Patent ID: 6370126
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A communication system for communication with a plurality of mobile terminals (2), the system comprising:a plurality of orbiting satellites (4); a plurality of earth stations (6) arranged to communicate with the mobile users via the satellites; a plurality of gateway stations (8) for interconnecting terrestrial equipment with the earth stations (6); and a store (54) for storing access data for said mobile terminals (2); characterised in that; the mobile terminals (2) are divided into first and second categories, the store (54) retaining corresponding different status information, both said first and second categories communicating with said satellites (4), and in that there are provided; first and second different communications channels (14; 10, 21) between said gateway stations (8) and said earth stations (6), and in that there is provided; a route control device (72) for selecting one of said first and second channels, in dependence upon the category of a mobile terminal.