Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide methods for producing products with certificates and keys. In one embodiment, a requesting entity transmits a request for a plurality of certificates and corresponding keys to a certifying entity that generates the certificates and corresponding keys. The request preferably includes information for use by the certifying entity to verify an identity of the requesting entity rather than information to verify unique product identifiers of the respective products. The requesting entity then receives the plurality of certificates and corresponding keys from the certifying entity, preferably in a plurality of organized sets instead of in a single series of certificates. The requesting entity then stores the certificates and corresponding keys in respective products. Each stored certificate is thereafter useable for both identification and authentication of the respective product in which it is stored.

Abstract: Efficient utilization of a shared pool of time-frequency slot resources in a return channel among a plurality of remote terminals in a satellite communication system. Within the shared pool of time-frequency slot resources for data, allowing access through circuit-switched TDM allocations, reservation allocations, or random access. Within the shared pool of time-frequency resources for control, allowing duplicate control burst transmissions in random access. Other improvements in the control channel include self-allocation by the remote terminals or hub-allocation to the remote terminals.