Patent ID: 8675635

Claim:
A system for synchronizing timing for mesh satellite communications, the system comprising: a gateway configured to: transmit a first set of signals to set a first start of receive frame timing for a user terminal for communications from the gateway; and transmit a second set of signals to set a start of transmit frame timing for the user terminal for communications to the gateway and communications to other user terminals; the user terminal, in communication with the gateway via satellite, configured to: receive the first set of signals to set the first start of receive frame timing for communications received at the user terminal from the gateway, the first start of receive frame timing set based on a reception time of the first set of signals at the user terminal; receive the second set of signals to set a start of transmit frame timing for the user terminal for communications to the gateway and communications to other user terminals via the satellite; and receive a third set of signals from a master user terminal to set a second start of receive frame timing for communications received at the user terminal from other user terminals via the satellite, the second start of receive frame timing set based on a reception time of the third set of signals at the user terminal; and the master user terminal, in communication with the user terminal via satellite, and configured to: transmit the third set of signals comprising a broadcast burst signal received by the user terminal and other user terminals to set start of receive frame timing for mesh communications.