Patent ID: 6535716
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A monitor and control system for a satellite communications network comprising a hub terminal arranged in a network with a plurality of remote user terminals to form a mesh communications network, the hub terminal including a mechanism for monitoring and controlling data communication between at least two of the remote user terminals, the monitoring and control mechanism including a mechanism for allocating dedicated time slots in the data stream transmitted by the user terminals, and a mechanism for transmitting control information to the user terminals during the dedicated time slots, the hub terminal further comprising a mechanism for receiving monitoring information from the remote user terminals during the dedicated time slots,wherein communication parameters are allocated to each pair of the user terminals, the hub terminal including a storage mechanism for storing the communication parameters of each of the user terminals, and wherein the hub terminal includes at least one monitor and control modem, the modem comprising a mechanism for tuning to the frequency of only one of the user terminals in the event of a collision in time between at least two of the user terminals.