Satellite cellular telephone and data communication system

• US 5,604,920 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CDC Propriete Intellectuelle
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bertiger, Bary R., Leopold, Raymond J., Peterson, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FAILE, ANDREW I
• Application Number:
  US08/363,065
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/13.3, 455/13.4, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/33.3, 455/33.4, 455/34.1, 455/54.1, 455/56.1, 379/59, 379/60, 342/353, 370/104.1
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118

Abstract

A system for facilitating global cellular/trunked mobile communication is disclosed. This system permits communication with hand held and mobile mounted cellular telephones. The system permits two-way communications anywhere on or above the earth up to a particular height above the earth of several hundred nautical miles. The system employs a number of low-earth orbiting satellites moving about the earth in orbit. Links are provided from the satellites directly to the users and via the public switched telephone network to other users. The satellites are interconnected via links in a ring structure surrounding the earth. Switching is performed by each of the satellites. In addition, each of the satellites hands off a call as it moves out of the range of a particular user.

Claims

1. A satellite cellular system comprising:

users communicating with each other via uplinks and downlinks of a first satellite;

handing-off that ongoing communication from a first cell to a second cell by transferring the ongoing communication from the uplinks and the downlinks of the first satellite to different uplinks and downlinks of another satellite; and

handing-off that ongoing communication from a first cell to a second by transferring the ongoing communication from the uplinks and the downlinks of the first satellite to different uplinks and downlinks of the first satellite.

2. A satellite cellular system comprising:

users communicating with each other via cellular uplinks and cellular downlinks of a satellite;

contemporaneously terminating the communication via the cellular uplinks and the cellular downlinks of the communicating satellite and re-establishing the communication via cellular uplinks and cellular downlinks of another satellite, whereby the continuity of the ongoing communication of the users is substantially maintained via the satellite and the another satellite; and

contemporaneously terminating the communication via the cellular uplinks and the cellular downlinks of the communicating satellite and re-establishing the communication via cellular uplinks and cellular downlinks of the communicating satellite, whereby the continuity of the ongoing communication of the users is substantially maintained.

3. A satellite cellular system comprising:

means for users communicating with each other via up links and downlinks of a satellite;

means within the satellite for handing-off that ongoing communication from a first cell to a second cell by transferring the ongoing communication to different uplinks and downlinks of another satellite; and

means within the satellite for handing-off that ongoing communication from a first cell to a second cell by transferring the ongoing communication to different uplinks and downlinks of the same, satellite.

4. A cellular communication satellite for use in a satellite cellular system comprising:

means for receiving a cellular communication via uplinks and downlinks between users at the satellite;

means within the satellite for handing-off that ongoing cellular communication between the users from a cell of the satellite by transferring the ongoing communication to a cell of another satellite; and

means within the satellite for handing-off that ongoing cellular communication between the users from a cell of the satellite by transferring the ongoing communication to a cell of the same satellite.

5. A secure satellite cellular communication system for communicating among a plurality of users comprising:

a plurality of satellite switching means being positioned in orbit;

a plurality of subscriber units, each said subscriber unit for securely communicating with others of said subscriber units via uplinks and downlinks of a first satellite switching means; and

means for handing-off the communication between said securely communication subscriber units from a first cell to a second cell by transferring the secure communication to uplinks and downlinks of a second satellite switching means.

6. A cellular communication satellite for use in a satellite cellular system comprising:

means for receiving a cellular communication between users at the satellite;

means within the satellite for handing-off that ongoing cellular communication between the users from a cell of the satellite to a cell of another satellite; and

means within the satellite for handing-off that ongoing cellular communication between the users from a cell of the satellite to another cell of the same satellite.

7. A satellite cellular system comprising:

users communicating with each other via uplinks and downlinks of a satellite;

handing-off that ongoing communication from a first cell to a second cell by transferring the ongoing communication from the uplinks and the downlinks to different uplinks and downlinks of another satellite; and

handing-off that ongoing communication from a first cell to a second cell by transferring the ongoing communication from the uplinks and the downlinks to different uplinks and downlinks of the same satellite.