HANDSET TRANSMIT ANTENNA DIVERSITY IN MOBILE SATELLITE SYSTEMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a satellite system, a method for enhancing coverage, the method comprising:
- establishing a communication link;
comparing at least two signal propagation pathways in the communication link; and
selecting one of the signal propagation pathways in accordance with a measured signal quality.
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Abstract
A wireless communication device (WCD) used as a satellite telephone is provided with multiple antennas for communicating with its satellites. If signal quality is determined to be poor, then an evaluation is made as to whether switching antennas will result in an improvement in the communication link between the WCD and the satellite.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. In a satellite system, a method for enhancing coverage, the method comprising:
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establishing a communication link; comparing at least two signal propagation pathways in the communication link; and selecting one of the signal propagation pathways in accordance with a measured signal quality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless communication device (WCD) for use in satellite communication, the WCD comprising:
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at least two antennas; a radio frequency (RF) circuit that establishes a communication link through at least one of the at least two antennas; a circuit that obtains a comparison of a measured signal quality through at least two signal propagation pathways in the communication link as obtained by switching between the at least two antennas; and an antenna switching circuit that switches between the at least two antennas by connecting the circuit that establishes a communication link to the antennas and switching between the antennas responsive to a comparison of the measured quality to switch to an antenna deemed optimum in accordance with the measured signal quality. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A satellite communication station for communicating with a plurality of subscribers, the communication station comprising:
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a circuit that establishes a communication link with a user'"'"'s wireless communication device (WCD); a circuit that obtains a comparison of at least two signal propagation pathways by one of comparing at least two signal propagation pathways in the communication link, or by requesting a comparison of at least two signal propagation pathways in the communication link and receiving the comparison; and a circuit that selects one of the signal propagation pathways in accordance with a measured signal quality, and communicating the selection to the user'"'"'s WCD. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A circuit device for use with a satellite communication system, the circuit device comprising:
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means for establishing a communication link; means for comparing at least two signal propagation pathways in the communication link; and means for selecting one of the signal propagation pathways in accordance with a measured signal quality. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A wireless communication device (WCD) for use in satellite communication, the WCD comprising:
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a circuit that obtains a measured signal quality in a communication link; a circuit that determines if the measured signal value falls below a predetermined threshold indicating low signal quality; and a circuit that provides an indication to the user of the low signal quality, wherein a change in a signal metric related to signal quality results in a change in the indication to the user perceptible by the user, thereby providing the user with an indication for positioning the WCD in a manner to improve the signal quality.
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Specification