Systems and methods for space-based use of terrestrial cellular frequency spectrum

• US 20050260984A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobile Satellite Venture LP
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Application Number:
  US11/131,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20050260984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00

Abstract

A space-based component, such as a satellite, is configured to use a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency for communication with a wireless terminal, with a terrestrial base station and/or with a terrestrial gateway. Terrestrial cellular/PCS frequencies also may be used for terrestrial communications by terrestrial base stations and/or radioterminals.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method comprising:

directly communicating between a space-based component and a radioterminal over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

directly communicating between a terrestrial base station and the radioterminal over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

directly communicating between a terrestrial base station and the space-based component over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

4. A method according to claim 2 further comprising:

directly communicating between the terrestrial base station and the space-based component over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

5. A wireless communication method comprising:

using a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency by a space-based component.

6. A wireless communication method comprising:

using a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency by a radioterminal to directly communicate with a space-based component.

7. A wireless communication method comprising:

using a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency by a terrestrial base station to directly communicate with a space-based component.

8. A wireless communication system comprising:

a space-based component that is configured to directly communicate with a radioterminal over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

9. A wireless communication system according to claim 8 further comprising:

a terrestrial base station that is configured to directly communicate with the radioterminal over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

10. A wireless communication system according to claim 9 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to directly communicate with the space-based component over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

11. A wireless communication system according to claim 8 further comprising:

a terrestrial base station that is configured to directly communicate with the space-based component over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

12. A wireless communication system according to claim 8 in combination with the radioterminal that is configured to directly communicate with the space-based component over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

13. A wireless communication system according to claim 9 in combination with the radioterminal that is configured to directly communicate with the space-based component and the terrestrial base station over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

14. A wireless communication system comprising:

a space-based component that is configured to use a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

15. A wireless communication system comprising:

a radioterminal that is configured to directly communicate with a space-based component over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

16. A wireless communication system according to claim 15 wherein the radioterminal is further configured to directly communicate with a terrestrial base station over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

17. A wireless communication system comprising:

a terrestrial base station that is configured to directly communicate with a space-based component over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

18. A wireless communication system according to claim 17 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to communicate directly with a radioterminal over a terrestrial cellular/PCS frequency.

19. A wireless communications system comprising:

a terrestrial cellular network that is configured to communicate with a plurality of radioterminals over a cellular frequency band; and

an ancillary space network that is configured to communicate with at least some of the radioterminals over at least some of the terrestrial cellular frequency band.

20. A wireless communications method comprising:

communicating between a terrestrial cellular network and a plurality of radioterminals over a cellular frequency band; and

communicating between an ancillary space network and at least some of the radioterminals over at least some of the terrestrial cellular frequency band.