Design of an embedded receiver for satellite-based real time voice and data messaging for efficient disaster management

Disaster management is combination of various technological, infrastructural and administrative activities and communities have already recognized the need to improve capability for adopting and using real time communication systems for the benefit of all sectors of the community specially for the purpose of dissemination of warning messages predicting impending disaster. There is no denying the fact that satellite communication is a very important organ for modern telecommunication system in view of certain advantages ,viz., it is always on service, very large coverage and accessibility from any corner of the globe. Further, satellites are not prone to disaster and provide real time communication. Satellite-based real time voice and data messaging would be of immense help to people for dissemination of warning and related co-ordination activities. This paper describes design of a mission critical satellite receiver for real time satellite-based voice and data messaging system suitable for disaster management solutions. The receiver is used for disseminating the cyclone warning message in local languages to remote coastal villages of India from regional weather office using satellite backbone. Cyclone warning messages are meant for some specific remote location and broadcast warning message contains coded headers followed by voice or data files. The satellite receiver has been designed to demodulate L-band signal and decode the packetized data from the demodulated output. The receiver will play the audio only if its embedded algorithm matches the decoded data with its own identification number.