast-top unit  381  shall function as mini or small base stations for connecting portable and fixed devices  1301  which may include PC, notebook, cellphones, smart phones and others. This unit  381  may use commercial cell bands, and/or wifi bands to communicate with the user devices  1301 . 
         [0088]    The in-cabin unit  371 , interconnecting satellite communications functions with the on-ship communication functions, comprise of 6 functional blocks; a DBF processor block  321 , a block for UAV-based receiving/transmitting processors  331 , a router block  3391 , a mobile modem block  351 , a block for mobile receiving/transmitting processor  361  and a block for monitoring and controlling  341 . It is identical to the one in  FIG. 3   a.    
       A Nearly Conformed and Distributed Aperture  
       [0089]    A distributed array with multiple elements  430  in C-band for a fishing boat depicted in Error! Reference source not found.  FIG. 4   a  are mounted on a mast  410 . In this figure, there are 7 C-band elements, as an example, distributed on the circumference of a 3-meter circular ring. Each element is associated with power amplifiers (PAs) for transmission and low-noise-amplifiers (LNAs) for receptions of dual polarization signals. In reception, the captured signals by individual elements are conditioned (low noise amplified and filtered) before frequency down converted and digitized. The digitized signals are sent for further processing in an in-cabin unit  371  in which a DBF processor  321  will perform beam-forming calculation for multiple concurrent OB beams individually focusing the received signals toward different directions of various C-band satellites. An OB beam features a peak on a targeted desired satellite direction and nulls to directions of undesired satellites which shall be the pointing directions of peaks of other OB beams. 
         [0090]    An L/S band mini hub  420  on the mast is also depicted and is for communications links to and from mobile users  1301  on a fishing boat  130 . 
         [0091]    In other embodiments with features of OB beams, the C-band elements for small boats may be distributed over an area with less than 2 meter in diameter without compromising interference rejection capabilities in the directions of adjacent C-band satellites but with penalty of reduced peak gain in the desired beam direction 
         [0092]      FIG. 4   b  depicts a distributed Ku array with multiple elements  440 , similar to the C band design depicted in  FIG. 4   a . The exemplified array features 7 distributed gimbaled elements or subarrays; each with a 6″ aperture area to form multiple OB beams. For the 7 element Ku-band distributed array with full capability of forming OB beams with a minimum null-to-peak angular distance of 2 degrees, these elements may only be distributed over a required area with less than 1 meter in diameter without compromising interference rejection capabilities in the directions of adjacent Ku satellites and without penalty of reduced peak gain in the desired beam direction. 
         [0093]      FIG. 4   c  depicts a distributed array with multiple Ku elements  440  and C band elements  430  on a mast  410 , similar to the C-band design depicted in  FIG. 4   a  and the Ku band design in  FIG. 4   b . There is a L/S band min-hub anchored on the same mast  410 . The exemplified array features two sets of 7 distributed gimbaled elements or subarrays; one for C-band and one for Ku band. Each of the elements for Ku band array features a 6″ aperture area to form multiple OB beams. The distributed array is with full capability of forming OB beams with a minimum null-to-peak angular distance of 2 degrees, these elements may only be distributed over a required area with less than 1 meter in diameter without compromising interference rejection capabilities in the directions of adjacent Ku satellites and without penalty of reduced peak gain in the desired beam direction. 
         [0094]    In many other embodiments on the other hand, the array elements  430  and  440  of distributed arrays could be nearly conformed to a boat profile in the final integration process while the elements or subarrays might have been designed to be planner. The array antennas would consist of multiple smaller apertures distributed on the topside of a fishing boat operating coherently. Subarray modules will be fitted onto these small surface areas individually, and mechanically mounted independently. They may not be on a plane. Consequently, their field of views (FOV&#39;s) may become significantly different providing the key functions of dynamic selection of FOVs, enhancing system operability with dramatically improved configurability and survivability. 
