SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR LOCAL-AREA COVERAGE

摘要

PURPOSE: A system is to provide efficient communication in rural, remote, or sparsely populated areas, in areas lacking a conventional telephone infrastructure, and in special areas such as airports where traffic is relatively localized. CONSTITUTION: A communication system comprises a subscriber unit(110), an entry node(600) and a communication interface(520). The subscriber units(110) are connected to an entry node(600) by respective local access loop and traffic from the subscriber units(110) is carried to and from the satellite system(200) by the entry node(600), which is located in a local area to be served by the system. The entry node(600) switches local traffic and connects traffic between the subscribers in the local area among the subscribers and outside circuits through the appropriate satellite system. In here, the entry node(600) communicates with the satellite system(200) via a suitable antenna(675), and the satellite system communicates with an earth station(400) via an antenna(450). A communication interface(520) connects the earth station(400) to a remote network so to facilitate communication between the subscribers in the local area of the entry node(600) and the outside circuits of the remote network.