Patent ID: 9143361
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A satellite communication system for communicating with a plurality of user terminals comprising: a satellite constellation comprising at least one satellite which provides multiple beams; a plurality of user terminals that can communicate via said satellite constellation; at least one gateway connected to a public switched telephone network and when communicating with at least a plurality of user terminals over the satellite communication system, distinguishing each of said user terminals within a given frequency band by employing a combination of time slots and orthogonal codes implemented in a forward and return link; wherein each of said user terminals is equipped to initiate or receive packet data messages; wherein said satellite communication system is further configured to hand off a user terminal communication from one of said user terminals, from one beam of said at least one satellite having multiple beams to another beam of said at least one satellite having multiple beams based on signal strength determined from said user terminal communicating through said at least one satellite.