DEMAND ASSIGNMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A TIME DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS SATELLITE COMMUNICATION NETWORK

摘要

In a time division multiple access satellite communication system, a reference station which allocates channel capacity also regulates demand by the ground stations for that capacity. The regulation is accomplished by means in the reference station for transmitting limiting, blocking and revocation messages to the ground stations and means in the ground stations responsive to these messages to regulate the processing of input service requests. The limiting messages notify the ground stations to limit their channel usage to the channels required in the last demand message transmitted but not to exceed their last channel assignment. The blocking messages instruct the ground stations to unconditionally block any new requests for service on their input ports, rather than counting such calls as increments of demand, and thereby effectively reduce the aggregate demand in the system. When the reference station observes that a sufficient decrease in channel requirements occurs, resulting in an increasing spare capacity, it revokes the previously communicated blocking messages by a revocation message.