Abstract: A set of formats and protocols is proposed for a satellite communications system. In these formats, a pilot signal (PS) is inserted after every 25 or 29 data symbols. The formats consist of SCPC frames (F) which may contain either data (D) and in-band signaling information (SU), or only signaling information (SU). In either case, the contents of each frame (F) are error-correction coded before transmission with the same coding rate. Each data frame (F) carries the data content of an integral number of input user data frames (M), each of which comprises four subframes. Different symbol transmission rates are used for different input data rates, the symbol transmission rates being selected so that their different synchronizing clock rates can easily be obtained from a common clock. Data bursts may be preceded by a constant power level preamble (P). The formats and protocols satisfy the requirements of a high data rate satellite communications system.

Abstract: Data relating to the status of users 12 in a mobile communications system is broadcast via satellite 8 from a network register 4 to local registers 10 in an HDLC format. Each of the local registers 10 requests retransmission of any HDLC frames which are incorrectly received. The network register 4 records the earliest transmitted frame not yet acknowledged by all of the local registers and inhibits transmission of new frames if they fall outside a transmission window relative to the earliest transmitted frame. The network register 4 polls the local registers 10 for retransmission requests and the local registers 10 also send unsolicited requests to the network register 4. The network register 4 only retransmits a frame once if multiple requests for that frame are transmitted within a predetermined period. When a new local register 10 enters the broadcast reception group, the network register 4 informs the new local register 10 which new frame will next be transmitted.

Abstract: Data relating to the status of users 12 in a mobile communications system is broadcast via satellite 8 from a network register 4 to local registers 10 in an HDLC format. Each of the local registers 10 requests retransmission of any HDLC frames which are incorrectly received. The network register 4 records the earliest transmitted frame not yet acknowledged by all of the local registers and inhibits transmission of new frames if they fall outside a transmission window relative to the earliest transmitted frame. The network register 4 polls the local registers 10 for retransmission requests and the local registers 10 also send unsolicited requests to the network register 4. The network register 4 only retransmits a frame once if multiple requests for that frame are transmitted within a predetermined period.

Abstract: A set of formats and protocols is proposed for a satellite communications system. In these formats, a pilot signal (PS) is inserted after every 25 or 29 data symbols. The formats consist of SCPC frames (F) which may contain either data (D) and in-band signalling information (SU), or only signalling information (SU). In either case, the contents of each frame (F) are error-correction coded before transmission with the same coding rate. Each data frame (F) carries the data content of an integral number of input user data frames (M), each of which comprises four subframes. Different symbol transmission rates are used for different input data rates, the symbol transmission rates being selected so that their different synchronising clock rates can easily be obtained from a common clock. Data bursts may be preceded by a constant power level preamble (P).

Abstract: A set of formats and protocols is proposed for a satellite communications system. In these formats, a pilot signal (PS) is inserted after every 25 or 29 data symbols. The formats consist of SCPC frames (F) which may contain either data (D) and in-band signalling information (SU), or only signalling information (SU). In either case, the contents of each frame (F) are error-correction coded before transmission with the same coding rate. Each data frame (F) carries the data content of an integral number of input user data frames (M), each of which comprises four subframes. Different symbol transmission rates are used for different input data rates, the symbol transmission rates being selected so that their different synchronizing clock rates can easily be obtained from a common clock. Data bursts may be preceded by a constant power level preamble (P). The formats and protocols satisfy the requirements of a high data rate satellite communications system.