Transcore Link Logistics Corporation

Vistar Telecommunications Inc.

William Robert Seed

Hans-Christian Haugli

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 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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Kanata, Canada

William Robert Seed