Timing alignment for inroute transmission in a satellite communication system

A method comprising:

• performing, by a processor, a random estimation of location pertaining to a time-division multiple access (TDMA) frame boundary of a gateway, wherein the random estimation considers an estimated frame number in the TDMA frame boundary such that the estimated frame number corresponds to a first time instance at which group burst packets from the terminal of the plurality of terminals are expected to arrive at the gateway;
• transmitting, by the processor, using an asynchronous scrambled coded multiple access (ASCMA) technique, the group burst packets to the gateway, wherein the group burst packets comprise a precise timing feedback request for the gateway;
• receiving, by the processor, from the gateway, a feedback in response to the precise timing feedback request, wherein the feedback corresponds to an actual frame number and symbol number corresponding to a second time instance at which the group burst packets are received by the gateway;
• determining, by the processor, based on the comparison of the first time instance corresponding to the estimated frame and the second time instance corresponding to the actual frame number and symbol number, an adjustment for aligning timing of the inroute transmission of the terminal with respect to the TDMA frame boundary of the gateway;
• and
• applying, by the processor, the determined adjustment to synchronize the timing of the inroute transmission of the terminal with respect to the TDMA frame boundary of the gateway.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having an executable stored thereon, which, when executed, instructs a processor to perform a method as follows:

• perform a random estimation of location pertaining to a time-division multiple access (TDMA) frame boundary of a gateway, wherein the random estimation considers an estimated frame number in the TDMA frame boundary such that the estimated frame number corresponds to a first time instance at which group burst packets from a terminal of a plurality of terminals are expected to arrive at the gateway;
• transmit, using an asynchronous scrambled coded multiple access (ASCMA) technique, the group burst packets to the gateway, wherein the group burst packet comprises a precise timing feedback request for the gateway;
• receive, from the gateway, a feedback in response to the precise timing feedback request, wherein the feedback corresponds to an actual frame number and symbol number corresponding to a second time instance at which the group burst packets are received by the gateway;
• determine, based on the comparison of the first time instance corresponding to the estimated frame and the second time instance corresponding to the actual frame number and symbol number, an adjustment for aligning timing of the inroute transmission of the terminal with respect to the TDMA frame boundary of the gateway;
• and
• apply the determined adjustment to synchronize the timing of the inroute transmission of the terminal with respect to the TDMA frame boundary of the gateway.