US 7,577,116 B2
Timeslot assignment mechanism for satellite communication network
James A. Norris, Fairport, N.Y. (US); Gerald Saeva, Scottsville, N.Y. (US); Thomas Kenney, Fairport, N.Y. (US); Kenneth Arndt, Rochester, N.Y. (US); Kenneth Symons, Honeoye Falls, N.Y. (US); and Clifford Hessel, Rochester, N.Y. (US)
Assigned to Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Fla. (US)
Filed on Oct. 17, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/550,023.
Prior Publication US 2008/0089270 A1, Apr. 17, 2008
Int. Cl. H04B 7/212 (2006.01); H04J 3/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 370—321  [370/442; 370/337; 370/347; 370/345] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling the operation of a time division multiple access (TDMA) satellite communication network, wherein a plurality of communication devices communicate with one another over a satellite communication link with a communication satellite during respective timeslots of successive TDMA frames, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) generating a respective TDMA frame as a plurality of frame synchronization reference timeslot segments, during which TDMA frame synchronization bursts are transmitted, and a plurality of voice/data channel timeslot segments, during which said plurality of communication devices may conduct voice/data channel communications with one another, wherein respective individual frame synchronization reference timeslot segments are temporally spaced apart from one another by respective individual voice/data channel timeslot segments; and
(b) causing one of said plurality of communication devices to conduct voice/data communications over said satellite communication link with another of said communication devices during one of said plurality of voice/data channel timeslot segments of said TDMA frame generated in step (a), and further comprising storing, at a respective communication device, a plurality of respectively different TDMA frame formats, each of which conforms with said TDMA frame generated in step (a), but having respectively different allocations of voice/data channel timeslots within said plurality of voice/data channel timeslot segments of said TDMA frame, and causing said one of said plurality of communication devices to conduct voice/data communications over said satellite communication link with another of said communication devices, during a voice/channel timeslot of a voice/data channel timeslot segment of a selected one of said respectively different TDMA frame formats.