Abstract: An exemplary satellite in a communication system supports communications among earth stations and has a first receiver that receiving a first RF signal transmitted from a first earth station that is down converted to a first electrical IF signal. An up converter converts a second electrical IF signal, from a second earth station carrying information for the first earth station, to a second RF signal and transmits it to the first earth station. A switch switches remotely reconfigurable electrical IF communication circuits between pairs of ports. Signals carrying information to be communicated between the first and second earth stations are linked together by the switch.

Abstract: A payload (108) to be mounted onto a satellite (102) can include a first steerable antenna (302) providing a downlink to and an uplink from a first user terminal; a second steerable antenna (304) providing a downlink to and an uplink from a second user terminal; a switching network (306) coupling the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna; and a payload control unit (120) controlling the switching network to select one of the downlink to the first user terminal provided by the first steerable antenna and the downlink to the second user terminal provided by the second steerable antenna, and one of the uplink from the first user terminal provided by the first steerable antenna and the uplink from the second user terminal provided by the second steerable antenna.

Abstract: A payload (108) to be mounted onto a satellite (102) can include a first steerable antenna (302) providing a downlink to and an uplink from a first user terminal; a second steerable antenna (304) providing a downlink to and an uplink from a second user terminal; a switching network (306) coupling the first steerable antenna to the second steerable antenna; and a payload control unit (120) controlling the switching network to select one of the downlink to the first user terminal provided by the first steerable antenna and the downlink to the second user terminal provided by the second steerable antenna, and one of the uplink from the first user terminal provided by the first steerable antenna and the uplink from the second user terminal provided by the second steerable antenna.

Abstract: A satellite communication system (10) includes apparatus for exchanging communication data between ground-based user sites (21-24, 41-44 and 51-54) and a ground-based wideband network (60). A communication satellite (30) exchanges user communication data with the user sites. Ground-based hub terminals (27, 35, 47 and 57) exchange the user communication data with the satellite (30) and also exchange the data with the network (60). A communication manager (70) determines the communication requirements between the satellite and the network and identifies more than one hub terminal to exchange user communication data with the satellite in the event that one hub terminal is insufficient to meet the communication requirements.

Abstract: A satellite communication system (10) includes apparatus for exchanging communication data between ground-based user sites (21-24, 41-44 and 51-54) and a ground-based wideband network (60). A communication satellite (30) exchanges user communication data with the user sites. Ground-based hub terminals (27, 35, 47 and 57) exchange the user communication data with the satellite (30) and also exchange the data with the network (60). A communication manager (70) determines the communication requirements between the satellite and the network and identifies more than one hub terminal to exchange user communication data with the satellite in the event that one hub terminal is insufficient to meet the communication requirements.

Abstract: A method of initiating communication between a ground station and a mobile handset through a satellite beam includes the steps of transmitting a forward signal indicative of a fixed geographic area covered by each of a plurality of satellites on at least a periodic basis. The location of said mobile handset is registered by storing at least one variable geographic value associated with said forward control signal at said mobile handset. A reverse signal is transmitted from said mobile handset to said ground station which is indicative of a geographic area where said mobile handset was located during registration. At least one variable geographic value associated with said reverse signal is stored in a database accessible to said ground station. The mobile handset determines whether a currently transmitted forward signal matches said variable geographic value stored. If a match is not found, the current location of said mobile handset is re-registered.