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.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for routing electronic messages over a telecommunications system containing both satellite and ground-based elements. The present invention routes messages based on the originator's address as well as the recipient's address. In this way, all messages sent to or from subscriber communicators provisioned by a given provisioning entity are handled at the provisioning entity's local equipment prior to final delivery.