TDMA communications between satellites, with distance dependant transmission duration

摘要

A network (10) of satellites (12) delivers communications through bi-directional communication links (16) between individual ones of the satellites. Each satellite terminates a plurality of links (16). All satellites are synchronized (60) to recognize a constant duration frame (52) structure. For each link (16) in the network (10), satellites at both ends of the link (16) simultaneously transmit data communications into their respective ends of the link (16) using the same frequency band. Transmissions into all links (16) supported by a satellite occur simultaneously. The transmissions continue (78) for a duration that is responsive to the distance between the satellites. Transmissions cease (80) for all links (16) supported by a satellite when the communications from the opposing link nodes have nearly propagated the entire distances between the satellites. After ceasing transmissions, each satellite receives the communications previously transmitted from the opposing satellites (12) into the links (16) therebetween.