Abstract: A satellite communications system provides a communications service to a mobile terminal on which different communications applications may be run. Calls are set up between any of the applications via a satellite to a network management centre which provides different service adaptors which adapt the calls to different types of service provided over terrestrial networks, such as telephony, facsimile, internet or ATM services. The bandwidth allocated to each call over the satellite link may be varied during the call according to demand either from the relevant application or from the network management centre. Multiple calls may be connected concurrently to or from different applications running on the mobile terminal. A maximum bandwidth is allocated to each call. Efficient use is thereby made of the limited bandwidth available over the satellite, according to the instantaneous bandwidth requirements of different applications.

Abstract: A satellite communications system provides a communications service to a mobile terminal on which different communications applications may be run. Calls are set up between any of the applications via a satellite to a network management center which provides different service adaptors which adapt the calls to different types of service provided over terrestrial networks such as telephony, facsimile, internet or ATM services. The bandwidth allocated to each call over the satellite link may be varied during the call according to demand either from the relevant application or from the network management center. Multiple calls may be connected concurrently to or from different applications running on the mobile terminal. A maximum bandwidth is allocated to each call. Efficient use is thereby made of the limited bandwidth available over the satellite, according to the instantaneous bandwidth requirements of different applications.

Abstract: A satellite communications system provides a communications service to a mobile terminal on which different communications applications may be run. Calls are set up between any of the applications via a satellite to a network management centre which provides different service adaptors which adapt the calls to different types of service provided over terrestrial networks, such as telephony, facsimile, internet or ATM services. The bandwidth allocated to each call over the satellite link may be varied during the call according to demand either from the relevant application or from the network management centre. Multiple calls may be connected concurrently to or from different applications running on the mobile terminal. A maximum bandwidth is allocated to each call. Efficient use is thereby made of the limited bandwidth available over the satellite, according to the instantaneous bandwidth requirements of different applications.

Abstract: A satellite communications system provides a communications service to a mobile terminal (2) on which different communications applications (4a to 4d) may be run. Calls are set up between any of the applications (4a to 4d) via a satellite (12) to a network management center (18) which provides different service adaptors (20a to 20d) which adapt the calls to different types of service provided over terrestrial networks (22), such as telephony, facsimile, internet or ATM services. The bandwidth allocated to each call over the satellite link may be varied during the call according to demand either from the relevant application (4) or from the network management center (18). Multiple calls may be connected concurrently to or from different applications running on the mobile terminal. A maximum bandwidth is allocated to each call. Efficient use is thereby made of the limited bandwidth available over the satellite (12), according to the instantaneous bandwidth requirements of different applications (4).

Abstract: A satellite communications system provides a communications service to a mobile terminal (2) on which different communications applications (4a to 4d) may be run. Calls are set up between any of the applications (4a to 4d) via a satellite (12) to a network management center (18) which provides different service adaptors (20a to 20d) which adapt the calls to different types of service provided over terrestrial networks (22), such as telephony, facsimile, internet or ATM services. The bandwidth allocated to each call over the satellite link may be varied during the call according to demand either from the relevant application (4) or from the network management center (18). Multiple calls may be connected concurrently to or from different applications running on the mobile terminal. A maximum bandwidth is allocated to each call. Efficient use is thereby made of the limited bandwidth available over the satellite (12), according to the instantaneous bandwidth requirements of different applications (4).

Abstract: A portable, self-contained satellite transceiver is employed for establishing a communications link between a connected appliance and a satellite, the satellite including polarized transmit and receive antennas. The transceiver comprises a base unit, including a generally planer upper surface and a direction indicator to facilitate orientation of the base unit along a selected azimuth for communication with the satellite. A generally plate-like antenna support member is pivotally connected to one end of the base unit housing so that the antenna support member is pivotable between a first or transport position and a second position at a selected angle to establish elevational alignment with the satellite. An antenna housing contains polarized, transmit and receive antennas suitable for communicating with the satellite. The antenna housing is rotatable with respect to the antenna support member to a selected angle for aligning the polarization of the antennas with the polarization of the satellite antennas.