Mobile Communication System for Use on Board a Mobile Structure and Using Satellite Link

• US 20070259618A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Geolink, Lda (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Geolink, Lda (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Nomine-Beguin, Roch-Alexandre
• Application Number:
  US11/570,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20070259618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service

Abstract

The invention relates to a telecommunication system for use on board a mobile structure for setting up communications with ground networks, the telecommunication system including at least one base transceiver station for setting up radio links with mobile stations located on board the mobile structure and a satellite station for setting up communications between the on board telecommunication system and a ground station via a satellite link, characterized in that it also comprises an acknowledgment device adapted for generating and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the base transceiver station in response to a mobile station located on board the mobile structure sending a frame to be transmitted by the telecommunication system to the ground station.

Claims

1. A telecommunication system for use on board a ship for setting up communications with ground networks, the telecommunication system including at least one base transceiver station for setting up radio links with mobile stations located on board the mobile structure and a satellite station for setting up communications between the on board telecommunication system and a ground station via a satellite link, characterized in that it also comprises an acknowledgment device adapted for generating and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the base transceiver station in response to a mobile station located on board the mobile structure sending a frame to be transmitted by the telecommunication system to the ground station.

2. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, including a base station controller.

3. The telecommunication system according to claim 2, also including a mobile-service switching center.

4. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement device is adapted for generating a setup acknowledgement signal in response to the mobile station sending a frame containing a setup message.

5. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement device is adapted for generating an acknowledgement signal according to MTP2 protocol.

6. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement device is adapted for generating and transmitting an acknowledgement signal in an acknowledgement delay lower than the failure delay provided by a protocol used by the telecommunication system.

7. The telecommunication system according to claim 6, wherein the acknowledgement delay provided by the acknowledgement device is lower than 750 ms.

8. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, further comprising switching means adapted for selectively activating or inactivating the telecommunication system depending on closeness of a telecommunication network located on the ground.

9. The telecommunication system according to claim 8, wherein the switching means are adapted for calculating the distance (d) between the position (x, y) of the mobile structure and a closest point (x′

, y′

) of the ground and for selectively activating or inactivating the telecommunication system depending on the calculated distance (d).

10. The telecommunication system according to claim 9, wherein the switching means are adapted for activating the telecommunication system or keeping the telecommunication system in an active state if the distance (d) between the mobile structure and the closest point (x′

, y′

) on the ground is greater than a first threshold.

11. The telecommunication system according to claim 10, wherein the first threshold is of the order of 14 kilometres.

12. The telecommunication system, according to claim 8, wherein the switching means are adapted for disabling the telecommunication system or keeping the telecommunication system in an inactive state if the distance (d) between the mobile structure and the closest point (x′

, y′

) on the ground is less than a second threshold.

13. The telecommunication system, according to claim 12, wherein the second threshold is of the order of 12 kilometres.

14. The telecommunication system according to claim 8, wherein the switching means are adapted for measuring an intensity level of carrier signals at frequencies corresponding to communication channels of the telecommunication system and for selectively activating or inactivating the telecommunication system depending on the intensity level measured.

15. The telecommunication system according to claim 14, wherein the switching means are adapted for activating the telecommunication system or keeping the telecommunication system in an active state if the intensity level of the carrier signal is less than a threshold.

16. The telecommunication system according to claim 14, wherein the switching means are adapted for disabling the telecommunication system or keeping the telecommunication system in an inactive state if the intensity level of carrier signals is greater than a threshold.

17. The telecommunication system according to claim 1, further comprising switching means adapted for changing communication channels frequencies of the telecommunication system so that the channel frequencies of the telecommunication system do not coincide with channels frequencies already used by a mobile network located on the ground.

18. A telecommunication system for use on the ground comprising a satellite station for setting up communication between a ground network and a telecommunication system on board a mobile structure via a satellite link, characterized in that it comprises an acknowledgment device adapted for generating and transmitting acknowledgement signals to a ground network in response to a terminal located on ground sending a frame to be transmitted by the ground station to the on board telecommunication system.

19. The telecommunication system according to claim 18, including a base station controller.

20. The telecommunication system according to claim 19, also including a mobile-service switching center.

21. The telecommunication system according to claim 18, wherein the acknowledgement device is adapted for generating an acknowledgement signal according to MTP2 protocol.

22. The telecommunication system according to claim 18, wherein the acknowledgement device is adapted for generating and transmitting an acknowledgement signal in an acknowledgement delay lower than the failure delay provided by a protocol used by the telecommunication system.

23. The telecommunication system according to claim 22, wherein the acknowledgement delay provided by the acknowledgement device is lower than 750 ms.

24. A method for setting up communications between a mobile station located on board a mobile structure and a ground network via a satellite link comprising the following steps:

the mobile station sends a frame to a base transceiver station of a telecommunication system on board the mobile structure,

the on board telecommunication system transmit the frame to the ground network via the satellite link,

characterized in that it also comprises the flowing step;

an acknowledgement device forming part of the on board telecommunication system generates and transmits an acknowledgement signal to the base transceiver station.

25. A method for setting up communications between a receiver located on ground and a mobile station located on board a mobile structure via a satellite link, comprising the following steps:

the receiver sends a frame to a mobile switching center of a telecommunication system on ground,

the ground telecommunication system transmits the frame to the mobile station via the satellite link,

characterized in that it also comprises the flowing step;

an acknowledgement device forming part of the ground telecommunication system generates and transmits an acknowledgement signal to the mobile-services switching center.

26. An acknowledgement device for use in an on-board telecommunication system for setting up communications with ground networks, the telecommunication system including at least one base transceiver station for setting up radio links with mobile stations located on board a mobile structure and a satellite station for setting up communications between the on board telecommunication system and a ground station via a satellite link, the acknowledgement device being characterized in that it is adapted for generating and transmitting an acknowledgement signal to the base transceiver station in response to a mobile station sending a frame to be transmitted from the telecommunication system to the ground station.

27. An acknowledgement device for use in a ground telecommunication system comprising a satellite station for setting up communication between a ground network and a telecommunication system located on board a mobile structure via a satellite link, the acknowledgement device being characterized in that it is adapted for generating and transmitting acknowledgement signals to the ground network in response to a terminal located on ground sending a frame to be transmitted from the ground station to the on board telecommunication system.