A communication network architecture for aeronautical mobile satellite services

The Aeronautical Mobile Satellite System consists of a number of control stations spanning the United States and a ground communications network that interconnects the stations. Each station is responsible for the air mobile within its designated airspace. To effect such control, each station must be able to communicate with the air mobile in its airspace. Since a typical flight will traverse areas served by several stations, it is necessary to develop a scheme whereby communications will be maintained for the duration of the flight. We propose an access scheme for a satellite-based aeronautical mobile communication system to be used in the mid to late 1990s in continental United States (CONUS). Log-in procedures and handover strategies will be described.