Dynamic switching of satellite inroute data path between a time-division multiple access method and a time division multiplex method

A satellite terminal, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the satellite terminal to perform a method, comprising:
• communicating, using a satellite terminal, over an inroute Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) channel;
• determining, at the satellite terminal, based at least on an aggregate ingress traffic rate to the satellite terminal, to switch communications from the inroute TDMA channel to an inroute Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) channel;
• and
• after determining to switch communications, sending, from the satellite terminal to a Gateway Earth Station (GW), a request to be allocated an inroute TDM channel.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, at a Gateway Earth Station (GW), a request from a satellite terminal to be allocated a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) channel for inroute communications;
• in response to receiving the request, determining at the GW, that the satellite terminal is eligible to be assigned an inroute TDM channel from a TDM inroute group;
• assigning the inroute TDM channel to the satellite terminal;
• and
• transmitting a message to the terminal identifying the assigned inroute TDM channel.