Method of random access communication using subbanding and variable length messages

Abstract

A method of random access communication uses subbanding and variable length messages to provide efficient communication between a plurality of mobile earth terminals and a plurality of satellites. The subbanding allows each satellite to more efficiently process communications from mobile earth terminals operating under a variety of different rules or regulations. The satellite receivers can be dynamically reconfigured such that they can receive messages of different lengths at different times. The mobile earth terminals can change the size of the messages that they send to take advantage of the newly reconfigured satellite receiver(s). The method can reduce or eliminate errors or delays that occur in prior methods of random access communication.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A method of communication between earth terminals and at least one satellite, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one satellite, each satellite having at least one receiver, each receiver being configured to receive a plurality of bursty type of messages having a first size of one of a plurality of sizes;    providing a plurality of earth terminals adapted to send messages to, and receive messages from, the at least one satellite;    tracking the load of all incoming messages on each receiver, said receiver not limited to receiving a particular type of incoming messages; and    reconfiguring at least one receiver to receive messages having a different one second size of the plurality of sizes in response to the message load.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said satellite providing step comprises providing at least two receivers.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said satellite providing step comprises providing at least two receivers, each receiver being configured to receive messages having a size of one of a plurality of sizes.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said satellite providing step comprises providing at least two receivers, each receiver being configured to receive messages having a size of one of a plurality of predetermined sizes.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising the step of broadcasting to the earth terminals the message length for which a receiver is currently configured.  
   
   
       32 . A communication system, comprising: 
 a plurality of earth terminals for sending messages;    at least one satellite having at least one satellite receiver for receiving a plurality of bursty type of messages from said earth terminals, said receiver not limited to receiving a particular type of incoming messages; and    at least one gateway control center for storing subband information and assigning to at least one satellite the subband information to accommodate a plurality of regulatory constraints and requirements for one or more countries;    wherein said at least one satellite determines a center frequency for a communication channel between said satellite receiver and at least one of said earth terminals using the subband information.    
   
   
       33 . The communication system of  claim 32  wherein said at least one satellite is assigned different subband information over time.  
   
   
       34 . The communication system of  claim 33  wherein said at least one satellite is assigned first subband information from a first gateway control center at a first time and wherein said at least one satellite is assigned second subband information from a second gateway control center at a second time.  
   
   
       35 . A communication system, comprising: 
 a satellite having a plurality of satellite receivers, each said satellite receiver being selectively configurable to receive a plurality of bursty type of messages of one of a in a plurality of sizes; and    a plurality of earth terminals for sending a plurality of bursty type of messages to said satellite receivers, each message being of a length that is one of the plurality of sizes;    wherein at least one of said satellite receivers is configured to receive messages of a first size at a first time and is configured to receive messages of a second size at a second time, said receiver not limited to receiving a particular type of incoming messages.    
   
   
       36 . The communication system of  claim 35  wherein said satellite tracks the load of all incoming messages received from said earth terminals and causes at least one of said satellite receivers to be configured to receive messages of the second size at the second time.