Abstract: A system in which a personal computer sends messages into a network such as a TCP/IP network using a conventional dial-up link and downloads data from the TCI/IP network using a high-speed one-way satellite link. A preferred embodiment uses a conventional SLIP provider to connect to the TCP/IP network and uses a commercial software TCP/IP package that has a standard driver interface. A spoofing protocol compensates for the long propagation delays inherent to satellite communication.

Abstract: A pair of communications adapters each include a number of digital signal processors and network interface circuits for the attachment of a multi-channel telephone line. A bus connecting the communications adapters can carry data between a network line attached to one of the adapters and the digital signal processors of the other adapter. The digital signal processors on each card are connected to a host, or controller, processor. Each digital signal processor interrupts its host processor by transmitting an interrupt control block as data to a data memory of the host processor, and by subsequently sending an interrupt causing the host processor to examine the data memory. Preferably, the interrupt control block includes data representing a number of requested interrupts.

Abstract: Information is processed to produce a plurality of information symbols. The plurality of information symbols are encoded according to a concatenation of an error correction code and a nonorthogonal modulation code to produce a modulated communications signal. The modulated communications signal is communicated over a communications medium, and process the communicated modulated communications signal is processed to produce information. Preferably, the information symbols are encoded according to an error correction code, preferably a convolutional code, to produce a plurality of coded symbols. The plurality of coded symbols are preferably interleaved to produce a plurality of interleaved coded symbols. The interleaved coded symbols are then modulated according to a nonorthogonal code to produce the modulated communications signal.

Abstract: A cellular-telephone-system base station (10) employs a digital band-exclusion filter (30) to detect a supervisory tone, but the filter's record length is shorter than that dictated by the necessary resolution and produces output values at a frequency much lower than the frequency of the supervisory tone. A second filter (32) receives the output, operating on a record whose time duration is long enough to achieve the necessary frequency resolution. The second filter's coefficients are chosen to match the frequency of the signal to which the previous filter's subsampling translates the frequency of the supervisory tone. In this way, the supervisory tone can be detected with the necessary resolution but at storage computational costs less than the input sample rate and required frequency resolution would seem to require.

Abstract: Error detection and correction capability is improved compared to the conventional art, without lowering the transmission efficiency. When a class dividing circuit 101 is supplied with the information code from a voice encoder, according to the definition assigned to the information code by the class divider extremely important class 0 information code is supplied to a CRC calculation circuit 102 and a block coding circuit 103, the next most important class 1 information code is supplied to a block coding circuit 105, and the next most important class 2 information code is supplied directly to an interleaving circuit 107. The CRC calculating circuit 102 obtains error correction information for the class 0 information code supplied from the class dividing circuit 101, generates data with error detection information appended thereto, and supplies it to a class 0 block coding circuit 103.

Abstract: A system for remotely accessing computer networks is provided in which a central hub is connected to a computer network. The central hub may then be connected to a plurality of remote sites through an earth-orbiting satellite. Users at multiple remote sites may be connected to the central hub simultaneously through frequency management techniques.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing between in-band signaling and user data transmissions of a communication system. The method includes the assignment of separate training bit sequences, one for in-band signaling transmissions and another for user data transmissions. During transmission, the training bit sequence associated with the type of transmission being sent is used as the training bit sequence. The method further includes the correlation of the received training bit sequence with both the training bit sequence assigned to in-band signaling and the training bit sequence assigned to user data. The training bit sequence having the highest correlation energy indicates the type of data contained in the communication transmission.

Abstract: In a data communication system such as a high capacity DBS system, dynamic mapping of broadcast resources is provided to exploit occasional redundancy in the program content of two or more input data streams, freeing at least one broadcast resource to carry alternate bitstreams, such as additional programs or existing programs at higher quality. Transmission maps defining the correspondence between input data streams and broadcast resources, and reception maps defining the correspondence between broadcast resources and output data streams, are updated as needed to dynamically modify broadcast resource mapping to increase effective utilization of available bandwidth. Beneficial n:n-y:m mapping in a high capacity consumer DBS entertainment system is provided. Apparatus and methods for efficiently generating, maintaining and updating allocation maps with reduced overhead requirements, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of receiving one of a plurality of prime rate channels transmitted via downlink signals from a satellite comprises the step of demodulating downlink signals into a baseband time division multiplex bit stream comprising frames generated by the satellite. Each of the frames comprises a plurality of time slots, each of the time slots having a set of symbols. Each symbol in the set of symbols corresponding to a respective one of the prime rate channels occupies a similer symbol position in each of the time slots. The method further comprises the steps of locating the frames in the bit stream using a master frame preamble inserted therein by the satellite, and retrieving from the set of symbols in each of the time slots of at least one of the frames the symbols that correspond to one of the prime rate channels.

