Patent ID: 7336683

Claim:
A service provider unit operable in a satellite communication system, said service provider unit comprising: an encoder configured to encode source data into a serial transmit sequence, said encoder capable of supporting a throughput mode of operation and a robust mode of operation, said serial transmit sequence including a first unique word identifying said throughput mode of operation, said serial transmit sequence further including a first payload packet having a first number of channel symbols corresponding to a source packet encoded in accordance with said throughput mode of operation identified by said first unique word, said first payload packet being encapsulated between two unique words; a transmitter configured to transmit said serial transmit sequence to a subscriber unit via a satellite transmission channel, wherein said throughput mode of operation, identified by said first unique word, can be determined by detecting a time interval between said two unique words; wherein said serial transmit sequence further includes a second unique word identifying said robust mode of operation, said serial transmit sequence further including a second payload packet having a second number of channel symbols corresponding to a source packet encoded in accordance with said robust mode of operation identified by said second unique word, said second payload packet being encapsulated between two unique words; wherein said encoder is configured to select one of said robust mode of operation and said robust mode of operation for a present source packet based on conditions of said satellite transmission channel and independent of a mode of operation selected for encoding an immediately prior source packet.