Network of hierarchical communication systems and method therefor
First Claim
1. A subordinate communication system which cooperates with a primary communication system, wherein said primary communications system projects a plurality of cells over Earth, allocates orthogonal channels of a spectrum in adjacent ones of said cells, and reuses channels in geographically spaced apart cells, said subordinate communication system comprising:
- an antenna for projecting a secondary region over Earth, said antenna being located so that said secondary region and a local one of said cells occupy a common area;
receiving means for receiving allocation data from said primary communication system, said allocation data identifying channels allocated by said primary communication system for use in said local cell; and
selecting means, coupled to said receiving means and said antenna, for selecting channels of said spectrum that are available for use in said secondary region, said selecting means being responsive to said allocation data, wherein;
said primary communication system is configured so that identities of said local cell and of said channels allocated for use therein change; and
said subordinate communication system additionally comprises means, coupled to said receiving means, for tracking identities of channels allocated by said primary communication system for use in said local cell as said local cell changes.
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Abstract
A hierarchical communication network includes primary, secondary, and tertiary communication systems. The primary system uses orbiting satellites as communication nodes and forms a pattern of cells that may cover the entire earth and that move over the earth. A given spectrum is divided among the cells in accordance with a reuse plan. Any number of secondary, terrestrial-based systems have secondary region areas of coverage that are substantially smaller than the distance to the orbits of the satellites used by the primary system. Secondary systems monitor the primary system to determine which channels of the spectrum are available for use in their secondary regions. Any number of tertiary, terrestrial-based systems reside within a secondary region and have tertiary region areas of coverage that are substantially confined within buildings. Tertiary systems use channels concurrently used by the primary system in the same area where their tertiary regions are located.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A subordinate communication system which cooperates with a primary communication system, wherein said primary communications system projects a plurality of cells over Earth, allocates orthogonal channels of a spectrum in adjacent ones of said cells, and reuses channels in geographically spaced apart cells, said subordinate communication system comprising:
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an antenna for projecting a secondary region over Earth, said antenna being located so that said secondary region and a local one of said cells occupy a common area; receiving means for receiving allocation data from said primary communication system, said allocation data identifying channels allocated by said primary communication system for use in said local cell; and selecting means, coupled to said receiving means and said antenna, for selecting channels of said spectrum that are available for use in said secondary region, said selecting means being responsive to said allocation data, wherein; said primary communication system is configured so that identities of said local cell and of said channels allocated for use therein change; and said subordinate communication system additionally comprises means, coupled to said receiving means, for tracking identities of channels allocated by said primary communication system for use in said local cell as said local cell changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of integrating one or more subordinate communication systems with a primary communication system, wherein said primary communication system communicates using a spectrum divided into orthogonal channels allocated to cells projected over Earth, said method comprising steps of:
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receiving a signal from said primary communication system, said signal being received at a monitoring location; determining, in response to said receiving step, an available channel set of said spectrum, said available channel set not including channels allocated by said primary communication system to a local cell within which said monitoring location resides; and communicating in a secondary region, all points of which reside proximate to said monitoring location, using channels from said available channel set, wherein; said cells projected over Earth by said primary communication system move with respect to said monitoring location; and said method additionally comprises a step of repeating said determining step to change said available channel set in response to movement of said cells. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a subscriber unit in accordance with a hierarchical network of communication systems wherein primary and secondary systems have common areas of coverage, and said primary system has a larger area of coverage than said secondary system, said method comprising steps of;
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receiving first and second acquisition signals; obtaining first and second identity data from said first and second acquisition signals;