         [0095]    A smart C band antenna depicted on  FIG. 5   a  comprises of three building blocks; a C band mast-top unit  311 , a DBF processor  321 , and a unit of Rx/Tx Processors  331 . It is organized by properly interconnecting these three major functional boxes as depicted. The DBF  321  is capable of forming multiple simultaneous bam very cost effectively. Some  322  are used for diagnostic; probing know directions of multiple satellites to calculate orientations and relative velocities  323  of the anchoring fishing boat. This information along with the boat current position are passed to a beam controller  324  to calculate the new constraints for a set of updating OB beams in C band. 
         [0096]    A smart Ku band antenna depicted on  FIG. 5   b  comprises of three building blocks; a Ku band mast-top unit  391 , a DBF processor  321 , and a unit of Rx/Tx Processors  331 . It is organized by properly interconnecting these three major functional boxes as depicted. The DBF  321  is capable of forming multiple simultaneous bam very cost effectively. Some  322  are used for diagnostic; probing know directions of multiple satellites to calculate orientations and relative velocities  323  of the anchoring fishing boat. This information along with the boat current position are passed to a beam controller  324  to calculate the new constraints for a set of updating OB beams in Ku band. 
       Wavefront Multiplexing/De-Multiplexing (WF Muxing/Demuxing)  
       [0097]    In other embodiments, WF muxing and WF demuxing are incorporated in satellite communication architectures to dynamically share resources of space assets as depicted in  FIG. 5   c  as an exemplified configuration for mobile VSAT for fishing boats in a forward link, such as depicted in  FIG. 1  from a ground hub  110  to a fishing boat  130 - 6 . The return links (not shown) are similar with WF muxing in transmitting fishing boats  130  and WF demuxing in receiving ground hub  110 . The mathematic details on WF muxing/demuxing have been presented in many publications. We are citing two recently published US patents; U.S. Pat. No. 8,535,326 B2 on Sep. 17, 2013 titled “Accessing LP transponders with CP terminals via wavefront multiplexing techniques,” and U.S. Pat. No. 8,547,897 B2 on Oct. 1, 2013 titled “Coherent power combining for signals through multiple satellite communications channels.” 
         [0098]    As depict in  FIG. 5   d , there are three sets of major functional blocks to implement WF muxing in a transmitter; a set of 3 serial-to-parallel (s2p) converters  1102 , a M-to-M WF muxing unit  1103 , and a set of 4 conventional multiplexer  1103   a  multiplexing multiple low speed data streams into a consolidated high speed stream. The conventional multiplexing may be TDM, FDM, CDM and/or combinations of all above. A 256-to-256 Hadamard transform will be used as a WF muxing  1103  device as the example. The 3 s2p devices  1102  may be programmable to dynamically allocate total bandwidth to three users. 
         [0099]    Similarly there are four sets of major functional blocks to implement WF demuxing in a receiver; a set of 4 conventional de-multiplexer  333   a,  a M-to-M WF demuxing unit  3333 , and a set of 3 parallel-to-series (p2s) converters  334  which perform the inverse functions of s2p units  1102  in the transmitter. A second 256-to-256 Hadamard transform will be used as a WF de-muxing device  333  as the example in a receiving processor  331 . A set of 4 conventional de-multiplexing devices  333 A shall perform the inverse processing of those in multiplexers  1103 A at the transmitter, restructuring multiple low speed data streams from a consolidated high speed stream. The conventional de-multiplexing may be TDM, FDM, CDM and/or combinations of all above. 
         [0100]    As depicted, there are three independent data streams to be transported via 4 transponders in three satellites from a source  110  to a fishing boat, such as the one  130 - 6  in  FIG. 1 . The three data streams are the same ones in  FIG. 5   c ; identified as sA, sB, and sC. The three transponding satellites are identified as  120 - 1 ,  120 - 2 , and  120 - 3 . The reserved frequency slots with identical bandwidths in all three satellites feature a common center frequency. 
