APPARATUS FOR SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
First Claim
1. A mobile communication device for transport by a user in movement over the earth to different locations comprising:
- a portable housing;
a battery power supply mounted in the portable housing;
a processing system and memory mounted in the housing;
an antenna mounted in the housing;
the processing system having a first communication system for receiving signals through the antenna from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites;
the processing system having a second communication system for communication through the antenna with a communication satellite system;
the processing system being arranged to periodically calculate from the GPS signals a calculated current position of the apparatus;
the processing system being arranged periodically, at a set frequency, to calculate a difference between the calculated current position with a previously saved calculated current position to determine whether the apparatus has moved by a distance greater than a set trigger distance;
the processing system being arranged, when activated, to transmit periodically through the second communication system at the set frequency a position signal indicative of the calculated current position;
the processing system being arranged, in the event that at least one calculated difference between the calculated current position and the previously saved calculated current position is less than the set trigger distance, to place the processing system in an idle mode in which the processing system is halted from transmitting the position signal through the second communication system at the set frequency.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile communication device includes a GPS system and a communication system through a low-earth orbit communication satellites or geosynchronous satellite. The processing system periodically calculates from GPS a current position which is compared to a saved position and saved if the amount of movement is greater than a set distance and also transmits each calculated position. In order to reduce power consumption, in the event that at least one and preferably several calculated differences between the current position and the previously saved position is less than the predetermined set distance, the processing system is placed in an idle mode in which position is transmitted at a lower frequency. The position is periodically calculated and as soon as the position changes the system is returned from idle. In order to keep remote recipients informed signals indicating entry into and return from the idle mode are transmitted with the position signals.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A mobile communication device for transport by a user in movement over the earth to different locations comprising:
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a portable housing; a battery power supply mounted in the portable housing; a processing system and memory mounted in the housing; an antenna mounted in the housing; the processing system having a first communication system for receiving signals through the antenna from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites; the processing system having a second communication system for communication through the antenna with a communication satellite system; the processing system being arranged to periodically calculate from the GPS signals a calculated current position of the apparatus; the processing system being arranged periodically, at a set frequency, to calculate a difference between the calculated current position with a previously saved calculated current position to determine whether the apparatus has moved by a distance greater than a set trigger distance; the processing system being arranged, when activated, to transmit periodically through the second communication system at the set frequency a position signal indicative of the calculated current position; the processing system being arranged, in the event that at least one calculated difference between the calculated current position and the previously saved calculated current position is less than the set trigger distance, to place the processing system in an idle mode in which the processing system is halted from transmitting the position signal through the second communication system at the set frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification