Mobile interactive satellite services

• US 20080268838A1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DBSD Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ICO Satellite Services G.P
• Inventors: Raab, Stefan Bernard, Sorond, Mariam Aghdasi, Mulford, Gerard Daniel, Zufall, David Robert, Le Maitre, Marcus John
• Granted Patent: US 9,276,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18526 Arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18536 Shadowing compensation therefor, e.g. by using an additional terrestrial relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/19 Earth-synchronous stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/195 Non-synchronous stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/22 Arrangements for broadcast of identical information via plural broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4025 where none of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system for providing mobile interactive satellite services includes a satellite operable to communicate with mobile units, a terrestrial base transceiver station operable to communicate with mobile units, and a ground station in communication with the satellite and the terrestrial base transceiver station to provide mobile interactive satellite services. The mobile interactive satellite services include a multicast component and an interactive component such that the ground station provides both the multicast component and the interactive component using the satellite, with the terrestrial base transceiver station used to provide an ancillary terrestrial component. A device for communicating with a mobile interactive satellite service system includes an antenna, a transceiver coupled to the antenna and operable to communicate with a mobile interactive satellite service system, a user input device, an output device, a processor unit, and a network interface. The processor unit is coupled to the user input device, the output device, and the transceiver such that the processor is operable to output received information from the transceiver using the output device, to receive interactive information from the user input device, and to transmit data based on the received interactive information using the transceiver. The network interface is coupled to the processor such that the processor is operable to side load information.

Claims

1. A system for providing mobile interactive satellite services, the system comprising:

a satellite operable to communicate with mobile units;

a terrestrial base transceiver station operable to communicate with the mobile units;

a ground station in communication with the satellite and the terrestrial base transceiver station to provide mobile interactive satellite services,

wherein the mobile interactive satellite services include a multicast component and an interactive component such that the ground station provides both the multicast component and the interactive component using the satellite.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite includes one or more from the group consisting of:

a satellite in a geostationary orbit;

a satellite in a low earth orbit;

a satellite in a medium earth orbit; and

a satellite in a circular orbit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a secondary satellite in communication with the ground station.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the secondary satellite communicates information related to the multicast component of the mobile interactive satellite services between the terrestrial base transceiver station and the ground station.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the secondary satellite communicates information related to the interactive component of the mobile interactive satellite services between the terrestrial base transceiver station and the ground station.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial base transceiver station is operable to communicate information related to the multicast component of the mobile interactive satellite services between the ground station and the mobile units.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the terrestrial base transceiver station is operable to communicate information related to the interactive component of the mobile interactive satellite services between the ground station and the mobile units.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite is operable to communicate information related to the multicast component of the mobile interactive satellite services between the ground station and the mobile units.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite is operable to communicate information related to the interactive component of the mobile interactive satellite services between the ground station and the mobile units.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a backhaul network coupled to the terrestrial base transceiver station and coupled to the ground station such that the ground station is operable to communicate with the terrestrial base transceiver station using the backhaul network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the ground station comprises:

a multicast core;

an interactive core; and

a communication unit coupled to the multicast core and the interactive core such that the communications unit is operable to communicate with the satellite to provide multicast and interactive communications to mobile units.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication unit includes a radio frequency communication unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication unit includes an advanced antenna unit disposed between the radio frequency communication unit, and the multicast core and interactive core.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the advanced antenna unit performs ground-based beam-forming using digital signal processing on signals provided by the multicast core and the interactive core to create uplink communications usable by the satellite to transmit multiple beams.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite comprises a smart-antenna unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the advanced antenna unit is operable to perform satellite-based beamforming.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile interactive satellite services include one or more from the group consisting of:

broadcast audio;

broadcast video;

broadcast data;

interactive audio;

interactive video;

interactive data; and

telephony.

18. A device for communicating with a mobile interactive satellite service system, the device comprising:

an antenna;

a transceiver coupled to the antenna and operable to communicate information related to mobile interactive satellite services;

an input device;

an output device;

a processor unit coupled to the user input device, the output device, and the transceiver such that the processor is operable to output received information from the transceiver using the output device, to receive interactive information from the user input device, and to transmit data based on the received interactive information using the transceiver; and

a network interface coupled to the processor such that the processor is operable to side load information.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the antenna includes multiple elements.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the antenna is an antenna array.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein digital signal processing is used with the multiple elements of the antenna.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the antenna includes a terrestrial element having linear polarization and a satellite element having circular polarization.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the transceiver is operable to communicate with a terrestrial component and a satellite component.

24. The device of claim 18 wherein the input device is one or more from the group consisting of:

a mouse;

a touch screen;

a keyboard;

a button;

a microphone;

a video camera

a joystick;

a port; and

a remote control.

