Abstract: A dynamic channel management method (100) determines which base station (14, 24, 26) is a least utilized base station for servicing a channel request made by a subscriber unit (40). The least utilized base station is based on what base station (14, 24, 26) is more available to handle the channel request. If the least utilized base station can handle the channel request, it assigns and grants a channel to the subscriber unit (40). Otherwise, the channel request is blocked or denied. The dynamic channel management method (100) provides a systematic way for dynamically matching the available channel resources with the actual demand as a function of time. This enables the system (10) to handle significantly more traffic than with pure static channel management schemes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a phased-array antenna (14) on a satellite-based communications node (10) in more than one mode by controlling the number of beam-forming elements and by applying appropriate phase-control and/or amplitude-control coefficients to the selected elements. The antenna can be operated as a diffused-beam antenna at a relatively low data rate, enabling the satellite-communications node (10) to communicate with a first terrestrial communications node (22). The antenna can also be operated to generate multiple focused-beam antenna patterns each communicating at a relatively high data rate, enabling the satellite-communications node (10) to communicate with a different terrestrial communications node (20) by changing the amplitude and/or the phase coefficients as well as the number of beam-forming elements.

Abstract: This invention provides a scheme for offset correction of a unity gain amplifier used in conjunction with data sampling systems. In the present invention, the offset correction of the feedback unity gain amplifier is sensed during operation of the amplifier and is incrementally adjusted to maintain an offset voltage of approximately zero.