         [0101]    A first signal stream, sA, after converted to multiple parallel substreams by a first serial-to-parallel (s2p) device  1102 , will be connected to 64 of the 256 input ports of the WF muxer  1103 . Similarly, a second signal stream sB, after a second s2p device, will be connected to a second 64 inputs of the remaining 192 input ports of the WF muxer  1103 . The third data stream will be connected to 127 of the remaining 128 input ports. The last input port shall be assigned to a probing/diagnostic signal stream. 
         [0102]    The input port assignments may not be contiguous for any users. The assignment sequences may be used for additional means for privacy protections in data transport via WF muxing/demuxing techniques. 
         [0103]    The probing signals may be applied to more than one input ports continuously, or a small portion of available time, frequency or code slots of an input port or multiple input ports concurrently. In addition, probing signals ports may be used periodically and dynamically for authentication, redundancy for data streams, and/or security keys in different embodiments. 
         [0104]    At any one of the 256 outputs of the WF muxing device  1103 , the output value is a weighted sum of input data from the 256 input ports. There are 256 weighted sums; one for each output. A distribution of the weighting parameters for a first signal stream among the 256 outputs (corresponding to the 256 weighted sums) is a first wavefront vector (WF vector, WFV). There are 256 WF vectors (WFVs) which are mutually orthogonal for a 256-to-256 Hadamard transform. Occasionally, we refer to these WF vectors simply as wavefronts (WFs). The 256 outputs are referred as wavefront multiplexed (WF muxed) data streams, which are grouped into 4 consolidated WF muxed streams via a bank of 4 conventional 64-to-1 multiplexers  1103 A. A first consolidated stream is delivered by a multibeam antenna, such as the one  440  in  FIG. 4   b,  to an assigned first satellite transponder  120 - 1 . Concurrently, a second consolidated stream is delivered by the same multibeam antenna, such as the one  440  in  FIG. 4   b,  to an assigned second satellite transponder  120 - 2 , and so on. 
         [0105]    A common frequency slot is assigned for 4 Ku transponders covering the same fishing boat; two from a first satellite  120 - 1 , one from a second satellite  120 - 2  and one from a third satellite  120 - 3 . Normally, a multibeam antenna  110  at the uplink station is capable to deliver multiple independent data streams to the assigned transponders at a common frequency slot. 
         [0106]    A conventional communications architecture might have followed a rule that the assigned frequency slot in the first transponder is to accommodate a first data stream, and so on. Any one of the 4 streams would appear in one of the 4 transponders only. As a result, the receiving antenna array  440  on the fishing boat  130 - 6  is capable of receiving various data streams from different transponders individually. Crew member A would receive a first data stream, sA, from the first transponder, crew member B would collect a second received data stream, sB, from the second transponder, and crew member C would access a combined data stream from a third received data stream, sC1, from the third transponder, and a 4 th  data stream, sC2, from the 4 th  transponder. The combining function from the two substream is performed by a post processor in receiver. 
         [0107]    Alternatively with the WF muxing/demuxing architectures; any one of the 4 consolidated WF muxed streams will appear in one of the 4 transponders only, but any one of the original 3 user data streams and a probing/diagnostic signal stream will appear in all the 4 transponders with 4 sets of unique distributions. 
         [0108]    In a receiving processing  331  before the demodulators  335  also depicted are a bank of 4 conventional 1-to-64 de-multiplexers  333 A, a bank of 64 adaptive equalizers  332 , a 256-to-256WF demuxing  333 , and a set of three parallel to series (p2s) converters  334 . The conventional demultiplexers  333 A perform reverse functions of the associated multiplexers  1103 A. The adaptive equalizers  332  will dynamically calibrate and compensate for the 4 path differentials in amplitudes and phases across selected frequency bands including effects among various transponding satellites  120  from the source  110  to the fishing boat  130 - 6  in the destination. The set of 3 p2s  334  are the reverse processing of those  1102  in the transmitting source  110 . 