Abstract: A receiver unit for receiving a time division multiplexed downlink data stream from a satellite comprises a phase shift keying demodulator for demodulating the downlink data stream into a stream of symbols. The downlink data stream comprises slots and is provided with a predetermined number of prime rate channels in respective ones of the slots by the satellite. A correlator is connected to the demodulator for locating and synchronzing to a master frame preamble inserted in the stream of symbols by the satellite. A demultiplexer is connected to the correlator for locating a time slot control channel in the stream of symbols. The time slot control channel is inserted into the stream of symbols by the satellite to identify which of the slots comprises the prime rate channels corresponding to each of a plurality of broadcast service providers. An input device is provided to allow an operator to select one the broadcast service providers and to provide an output signal to the demultiplexer.

Abstract: A wireless cellular voice system and a wireless packet data system cover a common service area consisting of a plurality of cells, and share RF spectrum in providing their respective services to: AMPS phones, CDPD handheld data terminals, and combined AMPS-CDPD subscriber sets. Control of AMPS wireless communication and switching is vested in an AT&T 5ESS.TM. switch and an AT&T 3B20.TM. Access Manager. Control of CDPD communication is vested in a Sun SPARC Data Network Processor operating under standard CDPD protocol. A high speed bus of the Access Manager is extended to the SPARC processor to facilitate coordination of use of the shared wireless channels; and to allow the AMPS facility to originate data messages to combined AMPS-CDPD subscriber sets to implement AMPS data features, e.g., VOICE MESSAGE WAITING; ELECTRONIC MAIL NOTIFICATION; PAGING; and CALLER ID (CID); CALLER ID CALL WAITING (CID-CW).

Abstract: A satellite-based, world-wide cellular messaging system (5) transmits paging messages to pagers (2) via multiple beams. A pager (2) monitors multiple beams, recording the schedules for each beam, and by combining the schedules for multiple beams, ultimately determines which frames in the message groups to monitor for messages. As propagation characteristics degrade, an adaptive method refines the criteria for including frames into a monitoring schedule.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for digital broadcasting by satellite and including a link sending digital information to the satellite, the satellite retransmitting a broadcast multiplex. According to the invention, the link includes a plurality of individual transmitters each of which transmits a transmission signal at a first rate corresponding to at least one program, and wherein the satellite includes an onboard multiplexer module combining the transmission signals to form the transmission multiplex at a second rate higher than the first rate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for transmitting, receiving and communicating program data signals which are combined with digital data signals. Preferably, the present invention compresses 30 digital audio signals, multiplexes them with title, track, artist, record label, year, etc., program information, and transmits the combined signals via satellite to a receiving station. The receiving station demultiplexes the signals and sends them via a cable distribution system to a subscriber's digital music tuner. This tuner further demultiplexes and decodes the signals so that the digital audio signals may be converted to analog and output for listening, while the corresponding data signals are communicated to the subscriber. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the program data signals are transmitted to a remote control receiver where they are displayed. The system described in the present invention may be used for transmitting video, software or games with program data to subscribers.

Abstract: Subscriber units (26) in a satellite communication system (10) send and receive data messages at optimum times. Each subscriber unit (26) has a pre-programmed database that includes a collection of messages (302), such as data (314), fax (316), pre-recorded voice (318), pager (320), or video files (322). Pre-programmed times include low traffic times (404) and/or most economical times (406) at the point of origination and/or destination. Low traffic time information (404) and most economical time information (406) are stored in the subscriber unit (26) and may be updated by the communication system (10). The subscriber unit (26) sends and receives messages at either a pre-programmed or low traffic time (404) or most economical time (406). The satellite communication system (10) calculates message delivery time when different from a user's time zone. A user is notified when a message is sent and received. The subscriber unit (26) stores the messages for future access.

Abstract: A mobile station, and a method for making a handover in a CDMA cellular radio system, which includes in each cell at least one base station connected to the mobile stations in the cell. The connection includes both a traffic channel and one or more control channels. The transmissions of the base stations are not synchronized with each other. A mobile station, after having established a simultaneous connection with two or more of the base stations while making a handover, transmits to the base stations using the same spreading code. The signals received by the base stations are combined in a base station controller, or the like. The base stations with which the mobile station communicates simultaneously, transmit to the mobile station each using a different spreading code.

Abstract: A cellular communications satellite system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of ground-based base stations, mobile stations, and at least one orbiting satellite for relaying signals between the base stations and mobile stations. A Plurality of feederlinks are used between the base stations and the satellite for transmitting signals and power from the ground stations to the satellite.