Service preemption for mobile terminals in a mobile satellite communications system

In a communication system, a method of performing a priority process for a priority event, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) continuously monitoring, by at least one mobile communication system (MCS), for receipt of a priority message comprising at least data relating to an instance of the priority event;
• (b) transmitting, by at least one controller, a first message including the priority message in the communication system;
• (c) receiving, by the at least one MCS, the first message including the priority message;
• (d) receiving, by the at least one MCS, a second message to be transmitted to the communication system;
• (e) performing, by the at least one MCS, responsive to the first message, a message segment protocol to the second message prior to transmitting a plurality of message segments comprising the second message;
• (f) transmitting, by the at least one MCS, one of the plurality of message segments at a time, until all of the plurality of message segments have been transmitted;
• and
• (g) receiving, by the at least one controller, the one of the plurality of message segments, until all of the plurality of message segments have been received.

In a mobile satellite system, a method of performing a preemption process for a preemption event, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining by at least one controller that the preemption event is substantially imminent;
• (b) determining by the at least one controller at least one service to be preempted;
• (c) determining by the at least one controller a predetermined amount of bandwidth to be preempted;
• (d) determining by the at least one controller that the preemption event is imminent;
• and
• (e) transmitting a shutdown command with respect to the predetermined amount of bandwidth to be preempted.

In a mobile satellite system, a method of performing a preemption process for a preemption event, comprising the steps of determining by at least one controller that the preemption event is substantially imminent and at least one service to be preempted for use by an aeronautical system;

• determining by the at least one controller a predetermined amount of bandwidth to be preempted;
• determining by the at least one controller that the preemption event is imminent;
• transmitting a shutdown command with respect to the predetermined amount of bandwidth to be preempted;
• and upon at least substantial completion of the preemption event, clearing a connection between the aeronautical system and the at least one controller.

In a mobile satellite system including a communication switching office (CSO) having a satellite antenna for receiving/transmitting a satellite message via a satellite, a system for performing a priority process for a priority event, comprising:

• at least one mobile communication system (MCS) continuously monitoring for receipt of a priority and preemption message comprising at least data relating to an instance of preemption, said at least one mobile communication system
• receiving a first satellite message including the priority and preemption message,
• receiving a second satellite message to be transmitted by the mobile satellite system,
• performing, responsive to the first satellite message, a message segment protocol to the second satellite message prior to transmitting and creating a plurality of message segments comprising the second satellite message, and
• transmitting each of the plurality of message segments at a time, until substantially all of the plurality of message segments have been transmitted;
• and
• at least one controller responsively communicable and connected to said at least one MCS, and transmitting the first satellite message including the priority and preemption message in the mobile satellite system, and receiving each of the plurality of message segments transmitted by the at least one MCS.