Patent ID: 6041233
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A system for providing global variable data rate connectivity in a satellite-based communications network comprising:communications satellites for transmitting and receiving signals in a plurality of coverage areas; anduser terminals for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the satellites;wherein a first set of the user terminals located in one of the plurality of coverage areas and associated with one of the communications satellites has a variable bandwidth associated therewith based on the collective bandwidth requirements of each of the first set of user terminals;wherein each of the first set of user terminals has a variable terminal bandwidth associated therewith which varies in response to a bandwidth request from each of the first set of user terminals;the system further comprising a ground facility for controlling the variable bandwidth and the variable terminal bandwidth of the first set of user terminals in response to the bandwidth request;wherein the first set of user terminals includes a plurality of pairs of user terminals and wherein each of the user terminals include a controller for receiving controlling signals and for transmitting monitoring signals, wherein the controller of a first one of each of the pairs receives the signals from the ground facility and the controller of a second one of each of the pairs receives the signals from the first one.