Vistar Telecommunications Inc.

Transcore Link Logistics Corporation

Hans-Christian Haugli

William Robert Seed

Brian Armbruster

Bachittar Singh Sembi

Michael Zuliani

A two-way satellite communications system includes an Earth station communicating with a plurality of remote terminals using a network access protocol that facilitates low power consumption by the terminals. The earth station generates forward link TDM packet data transmissions on one or more satellite channels, and detects, despreads and decodes multiple concurrent return link slotted CDMA packet transmissions on one or more satellite channels. It communicates through a wired connection with a packet processing center which ultimately both delivers return link packet data to end-customers and receives forward link packet data from end-customers. The remote terminals receive, process and act upon forward link TDM transmissions on one or more satellite channels, and generate slotted spread spectrum CDMA transmissions on the return link on one or more satellite channels. The remote terminals communicate with a local digital data source and/or sink, digitize one or more local analog sensor signals, enter into a sleep mode to minimize the terminal's power consumption, and access the satellite communications network in accordance with the system network access protocol.

Wireless packet data distributed communications system

A two-way satellite communications system includes an Earth station communicating with a plurality of remote terminals using a network access protocol that facilitates low power consumption by the terminals. The earth station generates forward link TDM packet data transmissions on one or-more satellite channels, and detects, despreads and decodes multiple concurrent return link slotted CDMA packet transmissions on one or more satellite channels. It communicates through a wired connection with a packet processing center which ultimately both delivers return link packet data to end-customers and receives forward link packet data from end-customers. The remote terminals receive, process and act upon forward link TDM transmissions on one or more satellite channels, and generate slotted spread spectrum CDMA transmissions on the return link on one or more satellite channels. The remote terminals communicate with a local digital data source and/or sink, digitize one or more local analog sensor signals, enter into a sleep mode to minimize the terminal's power consumption, and access the satellite communications network in accordance with the system network access protocol.

A packet data communication system includes a control station and a plurality of mobile terminals that communicate on demand with the control station over a wireless link. The control station has a data port for receiving data packtets destined for the terminals, an arrangement for generating a plurality of data channels for carrying the data packets, and an arrangement for assigning the data packets destined for a particular terminal to one or more of the data channels. A control channel carries control information pertaining to the data channels. The channels are trasmitted to the mobile terminals as an r.f. signal. The terminals have a receiver for receiving the r.f. signal, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the received signal, and a buffer for storing the digitized received signal. The terminals continually monitor the control channel to extract control information. The stored signal is processed to extract packet data destined for the terminal from one or more of the data channels in response to control information received on the control channel.

TDMA packet data communication system

A packet data communication system includes a control station and a plurality of mobile terminals that communicate on demand with the control station over a wireless link. The control station has a data port for receiving data packets destined for the terminals, an arrangement for generating a plurality of data channels for carrying the data packets, and an arrangement for assigning the data packets destined for a particular terminal to one or more of the data channels. A control channel carries control information pertaining to the data channels. The channels are transmitted to the mobile terminals as an r.f. signal. The terminals have a receiver for receiving the r.f. signal, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the received signal, and a buffer for storing the digitized received signal. The terminals continually monitor the control channel to extract control information. The stored signal is processed to extract packet data destined for the terminal from one or more of the data channels in response to control information received on the control channel.

Packet data communication system with buffered data and control channels

In a method of providing an interactive broadcast service, broadcast signals are transmitted via a wideband satellite link to end users. Return signals are received from the users transmitted over a narrowband satellite link separate from the first link. The return signals allow users of the service to send commands back to the base station to request specific services.

Interactive satellite broadcast system

A method is described for transmitting a signal over a wireless communications channel, the communications channel being common to primary and secondary communications systems that have at least partially overlapping areas of coverage. The primary system has a low duty cycle and transmits random bursts having a characteristic first duration. The method involves transmitting bursts on the secondary system, which have a duration at least equal to three times the first duration and contain forward error correcting codes to permit data contained therein to be recovered in the event of a collision with a burst on the primary system. The bursts on the secondary system have an intensity sufficiently below the intensity of the bursts on the primary system to avoid interference therewith.

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Rockcliffe Park, Canada

Hans-Christian Haugli