25. The device of claim 18 wherein the output device includes one or more from the group consisting of:

a display;

a speaker;

a light; and

a port.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the port includes one or more from the group consisting of:

a serial port;

a network port; and

a data interface.

27. The device of claim 18, wherein the processor unit includes a voice recognition unit.

28. The device of claim 18, further comprising a side-loading network interface wherein the processor unit is coupled to the side-loading network interface such that the processor unit can receive information from the transceiver and from the side-loading network interface.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the processor unit is operable to transmit information using the side-loading network interface.

30. The device of claim 28 wherein the side-loading network interface is a wireless network interface.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the wireless network interface includes one or more from the group consisting of:

a IEEE 802.11 WiFi interface;

a IEEE 802.16 WiMAX interface;

a Bluetooth interface; and

a IEEE 802.20 interface.

32. The device of claim 18, wherein the output device is an interface to a vehicle subsystem.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the vehicle subsystem includes one or more from the group consisting of:

a video entertainment system;

an audio entertainment system;

a navigation system; and

a vehicle data bus system.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the processor unit is operable to receive information and use the received information to update the vehicle subsystem.

35. The device of claim 18, further comprising an vehicle communication bus interface.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the vehicle communication bus interface includes one or more from the group consisting of:

CAN, ODBII, and MOST.

37. A satellite for providing mobile interactive satellite services, the satellite comprising:

a ground station uplink that receives multicast content and interactive content from a ground station;

a mobile unit downlink that transmits multicast content and interactive content to mobile units;

a mobile unit uplink that receives interactive content from the mobile units;

a ground station downlink that transmits interactive content to the ground station; and

a processor unit coupled to the ground station uplink, the mobile unit downlink, the mobile unit uplink, and the ground station downlink, and configured to provide mobile interactive satellite services to the mobile units.

38. The satellite of claim 37, wherein the ground station uplink, the mobile unit downlink, the mobile unit uplink, and the ground station downlink operate in conjunction with an ancillary terrestrial communication system.

39. The satellite of claim 37, wherein the mobile interactive satellite services includes one or more from the group consisting of:

vehicle navigation;

broadcast video;

interactive video;

interactive data communications;

vehicle telemetry;

vehicle subsystem control;

vehicle subsystem maintenance; and

vehicle security services.

40. The satellite of claim 37, wherein the mobile unit downlink uses beamforming.

41. A ground station for providing mobile interactive satellite services, the ground station comprising:

a multicast core;

an interactive core; and

a radio frequency communication unit coupled to the multicast core and the interactive core such that the radio frequency communications unit is operable to communicate with the satellite to provide multicast and interactive communications to mobile units.

42. The ground station of claim 41, wherein the radio frequency communication unit uses beamforming.

43. A terrestrial base transceiver station for providing ancillary terrestrial communications in a mobile interactive satellite service, the terrestrial base transceiver station comprising:

a ground station communication link for communicating multicast and interactive content with a ground station;

a mobile unit downlink that transmits multicast content and interactive content to mobile units;

a mobile unit uplink that receives interactive content from the mobile units; and

a processor unit coupled to the ground station communication link, the mobile unit downlink, and the mobile unit uplink, and configured to provide ancillary terrestrial communications in a mobile interactive satellite service.

44. A method for providing mobile interactive satellite services on a satellite, the method comprising:

receiving multicast data for transmission to mobile units;

receiving interactive data for transmission to mobile units; and

transmitting multicast data and interactive data to mobile units.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein receiving multicast data for transmission to mobile units includes receiving multicast data from a ground station.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein receiving multicast data for transmission to mobile units includes receiving multicast data from a second satellite.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein receiving interactive data includes receiving interactive data from mobile units.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein receiving interactive data includes receiving interactive data from a ground station.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein the received multicast data has been processed by a ground station for transmission using advanced antenna technology.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the advanced antenna technology includes one or more of the group consisting of:

MIMO and beamforming.

51. The method of claim 44 wherein transmitting multicast data and interactive data to mobile units includes transmitting multiple beams.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein each of the multiple beams are configured to cover a geographical area.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein transmitting multicast data and interactive data to mobile units includes:

transmitting multicast data over a first portion of available radio frequency spectrum; and

transmitting interactive data over a second portion of available radio frequency spectrum.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the first portion and second portion of available radio frequency spectrum are configurable.

