Ground control of forward link assignments

A system for transmitting forward link transponder assignments from at least one transponder to a plurality of mobile platforms comprising:

• a receiver component on the mobile platform;
• at least one ground station in communication with the mobile platform via the transponder, the base station comprising a master forward link transponder assignment list;
• and
• a communications component on the mobile platform, the communications component including:
• a default transponder assignment table loaded on the communications component, the default transponder table comprising a default forward link transponder assignment table,
• wherein when the communications component transmits the forward link transponder assignments to the receiver component when the receiver component loses at least one forward link assignment.

A method of transmitting forward link transponder assignments to a mobile platform comprising the steps of:

• (a) loading a default forward link transponder assignment table onto a receiver of a mobile terminal of the mobile platform;
• (b) transmitting a signal from a transmitter of the mobile terminal to at least one transponder listed in the default forward link transponder assignment table;
• (c) transmitting a return link assignment from the at least one transponder to the receiver of the mobile terminal;
• (d) transmitting a signal from the transmitter to a base via the transponder requesting correct forward link transponder assignments;
• (e) transmitting the correct forward link transponder assignments from the base station via the transponder to the receiver;
• and
• (f) retuning the receiver to the correct transponders based on the correct forward link transponder assignments.

A method of tuning receivers to a transponder tuned by a failed receiver comprising the steps of:

• (a) loading a plurality of priority sets of forward link transponder assignments on a base station;
• (b) loading a plurality of priority satellites on a base station;
• (c) re-tuning the receivers to a first priority set of transponders until the transponder is tuned;
• (d) re-tuning the receivers to a second priority set of transponders until the transponder is tuned if step (c) fails to tune the transponder;
• (e) repeating step (d) for additional priority sets of transponders until the transponder is tuned;
• (f) re-tuning the receivers to a first priority satellite if step (e) fails to tune the transponder;
• (g) re-tuning the receivers to a second priority satellite if step (e) fails to tune the transponder;
• and
• (h) repeating step (g) for additional priority sets of transponders until the transponder is tuned.