         [0109]    The WF demuxing  333  on the fishing boat  130 - 6  is the inverse processing of the N-to-N WF muxing transform at the signal source of an uplink station  110 , where N=256. There are three streams of data from the user group delivered to three crew members concurrently. The first two streams, sA and sB are identical flow rate, and the third one, sC, is flowing at nearly twice the rate of that of the first two. Less than 0.5% of total bandwidth (1/256) from space assets is allocated for calibration through the selection of only 1 of the 256 input ports for diagnostic and probing functions. 
         [0110]    The depicted are for a forward link from a WF muxing  1103  as a preprocessing in a source transmission  110  ground a ground uplink, via multiple transponders  120   s  on various conventional satellites to a WF demuxing  333  as a post processing in a fishing boat  130 - 6 . A return link architecture (not shown) will feature a WF muxing  1103  as a preprocessing in transmission on a fishing boat  130 - 6 , via multiple transponders  120   s  on various conventional satellites to a WF demuxing  333  as a post processing in a receiver on ground station  110 . The depicted transponders are assumed all available for frequency slots with same bandwidth in a common frequency. In general, WF muxing/demuxing architectures can be implemented with transponders which may only be available with various bandwidths at different frequency slots on multiple satellites. 
         [0111]      FIG. 5   d  depict receiving functions with WF demuxing on a fishing boat for a special case of  FIG. 5   c  for another embodiment. Only one of the three data stream is for a crew member on the fishing boat  130 - 6 . The other two data streams are for crew members on other ships in a same common coverage by the three satellites  120   s.  As comparing the configuration to the one on  FIG. 5   b , functions of a wavefront de-multiplexing (WF demuxing) transformer  333  is identified in an Rx processor. There is a counter part of this, a WF muxing transform (not shown), in a ground hub  110 , referred to  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0112]      FIG. 6  depicts three functional blocks for satellite communications on a C-band Mobile terminal as described in  FIG. 3   a . It is a two unit baseline design, a mast top unit and an in-cabin unit which comprising of a DBF processor  321  and a Tx/Rx processor  331 . The mast top unit with a C-band active arrays  430  and their front ends features 7 to 10 C-band small distributed apertures or subarrays, each about 50 cm in diameter mounted on top of a ship-mast  410  of a commercial ocean vessel  130 . A DBF processor  321  is remotely located in the in-cabin unit. The DBF shall form multiple beams which individually tracking individual satellites on the moving vessel. In some embodiments the DBF  321  performs beam forming for at least two tracking beams at both right-hand-circularly-polarized (RHCP) and left-hand-circularly-polarized (LHCP) toward a satellite with at least two linearly polarized (LP) transponders. Interconnects between the C-band array  430  mounted on top of the ship-mask  410  and its remote beam forming network  321  are mostly fiber base or wireless base. Cable interconnects, which is technically feasible but became very expensive due to high material cost in last decade, may not be a viable approach for low cost installations. 
         [0113]      FIG. 7   a  depicts an alternate design of a distributed array on a mobile platform. There are 4 elements  711 - 1  to  711 - 4  for a C-band distributed array  711 , but the elements are individually mechanical gimbaled apertures. In some embodiments, the array  711  with four 1-m diameter parabolic dishes is anchored over area  701  with ˜2.6 m in diameter. Since the array features multiple discrete apertures, which can be mounted independently on s ship mast such as a one  410  in  FIG. 6   a . There are no beam forming mechanisms locally for interconnecting the array elements. Beam forming are performed remotely in an in-cabin unit. 
         [0114]      FIG. 7   b  shows transmitting functions for the array  711  as a transmitting array to form to two independent tracking beams; a first beam for transporting Sa to a first satellite, and a second beam for transporting Sb to a second transponding satellite. The two independent transmitting beams share a set of power amplifier modules  712 . There are to places performing beam pointing; one at the gimbaled dishes  711 - 1  to  711 - 4 , and the other at remote beam forming processors  321 - 1  and  321 - 1 . A gimbaled dish selects a relocatable but fixed sized instantaneous field-of-view (FOV) via a mechanical gimbals mechanism. The 4 gimbal dishes  711 - 1  to  711 - 4  may not be on a planar surface but their FOVs shall be pointed to a common range within which the two targeted satellites must be located. Each of the two DBF processors  321  will form a shaped beam tracking one of the two satellites continuously. The tracking shaped beam shall feature much sharper beam width, and better antenna gain than that from a single dish  711 . 
