Demand assignment multiple access techniques for light traffic SCPC networks

Demand assignment multiple access (DAMA) in a satellite communications network refers to the selection and interconnection of signal paths on an 'as needed' basis. That is, when a user associated with a remote earth station decides to place a telephone call to another user associated with a different remote earth station, a pair of available frequencies will be assigned to the working modems in these stations to establish the communications link. Effectively, the DAMA system acts as a telephone switch which assigns frequencies rather than physical cross points. On this basis, the DAMA system should be capable of performing most, if not all, of the functions being performed by terrestrial telephone switches. This paper describes a program whose objective is the design, development, and testing, in a simulated terminal network, of a prototype DAMA system which is specifically intended for the low-traffic-per-node small earth station environment.