SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM EMPLOYING A COMBINATION OF TIME SLOTS AND ORTHOGONAL CODES

摘要

A satellite communication system for communicating between a plurality of user terminals is disclosed having at least one satellite which provides multiple beams, a plurality of user terminals that communicate with each other via satellites of said constellation, at least one gateway connected to a public switched telephone network and communicating with at least one user terminal over the satellite communication system wherein each of said user terminals within a given frequency band is distinguished from another of the user terminals employing a combination of time slots and orthogonal codes implemented in a forward and return link. Each of the user terminals is equipped to initiate or receive or terminate packet data messages. Each of said user terminals is handed off from one beam of a satellite to another beam of said satellite. The hand off is predicated on signal strength determined at said plurality of user terminals.