PORTABLE SATELLITE DATA COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20110092158A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gerald Plamondon
• Original Assignee: Gerald Plamondon
• Inventors: Plamondon, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18532 Arrangements for managing transmission, i.e. for transporting data or a signalling message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A portable satellite data communication device that provides data communication capabilities to cellular only smartphone and similar device globally. The portable satellite data communication device is equipped with a short range wireless transceiver such as Bluetooth for communication with the smartphone and a satellite data transceiver for communication with the satellite. The device acts as network bridge between the smartphone and the satellite network. Using that device allows smartphone users to keep sending and receiving data messages like emails anywhere in the world even if there is no cellular coverage. The portable satellite data communication device also has built-in functionalities for monitoring the satellite signal and the arrival of new messages at the satellite gateway.

Claims

1. a portable satellite data communication apparatus comprising:

a housing

a satellite data transceiver for sending and receiving short burst data to, from a remote location via one or more communication satellites;

a short range wireless transceiver for sending and receiving data messages to, from a short range wireless computing device;

a plurality of buttons for turning the apparatus on and off and to select one of a predetermined number of operational modes;

a microcontroller coupled to said satellite data transceiver for monitoring the status of the satellite signal and the arrival of one or more new short burst data messages at the satellite gateway;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for indicating the operational status of the apparatus;

a compact satellite antenna coupled to said satellite data transceiver; and

a short range wireless antenna coupled to said short range wireless transceiver;

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said compact satellite antenna is external to the housing and coupled to said satellite data transceiver using a coaxial cable.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said satellite data transceiver is a satellite short burst data transceiver.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said short range wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth wireless transceiver.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said short range wireless computing device is a smartphone

6. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said short range wireless computing device is a short range wireless capable computer.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said satellite data transceiver is a satellite short burst data transceiver and said short range wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth wireless transceiver and said short range wireless computing device is a smartphone.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein said compact satellite antenna is external to the housing and coupled to said short burst satellite data transceiver using a coaxial cable.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 7 where said smartphone is a short range wireless capable computer.

10. a portable satellite data communication system comprising :

a satellite gateway for transmitting and receiving short burst data message to, from satellites and to, from a remote processing center.

one or more communication satellites for transmitting one or more short burst data messages;

a portable satellite data communication device comprising (1) a satellite data transceiver for sending and receiving short bust data message to, from a remote location via said communication satellites, (2) a short range wireless transceiver for sending and receiving data messages to, from a short range wireless computing device, (3) a plurality of selectable elements for selecting a predetermined number of operational modes, (4) a microcontroller coupled to said satellite data transceiver that is programmed to operate according to the operational mode selected, to monitor the status of the satellite signal and the arrival of one or more new short burst data message at said satellite gateway.

a wireless computing device equipped with a short range wireless transceiver running the appropriate software for sending and receiving data message using as a slave said portable satellite data communication device;

a remotely located processing center accomplishing the following tasks;

a) receiving, processing and reconstructing short burst data messages coming from one or more said wireless computing device and forwarding a corresponding data messages to one or more designated locations.

b) processing incoming data messages and converting those into short burst data messages. Forwarding short burst data messages to said satellite gateway for delivery to said wireless computing device

11. The system recited in claim 10 where said satellite data transceiver is a short burst satellite data transceiver and said short range wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth short range wireless transceiver and said wireless computing device is a smartphone.

12. The system recited in claim 11 wherein said remotely located processing center forwards an email message to, from said smartphone.

13. The system recited in claim 11 wherein said remotely located processing center forwards a short message service (SMS) message from said smartphone and to, from one or more cellular phones.

14. The system recited in claim 11 wherein said remotely located processing center forwards a GPS coordinate location from said smartphone to multiple remote location.

15. A satellite data communication method comprising:

programming a portable satellite data communication unit comprising a microcontroller coupled to a satellite data transceiver that can monitor the satellite signal status and monitor the arrival of one or more short burst data message at a satellite gateway.

Sending and receiving short burst data messages on a wireless computing device using a short range wireless transceiver and a satellite data transceiver.

Converting data messages into one or more short burst data messages at said wireless computing device and reconstructing data messages from one or more short burst data messages at said wireless computing device.

Converting data messages into one or more short burst data messages at the remotely located processing center and reconstructing data messages from one or more short burst data messages at said remotely located processing center.

16. The method recited in claim 15 where said satellite data transceiver is a short burst satellite data transceiver and said short range wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth short range wireless transceiver and said wireless computing device is a smartphone.

17. The method recited in claim 16 wherein said remotely located processing center forwards an email message to, from said smartphone.

18. The method recited in claim 16 wherein said remotely located processing center forwards a short message service (SMS) message from said smartphone and to, from one or more cellular phones.

19. The method recited in claim 16 wherein said remotely located processing center forwards a GPS coordinate location from said smartphone to multiple remote location.