Satellite system utilizing a plurality of air interface standards and method employing same
First Claim
1. In a satellite communications system having at least one satellite, at least one earth station, and a multiplicity of mobile terminals, said mobile terminals being at least dual mode, a first of said modes being a terrestrially-based mode and the second of said modes being a satellite-based mode, circuitry within said satellite communication system for supporting communication between said satellite, said earth station and said mobile terminals, said circuitry comprising:
- a first air interface between a first plurality of said mobile terminals and at least one first cellular base station, said first air interface operable within said first plurality of mobile terminals when said first plurality of mobile terminals operate in said terrestrially-based mode;
a second air interface between said first plurality of mobile terminals and said at least one satellite, said second air interface operable within said first plurality of mobile terminals when said first plurality of mobile terminals operate in said satellite-based mode, said second air interface having a correspondence with said first air interface, said first and second air interfaces constituting a first communication class for said first plurality of said mobile terminals;
a third air interface between a second plurality of said mobile terminals and at least one second cellular base station, said third air interface operable within said second plurality of mobile terminals when said second plurality of mobile terminals operate in said terrestrially-based mode; and
a fourth air interface between said second plurality of mobile terminals and said at least one satellite, said fourth interface operable within said second plurality of mobile terminals when said second plurality of mobile terminals operate in said satellite-based mode, said fourth air interface having a correspondence with said third air interface, said third and fourth air interfaces constituting a second class for said second plurality of mobile terminals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite system and method for facilitating communications of mobile terminal users operating in a satellite-based communications mode. In particular, the present invention is directed to a satellite system employing at least one satellite air interface standard modeled after at least one terrestrially-based, cellular air interface standard, forming a satellite/cellular mode pair such as ACeS/GSM. One or more of such pairs are utilized for communications within the satellite system.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. In a satellite communications system having at least one satellite, at least one earth station, and a multiplicity of mobile terminals, said mobile terminals being at least dual mode, a first of said modes being a terrestrially-based mode and the second of said modes being a satellite-based mode, circuitry within said satellite communication system for supporting communication between said satellite, said earth station and said mobile terminals, said circuitry comprising:
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a first air interface between a first plurality of said mobile terminals and at least one first cellular base station, said first air interface operable within said first plurality of mobile terminals when said first plurality of mobile terminals operate in said terrestrially-based mode; a second air interface between said first plurality of mobile terminals and said at least one satellite, said second air interface operable within said first plurality of mobile terminals when said first plurality of mobile terminals operate in said satellite-based mode, said second air interface having a correspondence with said first air interface, said first and second air interfaces constituting a first communication class for said first plurality of said mobile terminals; a third air interface between a second plurality of said mobile terminals and at least one second cellular base station, said third air interface operable within said second plurality of mobile terminals when said second plurality of mobile terminals operate in said terrestrially-based mode; and a fourth air interface between said second plurality of mobile terminals and said at least one satellite, said fourth interface operable within said second plurality of mobile terminals when said second plurality of mobile terminals operate in said satellite-based mode, said fourth air interface having a correspondence with said third air interface, said third and fourth air interfaces constituting a second class for said second plurality of mobile terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A satellite transponder in a satellite communications system, said system including at least one earth station and a multiplicity of mobile terminals, a plurality of said mobile terminals being at least dual mode, a first of said modes being a terrestrially-based mode and the second of said modes being a satellite-based mode, circuitry within said satellite transponder for supporting communication between said satellite transponder, said earth station and said mobile terminals, said circuitry comprising:
