Communication system with direct link to satellite
First Claim
1. A communication system operating with a satellite network comprising:
- a communication terminal coupled to the satellite network; and
a portable terminal that includes a directional antenna, wherein the portable terminal communicates with the communication terminal by directing an antenna beam of the directional antenna toward the satellite network based on information generated by the portable terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system includes satellites and satellite phones communicating through the satellites directly. The satellite phone forms a highly directed beam toward a satellite of the communications system and adaptively maintains a beam to track the satellite as the satellite phone and/or the satellite moves relative to each other. The satellite phone contains sensors which provide steering information for directing the satellite phone'"'"'s antenna beam. The communication system links a satellite phone with either another satellite phone and/or a ground based communication system connected to conventional telephone stations. The satellite phone also includes a database that contains the positional information of all potential communication satellites. The communication system coordinates satellite phone beams with a satellite network to facilitate high quality handoffs. Satellite phones can access several satellite networks based upon stored parameters or actively downloaded satellite information.
105 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A communication system operating with a satellite network comprising:
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a communication terminal coupled to the satellite network; and a portable terminal that includes a directional antenna, wherein the portable terminal communicates with the communication terminal by directing an antenna beam of the directional antenna toward the satellite network based on information generated by the portable terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating a communication system, comprising:
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coupling a portable terminal with a satellite network via an antenna beam of a directional antenna; and establishing communications between the portable terminal and a communication terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification