Physical layer header for packet data

1. A method for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions in a communication system, the method comprising:

generating a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional Payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme:

transmitting the packet data burst to a Plurality of terminals;

demodulating the header by the Plurality of terminals using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme; and

examining the header to determine a Particular coding scheme and a Particular modulation scheme associated with the Dayload: and

wherein the packet data burst in the generating step further includes a guard band, a unique word field that provides burst synchronization, and a transition field that provides time for the plurality of terminals to switch from processing the header to processing the payload.

2. A method for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions in a communication system, the method comprising:

generating a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional Payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme:

transmitting the packet data burst to a plurality of terminals:

demodulating the header by the Plurality of terminals using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme: and

examining the header to determine a particular coding scheme and a Particular modulation scheme associated with the Payload: and

wherein the generating step comprises encoding a sub-header, repeating the encoded sub-header, and concatenating the encoded sub-header and the repeated encoded sub-header to form the header: and

wherein the sub-header in the encoding step comprises an uplink state flag field (USF) that specifies uplink assignments, a payload modulation field that specifies the particular modulation scheme, a coding scheme field that specifies the particular coding scheme, an empty/full field to specify whether the optional Payload is present, a snare field that is reserved, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field, and

wherein the sub-header in the encoding step has a length of 12 bits, the USF field having a length of 3 bits, the payload modulation field having a length of 1 bit, the coding scheme field having a length of 2 bits, the empty/full field having a length of 1 bit, the spare field having a length of 1 bit, and the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field having a length of 4 bits.

3. A method for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions in a communication system, the method comprising:

generating a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme:

transmitting the packet data burst to a Plurality of terminals;

demodulating the header by the plurality of terminals using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme; and

examining the header to determine a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the Payload: and

wherein the generating step comprises encoding a sub-header, repeating the encoded sub-header, and concatenating the encoded sub-header and the repeated encoded sub-header to form the header; and

wherein the encoding step is based upon an extended Golay (24, 12) code.

4. A communication system for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions comprising:

a source terminal configured to generate a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional Dayload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme;

a switch configured to receive and to forward the packet data burst: and

a destination terminal configured to demodulate the header using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, and to examine the header to determine a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the payload; and

wherein the packet data burst further includes a guard band, a unique word field that provides burst synchronization, and a transition field that provides time for destination terminal to switch from processing the header to processing the payload.

5. A communication system for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions comprising:

a source terminal configured to generate a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme;

a switch configured to receive and to forward the packet data burst: and

a destination terminal configured to demodulate the header using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, and to examine the header to determine a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the payload: and

wherein the header comprises an encoded sub-header and a duplicate of the encoded sub-header; and

wherein the sub-header comprises an unlink state flag field (USF) that specifies uplink assignments, a Payload modulation field that specifies the particular modulation scheme, a coding scheme field that specifies the particular coding scheme, an empty/full field to specify whether the optional Payload is present, a spare field that is reserved, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field: and

wherein the sub-header has a length of 26 bits, the USF field having a length of 17 bits, the payload modulation field having a length of 15 bit, the coding scheme field having a length of 16 bits, the empty/full field having a length of 15 bit, the spare field having a length of 15 bits, and the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field having a length of 18 bits.

6. A communication system for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions comprising:

a source terminal configured to generate a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme:

a switch configured to receive and to forward the packet data burst: and

a destination terminal configured to demodulate the header using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, and to examine the header to determine a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the Payload, and

wherein the header comprises an encoded sub-header and a duplicate of the encoded sub-header: and

wherein the encoded sub-header is based upon an extended Golay (24, 26) code.

7. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions in a communication system, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to Perform the steps of:

generating a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme: and

transmitting the packet data burst to a plurality of terminals, wherein the header is demodulated by the plurality of terminals using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, the header specifying a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the payload: and

wherein the packet data burst in the generating step further includes a guard band, a unique word field that provides burst synchronization, and a transition field that provides time for the plurality of terminals to switch from processing the header to processing the payload.

8. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions in a communication system, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme, and

transmitting the packet data burst to a plurality of terminals, wherein the header is demodulated by the plurality of terminals using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, the header specifying a particular coding scheme and a Particular modulation scheme associated with the payload: and

wherein the generating step comprises encoding a sub-header, repeating the encoded sub-header, and concatenating the encoded sub-header and the repeated encoded sub-header to form the header; and

wherein the sub-header in the encoding step comprises an uplink state flag field (USF) that specifies uplink assignments, a payload modulation field that specifies the particular modulation scheme, a coding scheme field that specifies the particular coding scheme, an empty/full field that specifies whether the optional payload is present, a spare field that is reserved, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field: and

wherein the sub-header in the encoding step has a length of 12 bits, the USF field having a length of 3 bits, the payload modulation field having a length of 1 bit, the coding scheme field having a length of 2 bits, the empty/full field having a length of 1 bit, the spare field having a length of 1 bit, and the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field having a length of 4 bits.

9. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for adapting to a variety of link propagation conditions in a communication system, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

generating a packet data burst that includes a header and an optional payload, the header being modulated using a default modulation scheme and coded using a default coding scheme: and

transmitting the packet data burst to a plurality of terminals, wherein the header is demodulated by the plurality of terminals using the default modulation scheme and the default coding scheme, the header specifying a particular coding scheme and a particular modulation scheme associated with the payload: and

wherein the generating steel comprises encoding a sub-header, repeating the encoded sub-header, and concatenating the encoded sub-header and the repeated encoded sub-header to form the header; and

wherein the encoding step is based upon an extended Golay (24, 12) code.