METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE STATION-TO-MOBILE STATION CALLS IN A MOBILE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH ON-BOARD TDMA FORMAT CONVERSION

摘要

A method and apparatus for mobile station-to-mobile station communications in a mobile satellite communications system using an asymmetrical TDMA format is presented. According to the present invention, a first mobile station broadcasts a first signal to an orbiting satellite using a first TDMA format. The satellite receives the first signal, maps the first TDMA format to a second TDMA format and broadcasts a second signal having a second TDMA format to a second mobile station.