Communications satellite router-formatter
First Claim
1. A local telecommunications network for use in satellite based telecommunications, said network comprising:
- first and second handsets for receiving and transmitting telecommunications signals, at least said first handset being located geographically in a predefined local cell; and
a ground station, in said local cell, for controlling communications between said first and second handsets, said ground station relaying telecommunications signals between said first and second handsets through one of a direct link and a satellite based remote link, said ground station including;
a router for establishing said direct link between said first and second handsets, without establishing said satellite based remote link, when said first and second handsets are both located within said local cell, said router establishing said satellite based remote link between said first and second handsets when said second handset is located outside, and remote to, said local cell.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A local telecommunications network is provided for satellite based telecommunications. The network 10 includes multiple handsets 18-22, 50 and 54 which communicate directly with ground stations 14 and 16. The ground stations communicate with an overhead satellite 12 through a satellite telecommunications uplink. The ground stations include a router for determining whether outgoing calls are directed to a destination handset located within or outside a predefined local geographic cell 30 and 32 for the corresponding ground station 14 and 16. If the destination handset is located outside the local cell of the originating handset, the ground station passes the call to the overhead satellite 12 to establish a satellite telecommunications link. However, if the destination handset 50 is located within the same local cell 32 as the originating handset 22, then the router 16 establishes a direct link between the handsets 22 and 50 without establishing a satellite telecommunications link 26.
45 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A local telecommunications network for use in satellite based telecommunications, said network comprising:
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first and second handsets for receiving and transmitting telecommunications signals, at least said first handset being located geographically in a predefined local cell; and a ground station, in said local cell, for controlling communications between said first and second handsets, said ground station relaying telecommunications signals between said first and second handsets through one of a direct link and a satellite based remote link, said ground station including; a router for establishing said direct link between said first and second handsets, without establishing said satellite based remote link, when said first and second handsets are both located within said local cell, said router establishing said satellite based remote link between said first and second handsets when said second handset is located outside, and remote to, said local cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A ground station for use in satellite based telecommunications between two handsets, at least one of said handsets being a local handset located in a predefined geographic local cell surrounding said ground station, said ground station comprising:
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local communications links for outputting and receiving calls to and from local handsets; a discriminator, connected to said local communications links, for determining whether calls from a local initiating handset are directed to a destination handset which is located in said local cell; a router, including said discriminator, for directly connecting local initiating and local destination handsets through a direct link through said router when said discriminator determines that said destination handset is located in said local cell; and an antenna for establishing a satellite communications link between said ground station and an overhead satellite, said router connecting said local initiating handset to said antenna when said discriminator determines that said destination handset is remote from said local cell. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification