Satellite/hands-free interlock systems and/or companion devices for radioterminals and related methods

• US 20050239404A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18571 for satellites; for fixed or mobile stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A radioterminal may include a transceiver, a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver, and an interlock coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver may be configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, and the transceiver may be further configured to transmit high power communications at a high maximum power and/or EIRP and to transmit low power communications at a low maximum power and/or EIRP. The interlock may be configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that exceeds a threshold when the hand-held interface is activated. Related methods are also discussed.

Claims

1. A radioterminal comprising:

a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold;

a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver; and

an interlock coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

2. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications and wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold for space-based communications and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold for terrestrial communications.

3. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver includes at least one amplifier configured to amplify the low power communications for transmission at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold and to amplify the high power communications for transmission at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold, and wherein the interlock is configured to disable the high power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

4. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:

a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hands-free interface is activated.

5. A radioterminal according to claim 4 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or speaker.

6. A radioterminal according to claim 5 wherein the coupling for the remote earpiece and/or speaker comprises a tethered and/or an untethered coupling.

7. A radioterminal according to claim 5 wherein the coupling for the remote earpiece and/or speaker comprises an interface for a cradle configured to receive the radioterminal and to couple the radioterminal to a remote loudspeaker.

8. A radioterminal according to claim 4 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a speakerphone interface.

9. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:

an interface for a companion transmitting device, wherein the interface is configured to provide the high power communications to the companion transmitting device to transmit the high power communications from the companion transmitting device at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

10. A radioterminal according to claim 9 wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface and/or a wired interface.

11. A radioterminal according to claim 9 further comprising:

a radioterminal antenna coupled to the transceiver, wherein the companion device includes a companion antenna, and wherein a gain of the companion antenna is greater than a gain of the radioterminal antenna.

12. A radioterminal according to claim 9 wherein the transceiver includes a transmission amplifier inside the radioterminal, wherein the companion device includes a transmission amplifier inside the companion device, and wherein a power output of the transmission amplifier inside the companion device is greater than a power output of the transmission amplifier inside the radioterminal.

13. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by a transceiver of a device that is wirelessly and/or non-wirelessly coupled to the radioterminal when the hand-held interface is activated.

14. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:

a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock is configured to provide user notification to activate the hands-free interface.

15. A radioterminal according to claim 14 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.

16. A radioterminal according to claim 15 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver for a period of time after the request to transmit high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface when the hand-held interface is activated.

17. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:

an interface for a companion transmitting device, wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock is configured to provide user notification to activate the interface for the companion transmitting device.

18. A radioterminal according to claim 17 wherein the interlock is further configured to provide the high power communications through the interface to the companion transmitting device to transmit the high power communications from the companion transmitting device responsive to activating the interface for the companion transmitting device.

19. A radioterminal according to claim 17 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver for a period of time when the hand-held interface is activated after the request to transmit high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion transmitting device.

20. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the interlock is further configured to allow the transceiver to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

21. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold, and a hand-held interface, the method comprising:

allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated; and

preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications and wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold for space-based communications and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold for terrestrial communications.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the transceiver includes at least one transmission amplifier configured to amplify the low power communications and to amplify the high power communications, and wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting high power communications when the hand-held interface is activated comprises disabling and/or limiting at least one transmission amplifier when the hand-held interface is activated.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the radioterminal further includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:

enabling the transceiver to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hands-free interface is activated.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or speaker.

26. A method according to claim 24 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a speakerphone interface.

27. A method according to claim 21 wherein the radioterminal further includes an interface for a companion transmitting device, the method further comprising:

providing the high power communications through the interface to the companion transmitting device to transmit the high power communications from the companion transmitting device at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

28. A method according to claim 21 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by a transceiver of another device that is coupled to the radioterminal when the hand-held interface is activated.

29. A method according to claim 21 wherein the radioterminal includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:

providing user notification to activate the hands-free interface responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.

30. A method according to claim 29 further comprising:

enabling the transceiver to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.

31. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:

after the request to transmit high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface, enabling the transceiver for a period of time to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.

32. A method according to claim 21 wherein the radioterminal includes an interface for a companion transmitting device, the method further comprising:

providing user notification to activate the interface for the companion transmitting device responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.

33. A method according to claim 32 further comprising:

providing the high power communications through the interface to the companion transmitting device to transmit the high power communications from the companion transmitting device responsive to activating the interface for the companion transmitting device.

34. A method according to claim 32 further comprising:

enabling the transceiver for a period of time when the hand-held interface is activated after the request to transmit high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion transmitting device.

35. A radioterminal comprising:

a transceiver that is configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications;

a hands-free interface; and

a satellite/hands-free interlock that is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications unless the hands-free interface is activated.

36. A radioterminal according to claim 35 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or a speakerphone interface.

37. A radioterminal according to claim 35 further comprising:

a hand-held interface, wherein the interlock is further configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications when the hand-held interface is activated.

38. A radioterminal according to claim 37 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by a transceiver of another device that is coupled to the radioterminal when the hand-held interface is activated.

39. A radioterminal according to claim 37 wherein the satellite/hands-free interlock is configured to provide user notification to activate the hands-free interface in response to a request to transmit space-based communications when the hand-held interface is activated.

40. A radioterminal according to claim 39 wherein the satellite/hands-free interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver for a period of time after the request to transmit space-based communications without activation of the hands-free interface when the hand-held interface is activated.

41. A radioterminal according to claim 37 wherein the satellite/hands-free interlock is further configured to allow the transceiver to transmit terrestrial communications when the hand-held interface is activated.

42. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications, and a hands-free interface, the method comprising:

allowing the transceiver to transmit terrestrial communications when the hands-free interface is not activated; and

preventing the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications unless the hands-free interface is activated.

