Adaptive satellite return link symbol rate determination

1. A method for determining a maximum symbol rate of a return communication link from a user terminal to a satellite, the method comprising:

assigning transmission opportunities at a current symbol rate to the user terminal, the current symbol rate equal to a first symbol rate;

receiving a plurality of messages during the assigned transmission opportunities at the current symbol rate from the user terminal;

first determining if a number of the plurality of messages incorrectly received is less than a threshold number of incorrect messages and second determining if a power amplifier of the user terminal is operating in a linear region;

if the number of the plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages and if the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in the linear region, assigning a channel at the current symbol rate to the user terminal as a home channel for the user terminal;

if the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in a compression region, repeating the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and first determining at the current symbol rate equal to a second symbol rate; and

if the number of the plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is greater than or equal to the threshold number of incorrect messages and if not all messages of the plurality of messages are third determined to be incorrectly received, repeating the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate until a number of a latest plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages or a number of instances of the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate is fourth determined to be equal to a maximum number of instances.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first symbol rate is equal to a maximum symbol rate for the return communication link.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first symbol rate is equal to an intermediate symbol rate that is lower than a maximum symbol rate for the return communication link.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if the number of the plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is greater than or equal to the threshold number of incorrect messages and if all messages of the plurality of messages are third determined to be incorrectly received, fourth determining if the current symbol rate is equal to a minimum symbol rate for the return communication link;

if the current symbol rate is fourth determined to be equal to the minimum symbol rate, repeating the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate until a number of a latest plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages or a number of instances of the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate is fifth determined to be equal to a maximum number of instances; and

if the current symbol rate is fourth determined to be unequal to the minimum symbol rate, repeating the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and first determining at the current symbol rate equal to the second symbol rate that is lower than the first symbol rate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein repeating comprises repeating the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and determining at updated current symbol rates that are increasingly lower for each consecutive iteration.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein repeating comprises:

repeating until both a number of the plurality of messages of a latest iteration first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages and the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in the linear region for the updated current symbol rate of the latest iteration; and

assigning a channel at the updated current symbol rate of the latest iteration to the user terminal as a home channel for the user terminal.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein repeating comprises repeating until the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in the compression region for the latest iteration and the updated current symbol rate of the latest iteration is third determined to be equal to a minimum symbol rate for the return communication link.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and first determining at an updated current symbol rate equal to a third symbol rate that is higher than the second symbol rate.

9. A system for determining a maximum symbol rate of a return communication link in a satellite communications system, the system comprising:

a plurality of user terminals;

a satellite communicatively coupled to the plurality of user terminals; and

a gateway communicatively coupled to the satellite and configured to:

assign transmission opportunities at a current symbol rate to a user terminal of the plurality of user terminals, the current symbol rate equal to a first symbol rate;

receive a plurality of messages during the assigned transmission opportunities at the current symbol rate from the user terminal;

first determine if a number of the plurality of messages incorrectly received is less than a threshold number of incorrect messages and second determine if a power amplifier of the user terminal is operating in a linear region;

if the number of the plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages and if the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in the linear region, assign a channel at the current symbol rate to the user terminal as a home channel for the user terminal;

the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in a compression region, repeat the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and first determining at an updated the current symbol rate equal to a second symbol rate; and

if the number of the plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is greater than or equal to the threshold number of incorrect messages and if not all messages of the plurality of messages are third determined to be incorrectly received, repeat the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate until a number of a latest plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages or a number of instances of the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate is fourth determined to be equal to a maximum number of instances.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first symbol rate is equal to a maximum symbol rate for the return communication link.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first symbol rate is equal to an intermediate symbol rate that is lower than a maximum symbol rate for the return communication link.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the gateway is further configured to:

if the number of the plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is greater than or equal to the threshold number of incorrect messages and if all messages of the plurality of messages are third determined to be incorrectly received, fourth determine if the current symbol rate is equal to a minimum symbol rate for the return communication link;

if the current symbol rate is fourth determined to be equal to the minimum symbol rate, repeat the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate until a number of a latest plurality of messages first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages or a number of instances of the receiving and first determining at the current symbol rate is fifth determined to be equal to a maximum number of instances; and

if the current symbol rate is fourth determined to be unequal to the minimum symbol rate, repeat the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and first determining at the updated current symbol rate equal to the second symbol rate that is lower than the first symbol rate.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the gateway is further configured to repeat the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and determining at updated current symbol rates that are increasingly lower for each consecutive iteration.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the gateway is further configured to:

repeat the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and determining until both a number of the plurality of messages of a latest iteration first determined to be incorrectly received is less than the threshold number of incorrect messages and the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in the linear region for the updated current symbol rate of the latest iteration; and

assign a channel at the updated current symbol rate of the latest iteration to the user terminal as a home channel for the user terminal.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the gateway is further configured to repeat the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and determining until the power amplifier is second determined to be operating in the compression region for the latest iteration and the updated current symbol rate of the latest iteration is third determined to be equal to a minimum symbol rate for the return communication link.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the gateway is further configured to repeat the transmission opportunities assigning, receiving, and first determining at an updated current symbol rate equal to a third symbol rate that is higher than the second symbol rate.