Inroute burst header in a vsat system

A machine-implemented method for decoding a burst header of a burst, the machine-implemented method comprising:

• receiving, by a satellite gateway, the burst including the burst header and encoded payload data;
• demodulating, by the satellite gateway, the burst header having been modulated using a predefined phase shift keying modulation type;
• decoding the burst header by the satellite gateway, the burst header having a plurality of information bits encoded therein via a (16, 5) Reed-Muller code, a (32, 5) block code or a convolutional code having a code rate of either 1/5 or 1/10, the plurality of information bits being 5 bits representing, with respect to the payload data, a modulation type and a first code rate;
• and
• demodulating the payload data modulated using the modulation type, the payload data having been encoded at the first code rate.

A satellite terminal comprising:

• one component selected from a group of components consisting of an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, and a digital signal processor, the one component being arranged to generate a burst header for a burst, the burst header having encoded therein, via a (16, 5) Reed-Muller code, a (32, 5) block code or a convolutional code having a code rate of either 1/5 or 1/10, five information bits representing a modulation type for a payload of the burst, and a code rate for the payload;
• a modulator arranged to receive the burst including the burst header and the payload, modulate the burst header via a binary phase shift keying modulation, and modulate the payload via a modulation matching the modulation type encoded within the burst header;
• and
• a transmitter arranged to transmit the modulated burst header and the modulated payload, the modulated payload having been encoded at a first code rate matching the code rate encoded within the burst header.