Abstract: These methods allow payload control instructions to be transported to satellites in a constellation of satellites and to be activated at pre-assigned times across the constellation. These methods manage and distribute validated payload instructions according to an associated time-tag. The payload instruction methods support direct payload control as well as incremental table updates. The primary functions performed by the payload instruction methods include appending payload instructions to tables, replacing or deleting specific payload instruction in a table, and scheduling and distributing the execution of payload instructions according to an attached time-tag.

Abstract: A communication network (10) includes a constellation of satellites (12) in orbit around the earth. Gateways (14) communicate with the satellites (12), reside on the surface of the earth, and interface the network (10) to the local PSTN (18). User units (16) communicate with satellites (12) and provide communication services to users. A gateway (14) includes a mobile switching center (22), which connects half-calls, and an earth terminal controller (20), which occasionally overrides connections defined in the mobile switching center (22). When possible, communication paths connected at the mobile switching center (22) are intraswitched at a satellite (12) rather than being routed through the mobile switching center. However, when supplementary services are requested, the communication path is reconfigured back to the mobile switching center (22) so that additional signals may be inserted into the communication path.