respectively, said first and second identity data indicating whether said respective acquisition signal was broadcast from said primary system or said secondary system; andrefraining from communicating with said primary system when said first and second identity data indicate that said first and second acquisition signals were broadcast from said primary and secondary systems respectively, wherein; said network of communication systems additionally includes a tertiary system that has a common area of coverage with said secondary system and has a smaller area of coverage than said secondary system; said receiving step additionally receives a third acquisition signal; said obtaining step additionally obtains third identity data, and said third identity data indicates that said third acquisition signal was broadcast from said tertiary system; and said method additionally comprises a step of communicating with said tertiary system. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A subscriber unit for operating in accordance with a hierarchical network of communication systems wherein primary, secondary and tertiary systems have common areas of coverage, and said primary system having a larger area of coverage than said secondary system, said tertiary system having a smaller area of coverage than said secondary system, each of said communication systems being coupled to a public switched telecommunication network (PSTN), said subscriber unit comprising:
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a transceiver; and a processor coupled to said transceiver, wherein said transceiver includes means for receiving first, second and third acquisition signals; and wherein said processor includes means for obtaining first, second and third identity data from said first, second and third acquisition signals, respectively, said first, second and third identity data indicating whether said respective acquisition signal was broadcast from said primary system, said secondary system or said tertiary system; and wherein said transceiver additionally includes; means for refraining from communicating with said primary system, said means for refraining operating when said first and second identity data indicate that said first and second acquisition signals were broadcast from said primary and secondary systems, respectively, means for communicating with said tertiary system, said means for communicating operating when said third identity data indicates that said third acquisition signal was broadcast from said tertiary system, and means for sending a log-on message to said tertiary system over a communication channel identified by said third acquisition signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A subscriber unit for communicating with a primary and a subordinate communication system, said subordinate communication system cooperating with said primary communication system, said primary communication system projecting a plurality of cells on Earth, allocating orthogonal channels of a spectrum in adjacent ones of said cells, and reusing channels in geographically spaced apart cells, said primary communication system broadcasting a primary system acquisition channel that carries acquisition data that identifies said primary communication system and identifies a primary system communication channel with which to communicate, said subordinate communication system broadcasting a subordinate system acquisition channel that carries acquisition data that identifies said subordinate communication system and identifies a subordinate system communication channel with which to communicate, said subscriber unit comprising:
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a transceiver for synchronizing to said primary system acquisition channel and said subordinate system acquisition channel; a memory for saving data carried by said primary system acquisition channel and said subordinate system acquisition channel; and a processor for selecting either said primary or said subordinate communication system, said subordinate communication system being selected when said acquisition data from both said primary and subordinate communication systems is received, said primary communication system being selected when said acquisition data from only said primary communication system is received, wherein said transceiver has means for sending a log-on message to either said primary communication system over said primary system communication channel, or said subordinate communication system over said subordinate system communication channel specified by said acquisition data. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A subscriber unit for communicating with a primary and a subordinate communication system, said subordinate communication system cooperating with said primary communication system, said primary communication system projecting a plurality of cells on Earth, allocating orthogonal channels of a spectrum in adjacent ones of said cells, and reusing channels in geographically spaced apart cells, either said primary or said subordinate communication system broadcasting an acquisition channel, said acquisition channel carrying acquisition data that identifies either said primary or said subordinate communication systems and identifies a communication channel to communicate with said primary or said subordinate communication systems, said subscriber unit comprising:
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a transceiver for synchronizing to said acquisition channel; a memory for saving said acquisition data carried by said acquisition channel; and a processor for selecting either said primary or said subordinate communication system, said transceiver sending a log-on message to either said primary or said subordinate communication system over said communication channel specified by said acquisition data, and wherein said subordinate communication system comprises; an antenna for projecting a secondary region over said Earth, wherein said secondary region and a local one of said cells occupy a common area; receiving means for receiving allocation data from said primary communication system, said allocation data identifying channels allocated by said primary communication system for use in said local cell; selecting means, coupled to said receiving means and said antenna, for selecting channels of said spectrum that are available for use in said secondary region; and means coupled to said receiving means, for tracking identities of said channels allocated by said primary communication system for use in said local cell as said local cell changes.
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Specification