Fixed and mobile satellite radiotelephone systems and methods with capacity sharing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
- a fixed satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of fixed radiotelephones in a first communication area;
a mobile satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of mobile radiotelephones in a second communication area, wherein the first and second communication areas overlap to define an overlapping area; and
at least one fixed retransmitting station in the overlapping area, that retransmits communications from the fixed satellite radiotelephone system directly to at least one of the mobile radiotelephones and that retransmits communications directly received from at least one of the mobile radiotelephones to the fixed satellite radiotelephone system.
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Abstract
A mobile satellite radiotelephone system uses some of the capacity of a fixed satellite radiotelephone system in areas of congestion. Capacity sharing is obtained by providing at least one fixed retransmitting station in an area of overlap between the fixed and mobile satellite radiotelephone systems. The fixed retransmitting station retransmits communications between the fixed satellite radiotelephone system and at least one of the mobile radiotelephones in the vicinity thereof. The fixed retransmitting station communicates with the mobile radiotelephones using the mobile radiotelephone air interface, so that the communication is transparent to the mobile radiotelephones.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
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a fixed satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of fixed radiotelephones in a first communication area; a mobile satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of mobile radiotelephones in a second communication area, wherein the first and second communication areas overlap to define an overlapping area; and at least one fixed retransmitting station in the overlapping area, that retransmits communications from the fixed satellite radiotelephone system directly to at least one of the mobile radiotelephones and that retransmits communications directly received from at least one of the mobile radiotelephones to the fixed satellite radiotelephone system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
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a first satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of first radiotelephones in a first communication area; a second satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of second radiotelephones in a second communication area; and at least one retransmitting station in the first area, that retransmits communications from the first satellite radiotelephone system directly to at least one of the second radiotelephones and that retransmits communications directly received from at least one of the second radiotelephones to the first satellite radiotelephone system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A base station for a satellite radiotelephone system, comprising:
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means for locating the base station in an overlapping area of a fixed satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of fixed radiotelephones and a mobile satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of mobile radiotelephones; and means for retransmitting communications from the fixed satellite radiotelephone system directly to at least one of the mobile radiotelephones and for retransmitting communications directly received from at least one of the mobile radiotelephones to the fixed satellite radiotelephone system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A capacity sharing method for a fixed satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of fixed radiotelephones in a first communication area;
- and a mobile satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of mobile radiotelephones in a second communication area, wherein the first and second communication areas overlap to define an overlapping area, the capacity sharing method comprising the step of;
retransmitting communications from the fixed satellite radiotelephone system directly to at least one of the mobile radiotelephones and retransmitting communications directly received from at least one of the mobile radiotelephones to the fixed satellite radiotelephone system, in the overlapping area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- and a mobile satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of mobile radiotelephones in a second communication area, wherein the first and second communication areas overlap to define an overlapping area, the capacity sharing method comprising the step of;
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20. A capacity sharing method for a first satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of first radiotelephones in a first communication area and a second satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of second radiotelephones in a second communication area, the capacity sharing method comprising the step of:
retransmitting communications from the first satellite radiotelephone system directly to at least one of the second radiotelephones and retransmitting communications directly received from at least one of the second radiotelephones to the first satellite radiotelephone system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A capacity sharing method for a satellite radiotelephone system, comprising the steps of:
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locating a base station in an overlapping area of a fixed satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of fixed radiotelephones and a mobile satellite radiotelephone system that communicates with a plurality of mobile radiotelephones; and retransmitting communication from the fixed satellite radiotelephone system directly to at least one of the mobile radiotelephones using the base station and retransmitting communications directly received from at least one of the mobile radiotelephones to the fixed satellite radiotelephone system. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification