Mobile satellite system

• US 20050181783A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Jones, Scott, Kuhn, Robert, Murphy, Michael, Kutella, Charlene, Foosaner, Matthew, Tincher, David
• Application Number:
  US10/950,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/03 Constructional details, e.g. casings, housings

Abstract

A mobile cellular system and method having an antenna to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a plurality of mobile communication devices, an extendable mast on which the antenna is mounted, a plurality of base stations to manage the transfer of information between the mobile cellular system and the plurality of mobile communication devices, a generator to supply power to the mobile cellular system, a fuel storage tank to supply fuel to the mobile cellular system, a satellite communications device to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a communications satellite, and an air-conditioning unit to maintain a temperature inside the mobile cellular system, wherein the antenna, the extendable mast, the plurality of base stations, the generator, the fuel storage tank, the satellite communications device, and the air-conditioning unit are mounted on a self propelled vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile cellular system comprising:

an antenna to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a plurality of mobile communication devices,

an extendable mast on which the antenna is mounted,

a plurality of base stations to manage the transfer of information between the mobile cellular system and the plurality of mobile communication devices,

a generator to supply power to the mobile cellular system,

a fuel storage tank to supply fuel to the mobile cellular system,

a satellite communications device to transfer information between the mobile cellular system and a communications satellite, and

an air-conditioning unit to maintain a temperature inside the mobile cellular system,

wherein the antenna, the extendable mast, the plurality of base stations, the generator, the fuel storage tank, the satellite communications device, and the air-conditioning unit are mounted on a self propelled vehicle.

2. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it meets the requirements to be loaded on a C-130 cargo plane.

3. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it has a total weight of less than or equal to 26,000 pounds.

4. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it has a weight per axel of less than or equal to 13,000 pounds.

5. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mobile cellular system is configured such that it has outside dimensions less than or equal to 284.5 inches by 96 inches.

6. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a microwave antenna.

7. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is omni-directional.

8. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a aimable.

9. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mast is extendable to a height of 32 feet or greater.

10. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mast is selectively tiltable.

11. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the mast is selectively rotateable.

12. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, further comprising a rack in which the base stations are mounted such that the base stations may be inserted or removed from a front side of the rack.

13. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the generator is rated at 15 kilowatts.

14. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the fuel tanks can supply power to the mobile cellular system for at least four days of continuous operation.

15. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, further comprising a fuel selector to allow a user to selectively draw fuel from the fuel storage tank or a vehicle fuel tank.

16. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the satellite communications device is a satellite dish.

17. The mobile cellular system of claim 16, wherein the satellite dish is mounted on a side of the mobile cellular system.

18. The mobile cellular system of claim 16, wherein the satellite dish is connected to the mobile cellular system using a flexible waveguide.

19. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the satellite dish is manually positionable.

20. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the satellite dish is automatically positionable.

21. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, further comprising a control device to control extending the extendable mast, wherein the control device is operational from a top of the mobile cellular system.

22. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein the control device is effectively connected to the mobile cellular system by a cable.

23. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein cables connecting the mast to the mobile cellular system are not disconnected during extension or retraction of the mast, or prior to operation following the extension or retraction of the mast.

24. The mobile cellular system of claim 1, wherein a CDL is not required to drive the mobile cellular system.

25. A method for providing cellular communications, the method comprising:

providing a self propelled mobile cellular system having a cellular antenna to transfer data to and from a plurality of mobile communications devices, and a satellite communications device to transfer data to and from a satellite, and transmitting information to the mobile cellular system using a microwave antenna.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transporting the mobile cellular system to an area where cellular communications are to be provided, using a C-130 cargo plane.

27. A cellular network comprising:

a plurality of mobile cellular systems to establish cellular coverage over a plurality of areas wherein the mobile cellular systems,

transfer data with each other using microwave antennas,

transfer caller data between the mobile cellular systems and a plurality of mobile communication devices using cellular antennas mounted on the mobile cellular systems, and

transfer the caller data between the mobile cellular systems and at least one communication satellite using satellite dishes mounted on the mobile cellular systems.