Method for accounting for user terminal connection to a satellite communications system

摘要

A method and system for accurately accounting for an amount of satellite communications system resources that are allotted to and utilized by a user terminal on a per call or connection basis. The method accumulates data at periodic intervals during a connection, the data indicating what portion of the overall system resources are utilized on both a forward link (gateway to satellite(s) to user terminal) and on a reverse link (user terminal to satellite(s) to gateway). The usage data can include power levels, data rates, user terminal location, and user terminal type. A Gateway (18) that is assigned to handling the call for the user terminal (13) accumulates the data and subsequently transfers the data over a terrestrial data network (39) to a Ground Operations Control Center (38). The center uses the data to determine an amount to be billed to a service provider associated with a service area that includes the gateway. The center may also uses this data to derive statistical information describing the communications traffic handled by the gateway, and to derive predicted resource allocation and resource scheduling information for the gateway.