Abstract: An approach for is provided for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions is disclosed. A source terminal generates a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload. The header is modulated using a default modulation scheme and is coded using a default coding scheme. A switch is configured to receive and to forward the packet data burst. A destination terminal is configured to demodulate the header using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, and to examine the header to determine a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the payload. The protocol can be applied to any radio communication system, particularly, to a satellite communication system with multiple satellite terminals.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data packets over an air interface includes a logic device and a transmitter. The logic device receives data packets from a user device and encodes the data packets using a turbo coding scheme. The logic device may then modulate the turbo coded data and forward the modulated data to a transmitter. The transmitter may then transmit the modulated data to a satellite over the air interface.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating advanced messaging capabilities in a wide area wireless personal communications system is provided. The system includes personal transceiver units capable of communicating with one or more of a plurality of long range pagers. The transceiver and long range pager use existing frequencies and formats of the wireless personal communications system. The method provides for registering a personal transceiver in a two way messaging service area of the wireless personal communications system.

Abstract: A system and method for performing joint trellis coded modulation (TCM) with multi-circular constellations on data being transmitted over nonlinear channels without incurring substantial losses in transmission power. The system and method each employs a first constituent encoder, such as a convolutional encoder, adapted to encode the data to output first encoded data, an interleaver, adapted to interleave the data to produce interleaved data, and a second constituent encoder, such as a convolutional encoder, adapted to encode the interleaved data to output second encoded data. The system and method each further employs a modulator, adapted to modulate the first and second encoded data in accordance with modulation symbols mapped in a multi-circular constellation, to reduce power loss during transmission of the modulated first and second encoded data over a non-linear channel.

Abstract: A method and system for alerting a mobile terminal in a high-attenuation propagation environment within a mobile satellite communication network are disclosed herein. The method comprises receiving an incoming call directed to the mobile terminal, generating a paging signal in response to the incoming call, determining whether the mobile terminal has failed to receive the paging signal, and generating an alerting signal in response to the determination that the mobile terminal has failed to receive the paging signal.

Abstract: A multiprotocol radio communications network that includes a first plurality of stationary transceivers for handling low-tier traffic and a second plurality of stationary transceivers for handling high-tier traffic. The stationary transceivers communicate information to a mobile transceiver at different information rates. A switching center automatically switches communication between the mobile transceiver and the stationary transceivers as the mobile transceiver moves between areas of different traffic density.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the transmission power of a transmitter during a communication with a receiver in a mobile satellite communication system is disclosed herein. The method comprises establishing at least one threshold signal strength value for a transmitted burst; measuring the received signal strength of the burst received by the receiver; comparing the received signal strength with the threshold value; and setting a power control bit based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting the transmission power of a transmitter during a communication with a receiver in a mobile satellite communication system is disclosed herein. The method comprises establishing at least one threshold signal strength value for a transmitted burst; measuring the received signal strength of the burst received by the receiver; comparing the received signal strength with the threshold value; and setting a power control bit based on the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medium access control (MAC) layer in a mobile satellite system. The MAC transfers data across the physical channels in the air interface between the mobile terminals, the satellite and the gateways. The MAC of the present invention optimizes for satellite propogation delays and hides the physical transmission media from higher network layers.

Abstract: An integrated PCN/DCN system architecture has a switching center, coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), which selectively transfers signals between the PSTN and a digital cellular network (DCN) or a personal communications network (PCN) which is allocated a portion of the cellular communications band by a local cellular operator. Each PCN subnetwork of the PCN includes several microcells arranged in a multi-dimensional grid, and the allocated cellular channels are divided into sets assigned to columns of the grid. The allocated portion of the cellular spectrum is reused within each PCN subnetwork by assigning the same set to more than one of the columns so that different communications signals can be transferred over the same cellular channels.