SS/TDMA satellite system with on board TST switching stage

According to terminology commonly used in terrestrial switching techniques, an SS/TDMA satellite system can be regarded as a Time-Space-Time (TST) switching center in which the time stages are located in the ground stations and the space stage in the satellite. The present investigation is concerned with the advantages which can be obtained by transferring the time stages from all ground stations to the satellite. Such a step would make it possible to reduce significantly the complexity of the ground segment. Other advantages are related to a higher frame efficiency, an improved system capability to accommodate different traffic requirements, an easier accommodation of variable traffic patterns, and the possibility to incorporate the system in an Integrated Services Digital Network.