SATELLITE RADIOTELEPHONE SYSTEMS, METHODS, COMPONENTS AND DEVICES INCLUDING GATED RADIOTELEPHONE TRANSMISSIONS TO ANCILLARY TERRESTRIAL COMPONENTS

• US 20090104903A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18543 for adaptation of transmission parameters, e.g. power control for detecting or preventing errors in the information received H04L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/216 Code division or spread-spectrum multiple access [CDMA, SSMA]

Abstract

A satellite radiotelephone system includes a space-based component and an ancillary terrestrial component that are configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones. The radiotelephones are configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies. The radiotelephone outputs are gated to cease transmissions periodically over a period of time. Related systems, methods, components and devices are described.

Claims

1. A radiotelephone for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component and an ancillary terrestrial component that are configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones, the radiotelephone comprising:

an electronics system that is configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies, wherein a radiotelephone output is gated to cease transmissions periodically over a period of time.

2. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 wherein the electronics system is configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface.

3. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 wherein the radiotelephone output is gated to cease transmissions periodically for about 3 msec over at least every 6 msec.

4. A radiotelephone according to claim 1 wherein the radiotelephone output is selectively gated to cease transmissions periodically over a period of time in order to reduce a level of interference when the electronics system is configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component at about 1550 MHz and below.

5. A method of operating a radiotelephone in a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component and an ancillary terrestrial component that are configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones, the radiotelephone operating method comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies in a gated manner that ceases transmissions periodically over a period of time.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the gated manner ceases transmissions periodically for about 3 msec over at least every 6 msec.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein transmitting in a gated manner is selectively performed when transmitting wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies at about 1550 MHz and below.

9. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system comprising:

a receiver that is that is configured to receive wireless communications from a plurality of radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies; and

an electronics system that is configured to synchronize the plurality of radiotelephones to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time.

10. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 9 wherein the receiver is configured to receive wireless communications from a plurality of radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface.

11. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 9 wherein the electronics system is configured to synchronize the plurality of radiotelephones to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically for about 3 msec over at least every 6 msec.

12. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 9 wherein the electronics system is configured to selectively synchronize the plurality of radiotelephones to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time in order to reduce a level of interference when a respective radiotelephone is configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component at about 1550 MHz and below.

13. An ancillary terrestrial network for a satellite radiotelephone system comprising:

a plurality of receivers, a respective one of which is configured to receive wireless communications from a plurality of radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies; and

an electronics system that is configured to synchronize the plurality of radiotelephones that are communicating with the plurality of receivers to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time.

14. An ancillary terrestrial network according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of receivers are configured to receive wireless communications from a plurality of radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface.

15. An ancillary terrestrial network according to claim 13 wherein the electronics system is configured to synchronize the plurality of radiotelephones that are communicating with the plurality of receivers to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically for about 3 msec over at least every 6 msec.

16. An ancillary terrestrial network according to claim 13 wherein the electronics system is configured to selectively synchronize the plurality of radiotelephones that are communicating with the plurality of receivers to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time in order to reduce a level of interference when a respective radiotelephone is configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component at about 1550 MHz and below.

17. A method of operating an ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system comprising:

receiving wireless communications at the ancillary terrestrial component from a plurality of radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies; and

synchronizing the plurality of radiotelephones by the ancillary terrestrial component to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein receiving comprises receiving wireless communications at the ancillary terrestrial component from a plurality of radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein synchronizing comprises synchronizing the plurality of radiotelephones by the ancillary terrestrial component to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically for about 3 msec over at least every 6 msec.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein synchronizing comprises selectively synchronizing the plurality of radiotelephones to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time in order to reduce a level of interference when a respective radiotelephone is configured to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component at about 1550 MHz and below.

21. A method of operating an ancillary terrestrial network for a satellite radiotelephone system comprising:

receiving wireless communications from a plurality of radiotelephones at a plurality of ancillary terrestrial components over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies; and

synchronizing the plurality of radiotelephones that are communicating with the plurality of ancillary terrestrial components to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein receiving comprises receiving wireless communications at the ancillary terrestrial components from the plurality of radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies using a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) air interface.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein synchronizing comprises synchronizing the plurality of radiotelephones by the plurality of ancillary terrestrial components to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically for about 3 msec over at least every 6 msec.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein synchronizing comprises selectively synchronizing the plurality of radiotelephones to simultaneously cease transmissions periodically over a period of time in order to reduce a level of interference when a respective radiotelephone is configured to transmit wireless communications to a respective ancillary terrestrial component at about 1550 MHz and below.