Reusing frequencies of a fixed and/or mobile communications system

• US 20060189309A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D., Kundra, Monish, Good, Alexander H., King, Charlene J., Swank, Eric A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A communications system includes a first wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications over a first frequency band, and a second wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications using at least a portion of the first frequency band. The system includes an inter-system communications link between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system. The inters-system communications link is used to coordinate the use of the first frequency band. The system further includes an interference reducer configured to reduce interference between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system. Related methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a fixed wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications over a first frequency band;

a second wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications using at least a portion of the first frequency band;

an inter-system communications link between the fixed wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system configured to coordinate the use of the first frequency band; and

an interference reducer configured to reduce interference between the fixed wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system.

2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the fixed wireless communications system comprises a substantially geostationary space-based component;

and

wherein the second wireless communications system comprises a terrestrial component.

3. The communications system of claim 2, wherein the fixed wireless communications system employs a first air interface protocol and the second wireless communications system employs a second air interface protocol.

4. The communications system of claim 3, wherein the first air interface protocol is different compared to the second air interface protocol.

5. The communications system of claim 3, wherein the first and second air interface protocols are substantially the same.

6. The communications system of claim 3, wherein the interference reducer is configured to reduce interference in the second wireless communications system.

7. The communications system of claim 3, wherein the interference reducer is configured to reduce interference in the fixed and/or second wireless communications system.

8. The communications system of claim 3, wherein the first air interface protocol includes a plurality of resources, and wherein the fixed wireless communications system and/or the second wireless communications system is/are configured to coordinate the use of the resources.

9. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the resources comprise spreading codes, channels, sub-channels, carriers, sub-carriers, time intervals and/or time slots.

10. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the fixed wireless communications system and/or the second communications system is/are configured to allocate and/or de-allocate at least one resource of the plurality of resources to the fixed wireless communications system and/or the second communications system, and wherein the fixed wireless communications system and/or the second communications system is/are configured to notify the fixed wireless communications system and/or the second communications system of the allocation and/or de-allocation of the at least one resource.

11. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the second communications system comprises a fixed and/or mobile communications system.

12. A communications system, comprising:

a first wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications over short range wireless communications links using a first frequency band;

a second wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications using at least a portion of the first frequency band;

an inter-system communications link between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system configured to coordinate the use of the first frequency band; and

an interference reducer configured to reduce interference between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system.

13. The communications system of claim 12, wherein the first wireless communications system comprises an access point configured to provide communications to/from vehicles;

and

wherein the second wireless communications system comprises a base station configured to provide communications to/from wireless terminals.

14. The communications system of claim 13, wherein an antenna of the base station is configured to transmit in a direction that does not include transmitters and/or receivers of the first wireless communications system.

15. The communications system of claim 13, wherein the first wireless communications system employs a first air interface protocol and the second wireless communications system employs a second air interface protocol.

16. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the first air interface protocol is different compared to the second air interface protocol.

17. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the first and second air interface protocols are substantially the same.

18. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the interference reducer is configured to reduce interference in the second wireless communications system.

19. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the interference reducer is configured to reduce interference in the first and/or second wireless communications system(s).

20. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the first air interface protocol includes a plurality of resources, and wherein the first wireless communications system and/or the second wireless communications system is/are configured to coordinate the use of the resources.

21. The communications system of claim 20, wherein the resources comprise spreading codes, channels, sub-channels, carriers, sub-carriers, time intervals and/or time slots.

22. The communications system of claim 20, wherein the first wireless communications system and/or the second wireless communications system is/are configured to allocate and/or de-allocate at least one resource of the plurality of resources to the first wireless communications system and/or the second wireless communications system, and wherein the first wireless communications system and/or the second wireless communications system is/are configured to notify the first wireless communications system and/or the second wireless communications system of the allocation and/or de-allocation of the at least one resource.

23. A communications system, comprising:

a first space-based system configured to transmit/receive information wirelessly using a first frequency band;

a second wireless system configured to transmit/receive information wirelessly using at least a portion of the first frequency band;

an inter-system communications link between the first space-based system and the second wireless system configured to coordinate the use of the first frequency band; and

an interference reducer configured to reduce interference between the first space-based system and the second wireless system.

24. The communications system of claim 23, wherein the first space-based system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and/or at least one non-geostationary satellite;

and

wherein the second wireless system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and/or at least one ancillary terrestrial component.

25. The communications system of claim 24, wherein the first space-based system uses a first air interface protocol and the second wireless system uses a second air interface protocol.

26. The communications system of claim 25, wherein the first air interface protocol is different compared to the second air interface protocol.

27. The communications system of claim 25, wherein the first and second air interface protocols are substantially the same.

28. The communications system of claim 24, wherein the interference reducer is configured to reduce interference in the second wireless system due to signals from the first space-based system.

29. The communications system of claim 24, wherein the interference reducer is configured to reduce interference in the first space-based system due to signals from the second wireless system.

30. The communications system of claim 25, wherein the first air interface protocol includes a plurality of resources and wherein the first space-based system and/or the second wireless system are configured to coordinate the use of the resources.

