Communications system and method employing forward satellite links using multiple simultaneous data rates

A communication system comprising:

• a control subsystem transmitting data at a selected one of a plurality of different data rates;
• a space-based subsystem for receiving data from the control subsystem and transmitting the data on a selected one of a plurality of transmitters to a receiving station operating within a coverage region such that said data is transmitted at a selected data rate;
• a receiver subsystem including a plurality of receivers configured to receive data at different rate data rates;
• and located at said receiving station, for receiving said data transmitted from said space-based subsystem;
• said control subsystem operating to select a particular one of said data rates to use for transmission of said data such that a maximum data rate is used that is able to maintain closure of a communications link with said receiving station;
• and
• wherein said receiver subsystem comprises a plurality of receivers configured to receive data at different data rates.

A communications system comprising:

• a central control station for transmitting data at a plurality of different data rates;
• a space-based transponder for receiving said data and transmitting said data at a data rate selected by said central control station;
• a mobile platform operating within a designated coverage region being served by said space-based transponder, said mobile platform including a receiving subsystem for receiving data from said space-based transponder at a data rate selected by said central control station;
• and
• wherein said central control station selects a data rate for use based on whether said data is defined as relating to mobile platform operation or not.

A communications system comprising:

• a central control station for transmitting data at a plurality of different data rates;
• a space-based transponder for receiving said data and transmitting said data at a data rate selected by said central control station;
• a mobile platform operating within a designated coverage region being served by said space-based transponder, and traveling between a plurality of subregions within said coverage region;
• said mobile platform including a receiving subsystem for receiving data from said space-based transponder at a data rate selected by said central control station;
• and
• wherein said central control station monitors, in real time, a location of said mobile platform and selects, in real time, different data rates for use in transmitting said data to said mobile platform based on which subregion said mobile platform is operating in.

A method for communicating comprising:

• transmitting data from a central control station at a selected one of a plurality of different data transmission rates;
• using a space-based subsystem operating in a designated coverage region to receive and transmit said data at said selected data transmission rate;
• receiving said data at a receiving station operating within said designated coverage region;
• selecting a maximum data transmission rate for use that still enables closure of a communications link between said space-based subsystem and said receiving station to be maintained;
• and
• using said central control station to monitor, in real time, a position of said mobile platform, and selecting which one of said available data transmission rates to use based on a real time location of said mobile platform within said designated coverage region.