         [0115]    As the data stream Sa flows in  FIG. 7   b  after converted to a waveform stream, it is sent to a first 1-to-4 DBF  321 - 1 , in which Sa waveform stream is replicated 4 times and then individually weighted in both amplitude and phase according to a beam weighting vector (BWV) supplied and updated continuously by a beam controller (not shown). Similarly the Sb data stream will become 4 weighted replicates at the outputs of the second DBF  321 - 2 . These two sets of 4 weighted replicates are individually sum-together. The 4 sums of individually weighted replicates are then converted from base-band digital formats to C-band analogue signals by a bank of 4 converter channels  714 - 1  to  714 - 4 , followed by a bank of 4 hybrids, a bank to smart amplifier modules  712 - 1  to  712 - 4  before connected to the 4 gimbaled array elements  711 - 1  to  711 - 4 . The dishes  711 , smart amplifier modules  712 , the hybrids  713  are built in an on-mast-top unit similar to the one  311  in  FIG. 5   a . The converters  714 , DBFs  321 , and modulators  715  are all in an in-cabin unit  371  in  FIG. 5   b . Interconnects between the two units may either be a fiber-based or be linked by wireless network. 
       Design-in Calibration Capability  
       [0116]    Design-in real time calibration capability will significantly cut down the final integration-and-test (I &amp; T) effort. The calibration is achieved through digital beam forming (DBF) processing and will include adjustments on time delays, amplitudes and phases among the subarrays through beam weight vectors (BWVs), each of which corresponds to a beam position. Since the subarrays of a distributed array may not be on regular plannar grids and BWV&#39;s are usually obtained through optimization process in range measurement as a part of calibration process. BWVs are highly dependent on the array geometries, and shall be calibrated periodically. 
         [0117]    Cross-correlation techniques will facilitate the calibration, and I &amp; T process, significantly reducing the burden on equalizing multiple parallel signal channels and on calibrating beam positions. With the design-in calibration capability for the distributed arrays, the precisions of the positions and orientations of the subarrays may be relaxed significantly. After final integration, the design-in calibration will perform cross-correlation measurements and update the BWV&#39;s accordingly. As a result, the position and orientation uncertainties will be completely compensated as a part of the calibration process. 
       Tracking Mechanisms  
       [0118]    One of the important design features of SATCOM arrays on mobile platforms is a low cost tracking mechanism for the high gain low profile arrays. The arrays must generate beams continuously pointed to targeted satellite directions even as the vehicle in high maneuvering modes. 
         [0119]      FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 10  are to demonstrate the adequate satellite tracking using real time optimizations to achieve functional OB beams on a moving platforms. However, since they are not videos, we can only show features of displayed reception patterns from a distributed antenna with 4 elements on a moving ground vehicle.in NY city. 
         [0120]    Two techniques for the dynamic beam-weight-vector (BWV) updates are practical; (1) table lookup based on none-real time retro-directivities, and (2) based on real time beam shape optimization. 
         [0121]      FIG. 8  illustrates a snap shot of geometry of a mobile platform moving in New York City with respect to three S-band satellites in geostationary orbit. It depicts the Coordinate for a mobile platform in the city of New York with respected to three targeted satellites (S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 ) in geostationary orbit. In this example, three satellites, S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 , are targeted. There are all in the geostationary orbit at the longitudes of 92.85° w, 101 ° w, and 111.1° w, respectively. 
         [0122]      FIG. 9  depicts a dynamic radiation pattern of one of the multiple tracking beams on the ground mobile terminal using real time beam shaping optimization under constraints of directions of beam peaks only. They are parts of graphical interfaces between the mobile terminal and its user, illustrating snapshots of the dynamic radiation contour patterns in UV space of three simultaneous beams generated by a distributed aperture. The graphic displays also depict the information on the terminal orientation in UV space and the target satellite locations and directions with the pitch, yaw and roll effects of the moving vehicle. There are three targeted potential satellites at S-band; satellite S 1  near ˜93° W, satellite S 2  at ˜101° W, and satellite S 3  at ˜111° W. 