31. The communications system of claim 30, wherein the resources comprise spreading codes, channels, sub-channels, carriers, sub-carriers, time intervals and/or time slots.

32. The communications system of claim 31, wherein the first space-based system and/or the second wireless system is/are configured to allocate and/or de-allocate at least one of the plurality of resources to the first space-based system and/or the second wireless system, and wherein the first space-based system and/or the second wireless system is/are configured to notify the first space-based system and/or the second wireless system of the allocation and/or de-allocation of the at least one resource.

33. A method for reducing interference between a first wireless communications system and a second wireless communications system, comprising:

providing wireless communications from the first wireless communications system using a frequency band;

providing wireless communications from the second wireless communications system using at least a portion of the frequency band;

establishing an inter-system communications link between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system to coordinate the use of the frequency band; and

coordinating the use of the frequency band using the inter-system communications link to thereby reduce interference between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first wireless communications system comprises a space-based and/or terrestrial component and the second wireless communications system comprises a terrestrial component.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first wireless communications system employs a first air interface protocol and the second wireless communications system employs a second air interface protocol.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first air interface protocol is different compared to the second air interface protocol.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second air interface protocols are substantially the same.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the first air interface protocol includes a plurality of resources, and wherein the method further comprises coordinating the use of at least one resource of the plurality of resources.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the plurality of resources comprise spreading codes, channels, sub-channels, carriers, sub-carriers, time intervals and/or time slots.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising allocating and/or de-allocating at least one resource of the plurality of resources to the first and/or second communications system, and

notifying the first and/or second communications system of the allocation and/or de-allocation of the at least one resource.

41. A method for reducing interference between a first wireless communications system and a second wireless communications system sharing at least some frequencies of a frequency band, the method comprising:

establishing an inter-system communications link between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system; and

coordinating the use of the frequency band using the inter-system communications link to thereby reduce interference between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system.

42. A method for reducing interference between a geostationary satellite communications system and a non-geostationary satellite communications system sharing at least some frequencies of a frequency band, the method comprising:

establishing an inter-system communications link between the geostationary communications system and the non-geostationary communications system; and

coordinating the use of the frequency band using the inter-system communications link to thereby reduce interference between the geostationary communications system and the non-geostationary communications system.

43. A wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications using at least some frequencies that are authorized for use and/or are used by a second wireless communications system, the wireless communications system comprising:

an inter-system communications link between the wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system configured to coordinate the use of the at least some frequencies; and

an interference reducer configured to reduce interference between the wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system.

44. The communications system of claim 43, wherein the wireless communications system comprises at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component and the second wireless communications system comprises at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component.

45. The communications system of claim 44, wherein the at least one space-based component of the wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and the at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component of the second wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite.

46. The communications system of claim 44, wherein the at least one space-based component of the wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and the at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component of the second wireless communications system comprises at least one non-geostationary satellite.

47. The communications system of claim 44 wherein the at least one space-based component of the wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and the at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component of the second wireless communications system comprises at least one short-range communications link.

48. An interference reducer configured to reduce interference in a wireless communications system that is configured to use at least some frequencies of a frequency band that is authorized for use and/or is used by a second wireless communications system,

wherein the interference reducer is configured to use an inter-system communications link between the wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system to reduce interference between the wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system.

49. A wireless communications system comprising a space-based component and at least one terrestrial component;

wherein the space-based component is configured to receive a signal from a radioterminal over a plurality of different polarizations and the wireless communications system is configured to provide wireless communications using at least some frequencies that are authorized for use and/or are used by a second wireless communications system;

wherein the second wireless communications system comprises at least one space-based component and/or at least one terrestrial component.

50. The communications system of claim 49, wherein the second wireless communications system is Inmarsat, Iridium, Globalstar, ICO, XM-Satellite Radio and/or Sirius Satellite Radio.

51. A method of providing wireless communications in a wireless communications system using at least some frequencies that are authorized for use and/or are used by a second wireless communications system, comprising:

providing an inter-system communications link between the wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system;

providing an interference reducer configured to reduce interference between the wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system; and

coordinating the use of the at least some frequencies by the wireless communications system and/or the second wireless communications system using the inter-system communications link.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the wireless communications system comprises at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component and the second wireless communications system comprises at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one space-based component of the wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and the at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component of the second wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one space-based component of the wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and the at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component of the second wireless communications system comprises at least one non-geostationary satellite.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one space-based component of the wireless communications system comprises at least one substantially geostationary satellite and the at least one space-based and/or terrestrial component of the second wireless communications system comprises at least one short-range communications link.

56. A method of providing wireless communications in a wireless communications system comprising a space-based component and at least one terrestrial component, wherein the wireless communications system is configured to provide wireless communications using at least some frequencies that are authorized for use and/or are used by a second wireless communications system comprising at least one space-based component and/or at least one terrestrial component, the method comprising receiving a signal at the space-based component of the wireless communications system from a radioterminal over a plurality of different polarizations.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the second wireless communications system is Inmarsat, Iridium, Globalstar, ICO, XM-Satellite Radio and/or Sirius Satellite Radio.