Patent ID: 7502382
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A satellite communication unit of a satellite communication network to multicast a message within said network, wherein said network includes a plurality of orbital planes with each plane including a plurality of orbiting satellite communication units with corresponding communication links, said satellite communication unit comprising: a communication device to transmit an outgoing message within said network and to receive an incoming message from said network; and a routing processor to route multicast messages from said satellite communication unit through said network to corresponding orbiting destination satellite communication units each varying position within a respective plane, wherein said satellite communication unit resides within a first network plane and said multicast messages are each associated with selected ones of said destination satellite communication units and a routing path through said network, and wherein said communication unit includes communication links including common plane links facilitating communications between said satellite communication unit and other satellite communication units within said first plane and cross plane links facilitating communications between said satellite communication unit and other satellite communication units in different planes, and said routing processor includes: and