SATELLITE DATA DISTRIBUTION METHOD AND SYSTEM USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20020080731A1
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: OKADA, YASUSHI
• Granted Patent: US 6,466,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1856 for call routing

Abstract

A satellite data distribution method and system in which a subscriber can receive a data distribution service via a mobile communication system. The satellite data distribution system includes a mobile communication system having at least one base station unit communicating with the subscribers. The data to be distributed is transmitted from a center station of the satellite data distribution system to a satellite. The data is distributed from the satellite to the base station unit of the mobile communication system. Then, the data is distributed from the base station unit to the subscribers via the mobile communication system. Thus, a satellite data reception unit is not necessarily provided to each of the subscribers.

Claims

1. A satellite data distribution method for distributing data to a plurality of subscribers of a satellite data distribution system via a satellite, said satellite data distribution system including a mobile communication system having at least one base station unit communicating with said subscribers, said satellite data distribution method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting data to be distributed from a center station of said satellite data distribution system to said satellite;

b) distributing said data from said satellite to said base station unit of said mobile communication system; and

c) distributing said data from said base station unit to said subscribers.

2. The satellite data distribution method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base station unit of said mobile communication system is connected to said center station via a communication network, and further comprises the step of:

d) sending a distribution request from one of said subscribers to said center station via said mobile communication network and said communication network, said distribution request requesting distribution of said data.

3. The satellite data distribution method as claimed in claim 2, wherein step a) includes the step of:

a-1) transmitting said data from said center station to said base station unit of said mobile communication system via said satellite in response to said distribution request from said one of said subscribers.

4. The satellite data distribution method as claimed in claim 2, wherein step d) comprises the step of:

d-1) sending a closing request to said mobile communication system for requesting closing of a communication channel used for distributing said data while said data is being distributed to said subscribers after said distribution request from one of said subscribers is confirmed in said base station unit.

5. The satellite data distribution method as claimed in claim 2, wherein step d) comprises the step of:

d-2) setting a reception frequency in said base station unit for receiving said data from said satellite after confirming said distribution request from said subscribers during a communication between said one of said subscribers and said center station.

6. The satellite data distribution system as claimed in claim 5, wherein step d) further comprises the step of:

d-3) transferring information from said one of said subscribers to said base station unit, the information including said reception frequency and a subscriber number of said one of said subscribers.

7. The satellite data distribution method as claimed in claim 6, wherein step c) comprises the steps of:

c-1) automatically making a call from said base station unit to said one of said subscribers based on said information transferred in step d-3); and

c-2) automatically disconnecting a connection between said base station unit and said one of said subscribers after said data is distributed from said base station unit to said one of said subscribers.

8. The satellite distribution method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

e) sending to said one of said subscribers a message indicating that a distribution of said data is unable when said data is not received from said satellite within a predetermined time period after said distribution request is sent from said one of said subscribers.

9. A base station unit of a mobile communication system used in a satellite data distribution system distributing data to a plurality of subscribers via a satellite, said base station unit comprising:

a communication processing unit for connecting said subscribers to said mobile communication system;

a satellite data reception unit for receiving said data from said satellite; and

a distribution processing unit for distributing said data received by said satellite data reception unit, said data being distributed to said subscribers via said communication processing unit.

10. A base station unit of a mobile communication system used in a satellite data distribution system distributing data to a plurality of subscribers via a satellite, said base station unit comprising:

a communication processing unit for connecting said subscribers to said mobile communication system; and

a distribution processing unit connectable to a satellite data reception unit for receiving said data from said satellite, said distribution processing unit distributing said data received by said satellite data reception unit, said data being distributed to said subscribers via said communication processing unit.

11. The base station unit as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a data throughput control unit controlling throughput of said data when said data is received by said satellite data reception unit.

12. The base station unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said communication processing unit has a channel exclusive for distributing said data received by said satellite data reception unit to said subscribers.

13. The base station unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said communication processing unit comprises a channel assignment control unit for flexibly assigning one of a plurality of communication channels to distribute said data to said subscribers in response to a condition of use of the communication channels.

14. The base station unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said communication processing unit comprises a channel control unit which sends a close request for closing one of a plurality of communication channels used for distributing said data while said data is being distributed to said subscribers, said close request being sent to said mobile communication system after a distribution request from one of said subscribers is confirmed, said distribution request requesting distribution of said data to said one of said subscribers.

15. The base station unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein said communication processing unit comprises a frequency control unit which sets a reception frequency of said satellite data reception unit upon confirmation of reception of a distribution request during communication between one of said subscribers sending a distribution request and a center station of said satellite data distribution system, said distribution request requesting for distributing said data to said one of said subscribers.

16. The base station unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said communication processing unit further comprises a reception control unit which receives information from said one of said subscribers during a communication between said on of said subscribers and said center station of said satellite data communication system, said information including the reception frequency and a subscriber number of said one of said subscribers.

