THE MICROPROCESSOR AND THE MINICOMPUTER FOR EARTH TERMINAL AND NETWORK CONTROL

Abstract

The capability of modern satellite earth terminals has increased, expanded, and benefited from the development and application of both microprocessor and minicomputer components. Microprocessors with intrinsic low cost and capability limited only by the imagination of engineers are now key components in the fundamental communications performance of earth stations. These components are now an integral part of antenna, modem, multiplexers, status and control, and communications control hardware. The concepts of unattended earth stations, remote controlled earth stations, and smart earth stations would not be practical without the availability of microprocessor and minicomputer components. Earth station network control concepts have been developing over the last five years to solve the issue of increasing the utilization of large capital investment in Satellite Communication(SATCOM) systems. The ability to double the communications capacity of a SATCOM system without adding new satellites or earth stations has been proven. Small minicomputers integrated into earth station configurations have made this possible. Microprocessor and minicomputer technology will continue to play an increasingly important and key role in future earth station hardware design and capability. This paper describes some of these applications and speculates on the future role of those components in earth station hardware.