Abstract: A scalable multi-satellite spot-beam network architecture that employs a plurality (N) of relatively small (low power) active spot beam satellites and a number (R) of spare satellites, all of which are substantially similar in design, has been described. The plurality of satellites is substantially collocated at a given orbital location to provide coverage of a desired geographic area. Each active satellite has 1/N of the total capacity of a slot, and there is significant amount of interchangeability among the active and spare satellites, enabling the spare and active satellites to provide protection against partial or full failures of any satellite or even a few (up to R) satellites. The system is scalable since a fraction of the N active satellites is required to provide capacity to the full geographic area, and additional satellites can be launched and additional gateways can be deployed to augment the network capacity.

Abstract: Compression of voice and data signals by at least an order of magnitude that permits greater use of the limited bandwidth at the low frequency of operation. A voice recognition system that converts words spoken into a microphone into a sequence of letters and gaps. An encoder codes the letters into a digital message. A transmitter transmits the digital message to a receiver over a communications link. The received digital message is decoded in a decoder and a speech synthesizer converts the decoded message into spoken words that are annunciated on a speaker. In addition, an initial message that identifies a stored voice type that is to be synthesized, or a simultaneous signal that tailors the voice synthesizer in real time as the voice of the speaker changes may be transmitted to cause the speech synthesizer to more accurately resemble a speaker's voice. A speech-to-text processor and a display may be used to display the message at the receiver for hearing impaired users and users located in noisy areas.

Abstract: Communications network architectures integrate communications using a geosynchronous satellite communications system including a geosynchronous communications satellite operating in the fixed satellite service (FSS) band and a low earth orbit satellite communications system including a plurality of low earth orbit communications satellites. A low earth orbit gateway having a terminal is used to communicate with the low earth orbit communications satellites using multiple access communication channels, and is used to communicate with a public switch telephone network. A geosynchronous gateway having a terminal is used to communicate with the geosynchronous communications satellite by overlaying multiple access communication channels onto fixed channel assignments and transmitting the overlayed channel assignments. The terminal in the geosynchronous gateway is also used to communicate with the public switch telephone network.

Abstract: In a method for controlled winding of an elongated object, at least one elongated object (11) is guided by a guide head (35) to a reel body (15, 16), which is mounted to rotate and is rotated by a drive member (20). A program controlled adjustment of the speed variation as well as for the torque of the driver member (20) occurs, and depends on the measurable winding diameter (15') for a winding operation of the reel body (15, 16). By means of a regulator (50), the actual value of a tensile force on the elongated object (11) is measured by the torque on the drive member (20), and is compared with an adjustable reference value. In the case of a divergence, an actual value (57) is returned to the reference value. The reel body (15, 16) in this case rests on at least two driven drive shafts (22, 24). In addition, a lifting device for receiving the reel body is provided.