Mobile satellite communications system with local and global network
First Claim
1. A communication system for communication with a plurality of mobile terminals (2), the system comprising:
- a plurality of orbiting satellites (4);
a plurality of earth stations (6) arranged to communicate with the mobile users via the satellites;
a plurality of gateway stations (8) for interconnecting terrestrial equipment with the earth stations (6); and
a store (54) for storing access data for said mobile terminals (2);
characterised in that;
the mobile terminals (2) are divided into first and second categories, the store (54) retaining corresponding different status information, both said first and second categories communicating with said satellites (4), and in that there are provided;
first and second different communications channels (14;
10, 21) between said gateway stations (8) and said earth stations (6), and in that there is provided;
a route control device (72) for selecting one of said first and second channels, in dependence upon the category of a mobile terminal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system for communication with a plurality of mobile terminals. A plurality of earth stations are arranged to communicate with mobile users via a plurality of orbiting satellites. A plurality of gateway stations interconnect terrestrial equipment with the earth stations and a store stores access data for the mobile terminals. The mobile terminals are divided into first and second categories, the store retaining corresponding different status information and both the first and second categories communicating with the satellites. Also provided are first and second different communication channels between the gateway stations and the earth stations, and a route control system for selecting one of the first and second channels, in dependence upon the category of a mobile terminal.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A communication system for communication with a plurality of mobile terminals (2), the system comprising:
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a plurality of orbiting satellites (4);
a plurality of earth stations (6) arranged to communicate with the mobile users via the satellites;
a plurality of gateway stations (8) for interconnecting terrestrial equipment with the earth stations (6); and
a store (54) for storing access data for said mobile terminals (2);
characterised in that;
the mobile terminals (2) are divided into first and second categories, the store (54) retaining corresponding different status information, both said first and second categories communicating with said satellites (4), and in that there are provided;
first and second different communications channels (14;
10, 21) between said gateway stations (8) and said earth stations (6), and in that there is provided;
a route control device (72) for selecting one of said first and second channels, in dependence upon the category of a mobile terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Satellite system routing equipment (8) for interconnecting a mobile terminal (2) satellite communications system (4, 6, 14) with a terrestrial communications link, said equipment comprising a routing switch (70) for selectively interconnecting said communications link with one of first and second communications channels (14;
- 10, 21), either of which connects to said mobile terminal (2) via a communications satellite (4) and an earth station (6), depending upon whether said mobile terminal (2) falls into first or second predetermined categories.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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21. Satellite system routing equipment (6) for interconnecting a mobile terminal (2), communicating via a satellite link with said equipment (6), with a called terminal (12), the equipment comprising a routing switch (44) for selectively interconnecting said satellite link with one of first and second communications channels (14;
- 10, 21), either of which connects to said called terminal (12), depending upon whether said mobile terminal (2) falls into first or second predetermined categories.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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29. A method of connecting a mobile terminal (2), via a satellite (4) and a satellite earth station (6), with a terrestrial communications link, comprising selecting one of two alternative routes (14;
- 10, 21) between the earth station (6) and the communications link depending on whether the mobile terminal (2) is within first or second categories.
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30. A system for interconnecting a mobile terminal satellite commmnications system with a terrestrial communications link, said system comprising:
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first and second communications channels;
routing means for selectively interconnecting said communications link with one of said first and second communications channels, either of said channels connecting to said mobile terminal via a communications satellite and an earth station, said first communications channel connecting via the public switched telecommunications network and said second communications channel connecting via a satellite system ground network.
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31. A method of interconnecting a satellite mobile communications system user terminal and another telecommunications user terminal, comprising determining a plurality of possible earth stations via which said satellite system user terminal could communicate via a satellite;
- measuring received link quality for signals received from said satellite system user terminal via said plurality of earth stations;
selecting one of said plurality of earth stations according to at least said received link quality; and
interconnecting the two user terminals via said selected earth station. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
- measuring received link quality for signals received from said satellite system user terminal via said plurality of earth stations;
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39. Apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of earth stations for interconnecting a satellite mobile communications system user terminal and another telecommunications user terminal comprising:
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means for determining said plurality of possible earth stations via which said satellite system user terminal could communicate via a satellite;
means for measuring received link quality for signals received from said satellite system user terminals via said plurality of earth stations; and
means for selecting one of said plurality of earth stations according to at least said received link quality.
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40. A method of interconnecting a satellite mobile communication user terminal and another telecommunications user terminal, comprising the steps of
determining a plurality of possible earth stations via which said satellite system user terminal could communicate via a satellite, each of said plurality of earth stations being connected to a dedicated ground network; -
selecting one of said plurality of earth stations; and
interconnecting the two user terminals via said selected earth station through said dedicated ground network.
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Specification