Method of allocating multiple asynchronous data transfer (ADT) services to utilize residual TDMA channel space for high throughput service requests

The Integrated Waveform (DAMA UHF SATCOM), specified in MIL-STD-188-181C/182B/183B/185A, defines a TDMA communication system in an attempt to improve satellite bandwidth utilization over conventional SATCOM waveforms. To overcome some of the limitations of statically defined data rates for user communication services in MIL-STD-188-183A/-, a new type of user communication service that supports asynchronous data transfer (ADT) was introduced in MIL-STD-188-183B. Unfortunately as a satellite communication network becomes heavily loaded, the allocation of large timeslots for high throughput data services becomes increasingly difficult. By taking advantage of the unique features of ADT user communication services, it becomes possible for a terminal to utilize multiple smaller timeslots to attain the same throughput that could be achieved using a single larger timeslot. This paper will discuss a method to further improve the utilization of satellite resources by allocating one or more timeslots, each consisting of the residual space in a satellite channel after all other services have been allocated, to terminals requesting high throughput ADT user communication services.