17. The base station unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein said communication processing unit further comprises a disconnection control unit which automatically disconnects a connection between said base station unit and said one of said subscribers after distributing said data to said one of said subscribers by automatically calling said one of said subscribers based on said subscriber number included in said information.

18. The base station unit as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a packet processing unit for converting said data into packet data when said data received from said satellite is transmitted to said subscribers.

19. The base station unit as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a message control unit which sends an unable message to one of said subscribers requesting for distribution of said data when said data is not received within a predetermined time period after a distribution request is received from said one of said subscribers, said unable message indicating that said data cannot be distributed from said base station unit, said distribution request requesting for distribution of said data to said one of said subscribes.

20. A satellite data reception unit provided in a base station unit of a mobile communication system used in a satellite data distribution system distributing data to a plurality of subscribers via a satellite, said satellite data reception unit comprising:

a data reception unit for receiving said data transmitted from said satellite; and

an interfacing unit for connecting said satellite data reception unit to a communication processing unit provided in said base station unit so as to connect said subscribers to said mobile communication system.

21. The satellite data reception unit as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a data throughput control unit for controlling a throughput of said data when said data is received by said satellite data reception unit.

22. The satellite data reception unit as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a data storing unit for storing said data.

23. The satellite data reception unit as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a comparing unit for comparing a first subscriber number included in said data with a second subscriber number stored in said satellite data reception unit, said second subscriber number being included in information received from one of said subscribes sending a distribution request for requesting distribution of said data to said one of said subscribers, distribution of said data to said one of said subscribers being determined as a result of comparison performed by said comparing unit.

25. The mobile terminal unit as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

a packet processing unit for converting said data into packet data when said data from said satellite is received from said base station; and

a selection unit for switching between said packet data and regular audio data when a communication is performed between said mobile terminal unit and said base station terminal.

27. The satellite data distribution method as claimed in claim 26, wherein step c) comprises the step of:

c-1) storing said control software data in a memory so that said control software data received from said satellite is stored separately from control software data currently used by said base stations.

28. The satellite data distribution method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the step of:

d) switching the currently used control software data to said control software data stored in said memory by sending a switch signal from said center station to said base stations via said satellite so that said currently used control software data is simultaneously switched to said control software data stored in said memory in each of said base stations.

30. The base station unit as claimed in claim 29, wherein said loading unit comprises a first memory and a second memory, said control software data received by said satellite data reception unit being stored in one of said first and second memories so that said control software data stored in said one of said first and second memories is switched to control software data previously stored in the other one of said first and second memories.

24. A mobile terminal unit of a mobile communication system adapted to be used with a satellite data distribution system distributing data to a plurality of subscribers via a satellite, said mobile terminal unit comprising:

a communication processing unit for communicating with a base station unit of said mobile communication system; and

a control unit for controlling a communication between said communication processing unit and a center station of said satellite data distribution system transmitting said data to said satellite, said control unit controlling transmission of a distribution request to be sent to said center station for requesting distribution of said data to said subscribers, said control unit further controlling an announcement of transfer of a reception frequency to said base station during said communication.

26. A satellite data distribution method for distributing control software data to a plurality of base stations of a mobile communication system used with a satellite data distribution system via a satellite, said satellite data distribution method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting said control software data from a center station of said satellite data distribution system to said satellite, said control data being used by said base stations so as to control said mobile communication system;

b) distributing said control software data from said satellite to said base stations; and

c) downloading said control software data received by said base station.

29. A base station unit of a mobile communication system used with a satellite data distribution system, said base station unit using control software data to control said mobile communication system, said base station unit comprising;

a communication processing unit for connecting said base station unit to said mobile communication system;

a satellite data reception unit for receiving said data including control software data used for controlling said mobile communication system; and

a loading unit for loading said control software data received by said satellite data reception unit to said communication processing unit.

31. A processor readable medium having program code instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor controls an operation of a base station unit of a mobile communication system used with a satellite data distribution system to simultaneously distributing data to a plurality of subscribers via a satellite, the instructions comprising:

communication control program means for causing the processor to connect said subscribers to said mobile communication system;

call connection management program means for causing the processor to automatically call one of said subscribers requesting said data after said base station unit receives said data from said satellite;

satellite data reception control program means for causing the processor to manage a reception of said data from said satellite; and

satellite IO managing program means for causing the processor to manage a connection of satellite data reception unit to said base station, said satellite data reception unit receiving said data from said satellite.

32. The processor readable medium as claimed in claim 31, wherein said satellite managing program means includes download reception processing program means for causing the processor to download control software data to a plurality of said base station units.

33. The processor readable medium as claimed in claim 31, wherein said communication control program means comprises:

radio IO management program means for causing the processor to manage input/output operations through radio communication;

operating system program means for causing the processor to control an operating system;

application program means for causing the processor to manage an operation with respect to an application; and

network management program means for causing the processor to manage a connection to a network.