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a first satellite air interface between a first plurality of said mobile terminals and said satellite transponder, said first satellite air interface operable within said first plurality of mobile terminals when operating in said satellite-based mode, said first satellite air interface having a correspondence with a first terrestrial air interface utilized by said first plurality of mobile terminals when operating in said terrestrially-based mode, said first satellite and first terrestrial air interfaces constituting a first communication class of said first plurality of said mobile terminals; and a second satellite air interface between a second plurality of mobile terminals and said satellite transponder, said second satellite air interface operable within said second plurality of mobile terminals when operating in said satellite-based mode, said second satellite air interface having a correspondence with a second terrestrial air interface utilized by said second plurality of mobile terminals when operating in said terrestrially-based mode, said second satellite and second terrestrial air interfaces constituting a second communication class of said second plurality of said mobile terminals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for supporting calls for a plurality of mobile terminals within a satellite communications system having at least one satellite and at least one earth station, a first and a second of said mobile terminals operating in respective dual modes, a first of said modes being a terrestrially-based mode and the second of said modes being a satellite-based mode, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting first signals from said first mobile terminal to said satellite in a first satellite-based mode, said first satellite-based mode having a correspondence with a first terrestrially-based mode operable within said first mobile terminal, said first terrestrially-based and first satellite-based modes of said first mobile terminal constituting a first communication class; and transmitting second signals from said second mobile terminal to said satellite in a second satellite-based mode, said second satellite-based mode having a correspondence with a second terrestrially-based mode operable within said second mobile terminal, said second terrestrially-based and second satellite-based modes of said second mobile terminal constituting a second communication class. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method for supporting calls between a plurality of mobile terminals within a satellite communications system having at least one satellite and at least one earth station, a first and a second of said mobile terminals operating in a dual mode, a first of said modes being a terrestrially-based mode and the second of said modes being a satellite-based mode, said method comprising the following steps:
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transmitting signals from said first mobile terminal to said satellite, said signal transmission being in said second mode, said satellite including a transceiver therein, said transceiver employing a satellite air interface for receiving said signal transmission; and transmitting said signal transmission, received by said satellite from said first mobile terminal, from said satellite to said second mobile terminal in said second mode, said satellite air interface having a correspondence with a terrestrially-based air interface of said second mobile terminal, said terrestrially-based air interface being used by said second mobile terminal when operating in said terrestrially-based mode, wherein said first mobile terminal is operable in a satellite GSM mode and said second mobile terminal is operable in a satellite CDMA mode.
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60. A method for supporting calls between a plurality of mobile terminals within a satellite communications system having at least one satellite and at least one earth station, a first and a second of said mobile terminals operating in a dual mode, a first of said modes being a terrestrially-based mode and the second of said modes being a satellite-based mode, said method comprising the following steps:
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transmitting signals from said first mobile terminal to said satellite, said signal transmission being in said second mode, said satellite including a transceiver therein, said transceiver employing a satellite air interface for receiving said signal transmission; and transmitting said signal transmission, received by said satellite from said first mobile terminal, from said satellite to said second mobile terminal in said second mode, said satellite air interface having a correspondence with a terrestrially-based air interface of said second mobile terminal, said terrestrially-based air interface being used by said second mobile terminal when operating in said terrestrially-based mode, wherein said first mobile terminal is operable in a satellite CDMA mode and said second mobile terminal is operable in a satellite TDMA mode.
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61. A method for supporting calls between a plurality of mobile terminals within a satellite communications system having at least one satellite and at least one earth station, a first and a second of said mobile terminals operating in a dual mode, a first of said modes being a terrestrially-based mode and the second of said modes being a satellite-based mode, said method comprising the following steps:
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transmitting signals from said first mobile terminal to said satellite, said signal transmission being in said second mode, said satellite including a transceiver therein, said transceiver employing a satellite air interface for receiving said signal transmission; and transmitting said signal transmission, received by said satellite from said first mobile terminal, from said satellite to said second mobile terminal in said second mode, said satellite air interface having a correspondence with a terrestrially-based air interface of said second mobile terminal, said terrestrially-based air interface being used by said second mobile terminal when operating in said terrestrially-based mode, wherein said signal transmission from said first mobile terminal to said satellite is in said second mode, at least one of said first and second mobile terminals being operable in at least two second modes. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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Specification