         [0123]    The distributed aperture at S-band features three simultaneous beams and consists of 4 randomly spaced subarrays with maximum spacing about 4 λ. We demonstrate the beam tracking capability using a real time and highly efficient beam shaping optimization program, and therefore has displayed the array factor and all the element pattern effects on the snapshots of dynamic radiation patterns. 
         [0124]    The moving platform is due north, moving on a flat ground surface. This beam is commanded to point at the second satellite, S 2  at 101° w longitude. The shaped beam by the efficient optimization program features a ˜20 dB peak gain near S 2  satellite, a 15 dB gain toward S 1  satellite direction, and 4 dB gain at S 3  satellite direction, providing a directional isolation S 2 /S 1  only by −5 dB, and that of S 3 /S 1  by −16 dB. These isolation levels are short of nominal specifications of −25 dB. 
         [0125]      FIG. 10  depicts reception patterns of the same array but with additional directional constraints on the beam shaping process as those in  FIG. 9 . The reception dynamic pattern is a result of optimization with constraints on beam peaks and nulls. The radiation pattern snapshot of the shaped beam shown has a beam peak of ˜20 dB at the Satellite S 2  direction (u=˜32° and v=˜−37°, and two separated nulls towards Satellites S 1  (u=˜23.5°, v=−40°) with ˜−39 dB gain and S 3  (u=˜41° and v=˜−32°) with −15 dB gain, respectively. As a result of additional constraints in the optimization, the shaped beam delivers
       i. A peak gain of ˜29 dB at the direction of S 2  satellite   ii. Isolation to the direction of S 1  with a directional discrimination S 1 /S 2  of −59 dB,   iii. Isolation to the direction of S 3  with a directional discrimination S 3 /S 2  of −35 dB       
 
         [0129]    Furthermore, the radiation pattern of a second dynamic shaped beam (not shown) shall be peaked at Satellite S 2 , and features two nulls at the directions of Satellite S 2  and S 3 , respectively. The radiation pattern of the third dynamic shaped beam (not shown) shall be always peaked at Satellite S 3 , featuring two nulls pointing at the directions of Satellite S 2  and S 1 , respectively, as the platform.is dynamically moving. 
         [0130]    There are alternatives in implementations; such as the following three 
       L-Band Interconnections  
       [0131]    Subarrays  711  are interconnected and become an array antenna to form transmit and receive beams by (flexible) digital beam forming (DBF) networks at base-band. The interconnection between the subarrays and a central DBF processor performing DBF may be coaxial cables at L-band or short distance active fibers with I/O at L-band. 
       Subarrays to Perform FOV Selection  
       [0132]    Using receive (Rx) functions as example, the subarray beam forming process takes advantages of Bulter Matrixes and Switch Matrixes, reducing available field of view (FOV) of individual elements to a selected FOV of subarrays covering targeted satellites before further processing. 
       Low Profile Elements and Subarrays (or Small Gimbaled Dishes)  
       [0133]    To avoid the presence of high physical profile for Satcom array antennas on moving vehicles, low profile radiating elements may be used. Using cost as a key design driver, subarrays using printed circuit boards are proposed as the modular building blocks, which include multiple low profile elements and beam-forming and switching capabilities. There are no moving parts, no phase shifters. The size of a plannar subarray will be about 5 λ to 10 λ. We may use Duroid or LTCC for C-band subarrays, and LTCC for Ku band low profile subarrays. 
         [0134]    Alternatively, small dishes about 10 λ in diameter with two-axis-gimbals may be used to replace the subarrays. The small dishes are anchored and gimbaled independently to select the proper FOV for DBF. This is the most efficient and the lowest cost approach but it will have relatively high physical profiles, and can support multi-beam efficiently only when the beam positions are all within the selected FOV.