Apparatus, Method and System for Integrating Mobile and Satellite Phone Service

• US 20150011220A1
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert K. Buckle, Thomas Hafley
• Original Assignee: Robert K. Buckle, Thomas Hafley
• Inventors: Buckle, Robert K., Hafley, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,906,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/22 Transparent or translucent parts glassware for laboratory use B01L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/06 Plates; Walls; Drawers; Multilayer plates
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/00 Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se F04B
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/04 by injection or suction, e.g. using pipettes, syringes, needles pipettes in general B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/36 by user or terminal equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A communications system which allows for the integration of mobile and satellite communication networks, which includes an interface device configured to bi-directionally communicate with a mobile device (preferably wirelessly), that includes a satellite antenna on the communications device and a voice/data modem configured to bi-directionally communicate with a satellite network via the antenna.

Claims

1. A method of switching an active ongoing first electronic communication at a mobile device from a first network to a second network, where said first network is one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network is the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network, using a switch device located remotely from said mobile device, and said switch device is configured to communicate with a mobile cellular communications -network and a satellite communications network;

said method comprising the steps of;

(1) said switch device receiving a notice from said mobile device, said notice operating to indicate that a switch is desired;

(2) said switch device initiating a second electronic communications directed to said mobile device, where said second electronic communication is configured to establish communications to said mobile device via said second network;

(3) said switch device switching said ongoing electronic communication from said first network to said second electronic communication established on said second network.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of termination of said first electronic communication over said first network by said switch device.

5. The method of claim 1 where said mobile device further comprises a first SIM card and a second SIM card, where said switch device is in communication with said second SIM card, where said first and second SIM cards are associated with said mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 where said mobile device comprises a mobile smart phone.

7. The method of claim 1 where said switch device comprises a computer processor and an associated memory device.

8. The method of claim 5 where said mobile device further includes a radio transceiver configured to operatively communicate with said mobile smart phone;

and a satellite transceiver configured to operatively communicate with said a satellite communications network.

9. The method of claim 5 where said switch device further comprises a softswitch, said softswitch further comprising a computer processor and associated memory devices.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said mobile device comprises a radio transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile cellular communication network and a satellite transceiver configured to directly communicate with a satellite communications network.

2. A method of selecting, at a mobile device, a network over which to receive an incoming electronic communication, where said selection includes either a first network or a second network, where said first network is one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network is the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving at said mobile device a notice over said satellite communications system of a pending incoming electronic communication, said notice received from a remotely located switch device, where said switch device is configured to communicate with a mobile cellular communications network and a satellite communications network;

(2) receiving a notice at said mobile device over said mobile cellular communications network of a pending incoming electronic communication over said mobile cellular communications network, said notice received from a remotely located switch device;

(3) said mobile device determining if cellular signal strength is above or below a predetermined threshold limit;

(4) if said cellular signal strength is above said threshold limit, said mobile device answering said incoming electronic communication over said mobile cellular communications network;

(5) if said signal strength is below said threshold limit, said mobile device answering said incoming electronic communication over said satellite communications network.

3. A method of transferring or switching an ongoing first electronic communication at a mobile device from a first network to a second network, where said first network is one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network is the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network, and said mobile device comprises a mobile component configured to operatively communicate over said mobile cellular communications network and a satellite component configured to operatively communicate over said satellite communications network;

said method comprising the steps of;

(1) determining at said mobile device the cellular signal strength of said mobile cellular communications network, and based on said cellular signal strength, determining to transfer from said first network to said second network;

(2) said mobile device sending a notice to a remotely located switch device, over said second network or said first network, said notice acting as a request to transfer;

(3) said mobile device receiving, from said switch device, notice that said ongoing communications is active on said second network;

(4) said mobile device transferring said ongoing communications from said mobile or satellite component associated with said first network, to the other of said mobile or satellite component associated with said second network.

11. A system for switching electronic communications between a first network and a second network, said system comprising

a first network, said first network comprising one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network is the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network;

a plurality of mobile devices each capable of communication over said first and said second network;

each of said mobile devices having at least two SIM cards associated therewith;

for each mobile device, one of said SIM cards assigned to said mobile device, the other of said SIM cards being associated with a switch device;

said switch device being located remotely from said mobile devices;

said switch device comprising a processor and a database, said switch device capable of communications over said first and said second network simultaneously.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said subscriber identity modules comprises a subscriber identity modules card or a RUIM card.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said mobile devices comprises a satellite transceiver and a cellular transceiver, said satellite transceiver and said mobile transceiver capable of communication with each other over a short range wireless link.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said two subscriber identity modules that are associated with each mobile device, are associated in said database.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said processor further comprises a session initiation protocol server.

16. They system of claim 14 wherein said switch device, when simultaneous communicating over said first and said second networks, are communicating through a conference call anchored at one of said first or second SIM cards.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein said mobile device further comprises a smart phone.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein said switch device communicates with said mobile cellular communications network via pico cell, micro cell or femto cell.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprising a simbank, said simbank storing a plurality of said SIM cards that are associated with said switch device.

20. The system of claim 13 where said short range wireless link is a WiFi link.