System for determining burst sending timing in tdma communication

Abstract

A system for determining burst sending timing in a time division multiple access communication system using a communication satellite, in which burst signals transmitted from a plurality of stations are arranged on the communication satellite in one frame at predetermined intervals. On the transmitting side connected to the communication satellite through a radio wave path, a first signal composed of a first signal state over one frame length defined by the sending frame timing is sent, and then second, third, fourth, . . . signals each composed of the first signal state and a second state different from the first signal state are sent. In this case, the position or length of the first signal state in one frame is altered by a certain amount. On the receiving side connected to the communication satellite through a radio wave path, the number of frames of the burst signals transmitted is counted during a duration from the detection of the first signal to the detection of the next first or second state at a predetermined time slot in a frame of the burst signals, and the sending timing of each station based on the sending frame timing is determined on the base of the counted number of frames and the certain amount.