Patent ID: 7940714

Claim:
A communication method for a synchronous communication network including a hub and a plurality of user nodes, each at a different distance from the hub, that communicate with the hub via a satellite, said method comprising: transmitting first control information for a first frame from the hub to the user nodes; receiving first data bursts from first and second user nodes in the first frame according to the first control information, a start of the first frame from the first and second user nodes occurs at the hub simultaneously; transmitting second control information from the hub to the user nodes including second control information identifying portions of the second frame determined based on demand information received from the first and second user nodes; and receiving second data bursts from the first and second user nodes in the portions of the second frame identified by the second control information, a start of the second frame from the first and second user nodes occurs at the hub simultaneously, and the second frame being received at the hub following the first frame.