Patent ID: 8693946

Claim:
A satellite broadcasting system for communication between a satellite hub and a range of ground stations in which a set having a predetermined number of MODCODS is available for data transmission from the satellite hub to the ground stations, each MODCOD utilizing resources, the system comprising: a MODCOD limiter configured to limit the number of MODCODs in operation at a given time to a subset smaller than said predetermined number of MODCODS, wherein said ground stations are partitioned into regions, each of said regions being assigned with a respective highest MODCOD (HMC) for use in said region and a respective derived MODCOD (DMC) to provide a required availability for said region, said HMCs and DMCs being members of said set, and wherein said subset comprises said respectively assigned HMCs and DMCs; and a controller associated with said MODCOD limiter, configured to select MODCODs for data transmission from said subset in accordance with measurements fed via return links.