Method and apparatus for linking terminals using private secondary service paths (PSSP) in a satellite communication system
First Claim
1. A communication system for establishing a Private Secondary Service Path (PSSP) comprising:
- a first terrestrial station which is capable of maintaining a first communication channel with a source terminal and a second communication channel with a first satellite, wherein said first communication channel uses a first set of operating frequencies and a first modulation format, said second communication channel uses a second set of operating frequencies and a second modulation format; and
a second terrestrial station which is capable of maintaining a third communication channel with a destination terminal and a fourth communication channel with a second satellite, wherein said third communication channel uses a third set of operating frequencies and a third modulation format, said fourth communication channel uses said second set of operating frequencies and said second modulation format, whereby said first terrestrial station and said second terrestrial station provide a first PSSP from said source terminal to said destination terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Private Secondary Service Paths (PSSPs) between compatible or non-compatible communication terminals (110, 120) are established using terrestrial stations (130) within a satellite communication system (100). Each PSSP provides to its users the ability to establish communication paths between compatible or non-compatible terminals. A PSSP is established using terrestrial stations (130) which establish and maintain terrestrial-based links (115, 125) and satellite communication links (135). Terrestrial stations also perform frequency translating and data reformatting to allow non-compatible terminals to communicate with each other. All data can be sent between terminals over satellites (140), or user data can be sent via terrestrial connections (150) while overhead data is sent via satellites (140).
32 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A communication system for establishing a Private Secondary Service Path (PSSP) comprising:
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a first terrestrial station which is capable of maintaining a first communication channel with a source terminal and a second communication channel with a first satellite, wherein said first communication channel uses a first set of operating frequencies and a first modulation format, said second communication channel uses a second set of operating frequencies and a second modulation format; and a second terrestrial station which is capable of maintaining a third communication channel with a destination terminal and a fourth communication channel with a second satellite, wherein said third communication channel uses a third set of operating frequencies and a third modulation format, said fourth communication channel uses said second set of operating frequencies and said second modulation format, whereby said first terrestrial station and said second terrestrial station provide a first PSSP from said source terminal to said destination terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A terrestrial station for providing Private Secondary Service Paths (PSSPs) in a satellite communication system, said terrestrial station comprising:
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a first antenna, wherein said first antenna is compatible with a terrestrial-based system and is used to establish links with a source terminal; a first transceiver coupled to said first antenna, wherein said first transceiver is compatible with said terrestrial-based system; a second antenna, wherein said second antenna is compatible with a satellite communication system and is used to establish links with at least one satellite in said satellite communication system; a second transceiver coupled to said second antenna, wherein said second transceiver is compatible with said satellite communication system; and a processor coupled to said first transceiver and said second transceiver, said processor controlling and managing packet reception and transmission, reformatting, channel set-up, radio tuning, frequency, time slot, and/or code assignment, and control functions, said terrestrial station maintaining a first communication channel with said source terminal and maintaining a second communication channel with said at least one satellite, wherein said first communication channel uses a first set of operating frequencies and a first modulation format, said second communication channel uses a second set of operating frequencies and a second modulation format. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for using at least one terrestrial station to allow a communication system to provide a Private Secondary Service Path (PSSP) between non-compatible subscriber units, wherein said communication system includes at least two communication satellites which are linked into said communication system, wherein said non-compatible subscriber units communicate on communication channels provided by isolated networks, said at least one terrestrial station being coupled to said communication system and being able to establish communication channels with said non-compatible subscriber units, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) establishing a first communication channel between a first subscriber unit and a first terrestrial station, said first subscriber unit being associated with a first terrestrial-based network; b) establishing a first terrestrial station-to-satellite channel between said first terrestrial station and a first communication satellite in said communication system; c) establishing at least one link from said first communication satellite to a second communication satellite in said communication system; d) establishing a second terrestrial station-to-satellite channel between said second communication satellite and a second terrestrial station; and e) establishing a second communication channel between said second terrestrial station and a second subscriber unit, said second subscriber unit belonging to a second terrestrial-based network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a satellite communication system which comprises a plurality of satellites, a method for establishing a Private Secondary Service Path (PSSP) between non-compatible communication terminals using said plurality of satellites for a length of time, said method comprising the steps of:
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identifying at least one PSSP between a first non-compatible communication terminal and a second non-compatible communication terminal, wherein said PSSP includes links supported by at least one terrestrial station coupled to at least one of said plurality of satellites; determining a duration for said PSSP, wherein said duration defines the length of time for a data transfer session between said first non-compatible communication terminal and said second non-compatible communication terminal; establishing said PSSP at a start time of said duration; and maintaining said PSSP for said duration. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. In a satellite communication system which comprises a plurality of satellites and a plurality of terrestrial stations coupled to said plurality of satellites, wherein at least one of said plurality of satellites and at least two of said plurality of terrestrial stations are used to establish a Private Secondary Service Path (PSSP) between non-compatible communication terminals, a method for operating a satellite comprising the steps of:
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establishing a secondary service link between said satellite and a terrestrial station, said secondary service link being a first portion of said PSSP between a first non-compatible communication terminal and a second non-compatible communication terminal, said PSSP being a path which said satellite communication system maintains for a duration which defines a length of time of a data transfer session between said first non-compatible communication terminal and said second non-compatible communication terminal; maintaining said secondary service link for at least a portion of said duration; and handing-off said secondary service link in order to continue maintenance of said secondary service link.
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28. A communication system comprising:
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a first terrestrial station for communicating with a first terminal, a source satellite, and a second terrestrial station via a terrestrial link; and said second terrestrial station for communicating with a second terminal, a destination satellite, and said first terrestrial station, wherein after communications is established between said first terminal and said second terminal over a satellite link including said source satellite and said destination satellite, user data is sent over said terrestrial link and overhead data is sent over said satellite link. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification