Abstract: A method for encoding ATM cells for transmission over a wireless link comprising the steps of receiving an ATM cell stream comprised of a plurality of ATM cells and detecting idle/unassigned cells within the cell stream. Then, a header frame made up of headers of a number of the plurality of ATM cells is assembled, together with a payload frame made up of payloads of a number of the plurality of ATM cells. Finally, some of the detected idle/unassigned cells are placed in a selected portion of the payload frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing bandwidth on demand service in a wireless communication system having at least one user station, including a frequency divider for dividing a selected bandwidth into a plurality of frequency subdivisions. Also included is a unit for assigning a first number of frequency subdivisions to the individual user stations having a first total bandwidth, commensurate with the volume of transmission traffic. There also is a unit for changing the first number to a second number having a second total bandwidth commensurate with the change of the volume of transmission traffic.

Abstract: A method for adaptive control of a forward error correction code for transmission between a terrestrial cell/packet switch at a first terminal and a satellite/wireless network connecting to a second terminal, including the steps of: calculating a byte error rate associated with communication signals received by the first terminal, determining a forward error correction code length based on the byte error rate, and transmitting the forward error correction code length to the second terminal.

Abstract: In an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) system, interleaved cells are formed at the transmit end by combining into each interleaved cell certain bits from each of plural different original ATM cells, the interleaved cells are transmitted over the communications link, and then deinterleaved at the receive end. Any bursty errors occurring on the communications link will, after deinterleaving, be spread out over multiple original ATM cells, maximizing the error correction for ATM cells and error detection for AAL capability and minimizing loss of data. The C1 byte in the Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP), which indicates the location of end of the PLCP frame, is protected against the burst errors by replication of C1 byte through inserting them in the growth bytes Z1 through Z4.

Abstract: An ISDN Satellite Switch (ISS) is disposed between ISDN user equipment (e.g., an ISDN PBX) and a satellite network, to extract and process the ISDN signaling information originated from the ISDN user equipment, allocate an appropriate satellite capacity for the user service request, generate signaling response messages to the originating user, generate messages to be transmitted over a satellite signaling channel to the corresponding ISS connected to the destination user, and provide an appropriate Protocol Conversion Function (PCF), when necessary for a certain class of data protocols. A destination ISS, after receipt of these messages, generates ISDN incoming call signaling messages to be sent to the called user.