55. A method for providing ground station support in a mobile interactive satellite service, the method comprising:

transmitting multicast data such that the multicast data may be communicated to mobile units;

receiving interactive mobile unit data;

processing the received interactive mobile unit data to determine interactive data to be communicated to at least one of the mobile units; and

transmitting the determined interactive data such that the determined interactive data may be communicated to the at least one of the mobile units.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising receiving multicast data from a multicast data feed.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein receiving multicast data includes receiving multicast data from a satellite feed.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein receiving multicast data includes receiving multicast data from a terrestrial feed.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein receiving interactive mobile unit data includes receiving interactive mobile unit data through a satellite.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein receiving interactive mobile unit data includes receiving interactive mobile unit data from a terrestrial base transceiver station.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein receiving interactive mobile unit data includes receiving interactive mobile unit data from a server.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein receiving interactive mobile unit data includes receiving interactive mobile unit data from an external communications networks.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein processing the received interactive mobile unit data includes:

retrieving data in response to the received interactive mobile unit data; and

assembling the retrieved data for transmission.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein transmitting the determined interactive data includes transmitting the determined interactive data to a satellite for transmission to mobile units.

65. The method of claim 55, wherein transmitting the determined interactive data includes transmitting the determined interactive data to a terrestrial base transceiver station for transmission to mobile units.

66. A method for providing ancillary terrestrial communication in a mobile interactive satellite system, the method comprising:

providing mobile interactive satellite services using a terrestrial base transceiver station, the mobile interactive satellite services a multicast component and an interactive component;

transmitting information for the multicast component and the interactive component using a satellite; and

transmitting information for the multicast component and the interactive component using the terrestrial base transceiver station.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising receiving information for the interactive component using the satellite.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising receiving information for the interactive component using the terrestrial base transceiver station.

69. A method for providing mobile interactive satellite services, the method comprising:

receiving multicast data for transmission using a communication system that includes a satellite with an ancillary terrestrial component;

receiving interactive data using the communication system;

determining interactive data for transmission using the received interactive data;

transmitting the multicast data and the determined interactive data using the communication system to provide mobile interactive satellite services.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein receiving multicast data includes receiving broadcast video feeds.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein receiving multicast data includes receiving broadcast audio feeds.

72. The method of claim 69, wherein receiving interactive data using the communication system includes receiving data from a mobile unit through the satellite.

73. The method of claim 69, wherein receiving interactive data using the communication system includes receiving data from a mobile unit through the ancillary terrestrial component.

74. The method of claim 69, wherein the ancillary terrestrial component includes a terrestrial base transceiver station.

75. The method of claim 69, wherein determining interactive data for transmission using the received interactive data includes retrieving information based on the received interactive data.

76. The method of claim 69, wherein transmitting the multicast data and the determined interactive data using the communication system includes transmitting using both the satellite and the ancillary terrestrial component.

77. The method of claim 69, wherein receiving multicast data includes receiving a broadcast video feed;

and transmitting the multicast data includes transmitting the received broadcast video feed to provide multicast video in a mobile interactive satellite service.

78. The method of claim 69, wherein the mobile interactive satellite services include vehicle navigation.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein transmitting the multicast data and the determined interactive data using the communication system includes transmitting updates to navigational information.

80. The method of claim 69, wherein transmitting the multicast data and the determined interactive data using the communication system includes transmitting a system update for a mobile unit system.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the system update is a software update.

82. The method of claim 69, wherein the mobile interactive satellite services include vehicle security services.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein receiving interactive data using the communication system includes receiving vehicle security information.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein vehicle security information includes one or more from the group consisting of:

vehicle telemetry;

vehicle location;

vehicle security incidents;

telephonic information; and

vehicle system information.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the mobile interactive satellite services include one or more from the group consisting of:

remote vehicle tracking;

remote vehicle disabling;

remote vehicle enabling;

remote vehicle unlocking;

remote vehicle monitoring;

vehicle black box access; and

vehicle black box recording.

86. In a vehicle, a method for interacting with a mobile interactive satellite service with an ancillary terrestrial component, the method comprising:

receiving information from a vehicle communication bus;

transmitting data related to mobile interactive satellite services based on the received information.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein receiving information includes receiving an air bag deployment notification.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein transmitting data includes transmitting the air bag deployment notification.

89. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

receiving a request from the mobile interactive satellite system to perform an action on a vehicle system; and

performing the action on the vehicle system.

90. The method of claim 86, wherein receiving information includes periodically requesting information using the vehicle communication databus.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein performing the action includes upgrading software.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein performing the action includes upgrading firmware.

93. The method of claim 89, wherein performing the action includes modifying the vehicle system configuration.

94. The method of claim 89, wherein performing the action includes retrieving data.

95. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

receiving information related to mobile interactive satellite services; and

outputting the received information.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the received information is one or more from the group consisting of:

video, audio, and data.

97. The method of claim 95, wherein outputting the received information includes using an output device including one or more from the group consisting of:

a display, a speaker, and a light.