Providing control-function data in communication-data channel of a full-mesh satellite communication network by dynamic time-slot assignment in TDMA-frame communication channel

摘要

In a communication system including a plurality of user terminals in a full-mesh network and a network-control-station terminal, control-function data is communicated between an individual user terminal and the network-control-station terminal in a given TDMA-frame communication channel while the given TDMA-frame communication channel is also being used for communicating user-communication data between user terminals. The control-function data and the user-communication data are communicated within control-function time slots and user-communication time slots respectively of the given TDMA-frame communication channel. The time slots for such communications are dynamically assigned in response to time-slot assignment signals communicated from the network-control-station terminal when the communication link between the user terminals is established. Control-function data is communicated from the user terminals to the network-control-station terminal in even-numbered control-function time slots of different given TDMA-frame communication channels; and control-function data is communicated from the network-control-station to the user terminals in odd-numbered control-function time slots of different given TDMA-frame communication channels.