43. A method according to claim 42 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or a speakerphone interface.

44. A method according to claim 42 further comprising:

preventing the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications when a hand-held interface is activated.

45. A method according to claim 44 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by a transceiver of another device that is coupled to the radioterminal when the hand-held interface is activated.

46. A method according to claim 44 further comprising:

providing user notification to activate the hands-free interface in response to a request to transmit space-based communications when the hand-held interface is activated.

47. A method according to claim 46 further comprising:

enabling the transceiver for a period of time after the request to transmit space-based communications without activation of the hands-free interface when the hand-held interface is activated.

48. A method according to claim 44 further comprising:

allowing the transceiver to transmit terrestrial communications when the hand-held interface is activated.

49. A radioterminal comprising:

a transceiver that is configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications;

an antenna that is selectively configurable in at least a low profile or a high profile position and/or orientation; and

a satellite interlock that is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to a threshold unless the antenna is configured in the high profile position and/or orientation.

51. A radioterminal according to claim 49 wherein the high profile position and/or orientation of the antenna maintains a distance from the radioterminal and/or a user'"'"'s head that is greater than a distance maintained by the low profile position and/or orientation of the antenna from the radioterminal and/or the user'"'"'s head.

50. A radioterminal comprising:

a transceiver that is configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications;

a user interface that is selectively configurable in at least speakerphone mode, push-to-send mode and/or push-to-talk mode or next to a user'"'"'s ear mode; and

a satellite interlock that is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to a threshold if the user interface is configured in next to the user'"'"'s ear mode.

52. A radioterminal comprising:

a transceiver that is configured for space-based communications;

the transceiver comprising a low rate and a high rate vocoder and/or data transmission mode; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to preferentially use the low rate vocoder and/or the low rate data transmission mode for space-based communications if a power and/or EIRP of the radioterminal is greater than or equal to a threshold.

53. A radioterminal comprising:

a transceiver that is configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications;

the transceiver comprising a low rate and a high rate vocoder and/or data transmission mode and a low maximum power and/or EIRP and a high maximum power and/or EIRP mode; and

wherein the transceiver is configured to preferentially use the low rate vocoder and/or the low rate data transmission mode and the high maximum power and/or EIRP mode for space-based communications.

54. A radioterminal comprising:

a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit high power communications greater than a power threshold and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold;

a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver; and

an interlock coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting high power communications greater than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

55. A radioterminal according to claim 54 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications and wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit high power communications greater than the power threshold for space-based communications and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold for terrestrial communications.

56. A radioterminal according to claim 54 further comprising:

a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit high power communications greater than the power threshold when the hands-free interface is activated.

57. A radioterminal according to claim 54 further comprising:

an interface for a companion transmitting device remote from the radioterminal, wherein the interface is configured to provide the high power communications to the companion transmitting device to transmit the high power communications from the companion transmitting device at a power greater than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

58. A radioterminal according to claim 54 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output adjacent a user'"'"'s ear corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver when the hand-held interface is activated.

59. A radioterminal according to claim 54 further comprising:

a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock is configured to provide user notification to activate the hands-free interface.

60. A radioterminal according to claim 59 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.

61. A radioterminal according to claim 60 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver for a period of time after the request to transmit high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface when the hand-held interface is activated.

62. A radioterminal according to claim 54 wherein the interlock is further configured to allow the transceiver to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

63. A radioterminal according to claim 54 wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications at an Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) greater than the power threshold, and to transmit the low power communications at an Equivalent Radiated Power (EIRP) less than the power threshold.

64. A radioterminal according to claim 54 wherein the power threshold includes a low power threshold and a high power threshold, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications greater than the high power threshold and to transmit the low power communications less than the low power threshold, and wherein the interlock is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

65. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to transmit high power communications greater than a power threshold and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold, and a hand-held interface, the method comprising:

allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated; and

preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

66. A method according to claim 65 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications and wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit high power communications greater than the power threshold for space-based communications and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold for terrestrial communications.

67. A method according to claim 65 wherein the radioterminal further includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:

enabling the transceiver to transmit high power communications greater than the power threshold when the hands-free interface is activated.

68. A method according to claim 65 wherein the radioterminal further includes an interface for a companion transmitting device remote from the radioterminal, the method further comprising:

providing the high power communications through the interface to the companion transmitting device to transmit the high power communications from the companion transmitting device at a power greater than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

69. A method according to claim 65 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output adjacent a user'"'"'s ear corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver when the hand-held interface is activated.

70. A method according to claim 65 wherein the radioterminal includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:

providing user notification to activate the hands-free interface responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.

71. A method according to claim 70 further comprising:

enabling the transceiver to transmit high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.

72. A method according to claim 71 further comprising:

after the request to transmit high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface, enabling the transceiver for a period of time to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.

73. A method according to claim 65 wherein the radioterminal includes an interface for a companion transmitting device remote from the radioterminal, the method further comprising:

providing user notification to activate the interface for the companion transmitting device responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.

74. A method according to claim 73 further comprising:

providing the high power communications through the interface to the companion transmitting device to transmit the high power communications from the companion transmitting device responsive to activating the interface for the companion transmitting device.

75. A method according to claim 73 further comprising:

enabling the transceiver for a period of time when the hand-held interface is activated after the request to transmit high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion transmitting device.

76. A method according to claim 65 wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications at an Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) greater than the power threshold, and to transmit the low power communications at an Equivalent Radiated Power (EIRP) less than the power threshold.

77. A method according to claim 65 wherein the power threshold includes a low power threshold and a high power threshold, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications greater than the high power threshold and to transmit the low power communications less than the low power threshold, and wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications comprises preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.