Abstract: A method for dynamically determining the power compression point of an amplifier in a distributed network under the control of a computer, the network having a first terminal (600) including the amplifier operatively coupled to a plurality of second terminals (500) by a communication channel including the steps for generating bit error rate (BER) messages indicative of measured BER for a signal transmitted at N power levels, the BER messages including respective tags indicative of the N power levels for that BER, at the second terminals (500), and reducing the maximum allowed power of the amplifier when it is determined that the amplifier is approaching saturation responsive to the BER messages. Also described is a method for dynamic uplink power control for an amplifier in a distributed network.

Abstract: A method for dynamically determining the power compression point of an amplifier in a distributed network under the control of a computer, the network having a first terminal (600) including the amplifier operatively coupled to a plurality of second terminals (500) by a communication channel including the steps for generating bit error rate (BER) messages indicative of measured BER for a signal transmitted at N power levels, the BER messages including respective tags indicative of the N power levels for that BER, at the second terminals (500), and reducing the maximum allowed power of the amplifier when it is determined that the amplifier is approaching saturation responsive to the BER messages. Also described is a method for dynamic uplink power control for an amplifier in a distributed network.

Abstract: A method for dynamically determining the power compression point of an amplifier in a distributed network under the control of a computer, the network having a first terminal (600) including the amplifier operatively coupled to a plurality of second terminals (500) by a communication channel including the steps for generating bit error rate (BER) messages indicative of measured BER for a signal transmitted at N power levels, the BER messages including respective tags indicative of the N power levels for that BER, at the second terminals (500), and reducing the maximum allowed power of the amplifier when it is determined that the amplifier is approaching saturation responsive to the BER messages. Also described is a method for dynamic uplink power control for an amplifier in a distributed network.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information arranged in packets from one location to a second location via a wireless/satellite network, comprising: (a) examining each packet to determine whether its size is equal to a minimum (STEP 11A1) and (STEP 11A2); (b) if a minimum size, generating a first SAR header (STEP 11A4) and applying the header to packet to form a SAR segment (STEP 11A7); (c) if greater than a minimum size, dividing the packet into uniform sized segments (STEP 11A5), generating a second SAR header unique for each segment (STEP 11A6) and applying the header to respective segment to form SAR segments (STEP 11A7); (d) forwarding the SAR segments to modems for transmission to terminals at the second location (STEP 11A7).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing for segmentation, reassembly and inverse multiplexing of variable sized packets and ATM cells over satellite and wireless links. Variable sized packets are divided into segments having a size equal to that of an ATM cell and are arranged in a segmentation and reassembly (SAR) frame having in its overhead an indication as to the length and unique identity of the frame, each segment also having a header that uniquely identifies the segment, the destination and the origination of the packet from which the segment originates. A terminal id is also used to identify the unit, site and control group from which the segment originates so that the information can be transmitted on the basis of available bandwidth on demand.

Abstract: A method of transmitting information arranged in packets from one location to a second location via a wireless/satellite network, comprising: (a) examining each packet to determine whether its size is equal to a minimum (STEP 11A1) and (STEP 11A2); (b) if a minimum size, generating a first SAR header (STEP 11A4) and applying the header to packet to form a SAR segment (STEP 11A7); (c) if greater than a minimum size, dividing the packet into uniform sized segments (STEP 11A5), generating a second SAR header unique for each segment (STEP 11A6) and applying the header to respective segment to form SAR segments (STEP 11A7); (d) forwarding the SAR segments to modems for transmission to terminals at the second location (STEP 11A7).