Nortel Networks Corporation

Stewart O'Dell

Wing Fai Lo

Payam Maveddat

A satellite communication system provides multicast messaging services to subscriber units. Upon receipt of a multicast communication page from a satellite communication system network, a subscriber unit waits for a random delay period and then responds with an acknowledge signal. Based upon the time of receipt of the acknowledge signal, e.g., within one of a plurality of time periods, the satellite communication system network assigns the subscriber unit to one of a plurality of traffic channels. The satellite communication system infrastructure then sends a multicast communication message to the subscriber unit on the assigned traffic channel. The subscriber unit then waits for a random delay period and then responds with an acknowledge signal. The satellite communication system network then receives the acknowledge signal. Each of a plurality of subscriber units introduces a random delay before transmitting an acknowledge signal so that the satellite communication system network may determine which of the subscriber units received the multicast communication system message.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Stewart O'Dell