Two-system protocol conversion transceiver repeater
First Claim
1. A communication repeater unit, comprising:
- a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with at least one first satellite of a first satellite-based communication system;
a second transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with at least one second satellite of a second satellite-based communication system;
wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol, wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a second protocol, wherein the first protocol is different than the second protocol; and
wherein said repeater unit further comprises,a protocol converter that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver and to said second transceiver for receiving a transmission from one of said satellite-based communication systems, for converting the received transmission to the protocol employed by the other satellite-based communication system, and for transmitting a protocol-converted transmission to the other satellite-based communication system; and
whereinsaid first and second transceivers are both located at a terrestrial location.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for bidirectionally coupling a first satellite communication system to a second satellite communication system, wherein the first and second systems operate with different protocols. In a presently preferred embodiment of this invention the first system uses a spread spectrum (SS), code division multiple access (CDMA) technique wherein the satellites serve as simple `bent pipe` repeaters for relaying communications between a user and a gateway. The second satellite communication system may be any other type of system having at least one characteristic that precludes direct communication between the first and the second systems. In an exemplary embodiment the second system uses a time division multiple access (TDMA) technique, and furthermore enables direct satellite-to-satellite communication links. A ground-based protocol conversion unit (70) is positioned for receiving a communication from a satellite of either the first or the second system, and includes circuitry for converting the transmission into a transmission that is suitable for transmission into the other system.
163 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A communication repeater unit, comprising:
-
a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with at least one first satellite of a first satellite-based communication system; a second transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with at least one second satellite of a second satellite-based communication system; wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol, wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a second protocol, wherein the first protocol is different than the second protocol; and
wherein said repeater unit further comprises,a protocol converter that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver and to said second transceiver for receiving a transmission from one of said satellite-based communication systems, for converting the received transmission to the protocol employed by the other satellite-based communication system, and for transmitting a protocol-converted transmission to the other satellite-based communication system; and
whereinsaid first and second transceivers are both located at a terrestrial location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A hybrid communication system, comprising:
-
a first satellite-based communication system including at least one first satellite; a second satellite-based communication system including at least one second satellite; wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol, wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a second protocol, wherein the first protocol is different than the second protocol; and
wherein said hybrid communication system further comprises at least one protocol conversion unit that includes,a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one first satellite of said first satellite-based communication system; a second transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one second satellite of said second satellite-based communication system; and a protocol converter that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver and to said second transceiver for receiving a transmission from one of said satellite-based communication systems, for converting the received transmission to the protocol employed by the other satellite-based communication system, and for transmitting a protocol-converted transmission to the other satellite-based communication system; and
whereinsaid first and second transceivers are both located at a terrestrial location. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for communicating from one user terminal to another user terminal, comprising the steps of:
-
originating a communication at a first terminal; relaying the communication through a ground station to at least one satellite of a first satellite-based communication system, the first satellite-based communication system operating in accordance with a first protocol; repeating the communication with the at least one first satellite; receiving the repeated communication with a terrestrially located receiver; converting the received, repeated communication into a communication with a second protocol that is associated with a second satellite-based communication system; transmitting the converted communication into the second satellite-based communication system with a terrestrially located transmitter; receiving the transmitted converted communication with at least one second satellite of the second satellite-based communication system; and delivering the converted communication to a second terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A communication system, comprising:
-
a first satellite-based communication system including at least one first satellite; a second satellite-based communication system including at least one second satellite; wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol for communicating a pager message, wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a second protocol for communicating a pager message, wherein the first protocol is different than the second protocol; and
wherein said hybrid communication system further comprises at least one protocol conversion unit that includes,a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one first satellite of said first satellite-based communication system; a second transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one second satellite of said second satellite-based communication system; and a protocol converter that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver and to said second transceiver for receiving a pager communication transmission from one of said satellite-based communication systems, for converting the received pager transmission to the protocol employed by the other satellite-based communication system, and for transmitting a protocol-converted pager communication transmission to the other satellite-based communication system;
whereinsaid first and second transceivers are both located at a terrestrial location. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A communication method, comprising the steps of:
-
originating a communication in a first satellite communication system that operates in accordance with a first air interface specification; transmitting the communication from a satellite of the first satellite communication system to a ground station; receiving the communication at the ground station; converting the received communication from the first air interface specification to a second air interface specification used by a second satellite communication system; transmitting the converted communication from the ground station to a satellite of the second satellite communication system; receiving the converted communication with the satellite of the second satellite communication system; and delivering the converted communication to a ground terminal via the satellite of the second satellite communication system. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
Specification