Multiple-user communication unit and method for operating in a satellite communication system

A method for reducing impulsive loading of a communication system by a group of subscribers using a multiple-user communication unit (MCU) for obtaining communications services from said communication system, said group of subscribers and MCU associated with a mobile vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining, by said MCU, a current work load for said MCU, wherein said current work load includes a number of communications service tasks which are to be performed by said MCU at a current position for said MCU and at a present time;
• computing, by said MCU, a future position using a current position, a speed, and a direction for said mobile vehicle, wherein said future position is a fixed distance from said current position;
• predicting, by said MCU, a future work load, wherein said future work load comprises a first number of call-processing tasks, a second number of hand-off tasks, and a third number of re-registration tasks which said MCU is expected to perform at said future position;
• determining, by said MCU, said first number of call-processing tasks, said first number of call-processing tasks being determined by comparing said future position with a first set of areas defined by geo-physical boundaries, said first set of areas having expected levels of demand for communications services associated with them;
• determining, by said MCU, said second number of hand-off tasks, said second number of hand-off tasks being determined by comparing said future position with a second set of areas defined by cell boundaries, said second set of areas having beam footprints associated with them;
• determining, by said MCU, said third number of re-registration tasks said third number of re-registration tasks being determined by comparing said future position with a third set of areas defined by geo-physical boundaries, said third set of areas being associated with service areas;
• establishing, by said MCU, priority levels for said first number of call-processing tasks, said second number of hand-off tasks, and said third number of re-registration tasks, wherein said priority levels are established based on system information and subscriber information;
• establishing, by said MCU, a schedule for performing said first number of call-processing tasks, for performing said second number of hand-off tasks, and for performing said third number of re-registration tasks, wherein said schedule is established by distributing said future work load over an amount of time;
• and
• performing, by said MCU, said future work load according to said schedule.

A multiple-user communication unit (MCU) for providing services to a group of subscribers, said group using said MCU to obtain communications services from a communication system, said MCU comprising:

• an RF interface for establishing at least one communication link with said communication system;
• and
• a processor coupled to said RF interface, said processor for creating a set of tasks for said MCU, for determining priority levels for said set of tasks, said priority levels being determined from system information and subscriber information, for establishing a schedule, said schedule for spreading said set of tasks over an amount of time to thereby reduce impulsive loading of said communication system, and for performing said set of tasks, wherein said processor further comprises means for determining a current work load for said MCU at a current position and at a present time;
• means for computing a future position using said current position, a speed, and a direction for said MCU;
• means for predicting a future work load comprising a first number of call-processing tasks, a second number of hand-off tasks, and a third number of re-registration tasks which said MCU is expected to perform at said future position;
• means for determining said first number of call-processing tasks by comparing said future position with a first set of areas defined by geo-physical boundaries, said first set of areas having expected levels of demand for communications services associated with them;
• means for determining said second number of hand-off tasks by comparing said future position with a second set of areas defined by cell boundaries;
• means for determining said third number of re-registration tasks by comparing said future position with a third set of areas defined by said geo-physical boundaries, said third set of areas being associated with service areas;
• means for establishing priority levels for said first number of call-processing tasks, said second number of hand-off tasks, and said third number of re-registration tasks;
• means for establishing said schedule for performing said first number of call-processing tasks, for performing said second number of hand-off tasks, and for performing said third number of re-registration tasks, wherein said schedule is established by distributing said future work load over an amount of time;
• and means for performing said future work load according to said schedule.