Satellite communication system employing a combination of time slots and orthogonal codes

Abstract

A satellite communication system is disclosed which provides multiple beams and employs a plurality of user terminals (UT) and at least one gateway connected to a PSTN which communicates with at least one UT over the system wherein each of the UTs within a given frequency band is distinguished one from the other employing a combination of time slots and orthogonal codes.

1 . A satellite communication system comprising: 
 at least one satellite wherein each satellite provides multiple beams;    a plurality of UTs; and    at least one gateway connected to a PSTN and communicating with said at least one UT over the satellite communication system wherein each of said UTs within a given frequency band is distinguished from another of said UTs employing a combination of time slots and orthogonal codes.    
   
   
       2 . A satellite communication system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said combination of time slots and orthogonal codes is implemented in a forward and return link.  
   
   
       3 . A satellite communication system as defined in  claim 2  wherein said forward link comprises orthogonal codes and said return link comprises a combination of time slots and phase shift of one or more pseudo-random codes.  
   
   
       4 . A satellite communication system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said satellite communication system comprises a LEO satellite constellation.  
   
   
       5 . A satellite communication system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said satellite communication system comprises a MEO satellite constellation.  
   
   
       6 . A satellite communication system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said satellite communication system comprises a GEO satellite constellation.  
   
   
       7 . A satellite communication system as defined in  claim 4  wherein said combination of time slots and orthogonal codes is implemented in a forward and return link.  
   
   
       8 . The constellation as defined in  claim 4  wherein said forward link comprises orthogonal codes and said return link comprises a combination of time slots and phase shift of one or more pseudo-random codes.  
   
   
       9 . The constellation as defined in  claim 5  wherein said combination of time slots and orthogonal codes is implemented in a forward and return link.  
   
   
       10 . The constellation as defined in  claim 5  wherein said forward link comprises orthogonal codes and said return link comprises a combination of time slots and phase shift of one or more pseudo-random codes.  
   
   
       11 . The constellation as defined in  claim 7  wherein said combination of time slots and orthogonal codes is implemented in a forward and return link.  
   
   
       12 . A satellite communication system as defined in  claim 8  wherein said forward link comprises orthogonal codes and said return link comprises a combination of time slots and phase shift of one or more pseudo-random codes.