Methods, satellite user terminals, switching centers and systems for selectively conducting calls in a satellite radiotelephone system as dual HOP calls
First Claim
1. A method of conducting a call from a satellite user terminal to a user terminal via a satellite in a satellite radiotelephone system, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting information from the satellite user terminal to the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite, wherein the information includes a request to conduct an active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via a ground segment in the satellite radiotelephone system; and
conducting the active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via the ground segment based on the request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Calls in the satellite radiotelephone system are conducted as single or dual hop calls under the control of a satellite radiotelephone that initiates the call. In particular, a first satellite radiotelephone calling a second satellite radiotelephone can configure the call as a dual hop call by transmitting a suspension code to a switching center, thereby possibly avoiding a default action by the switching center to conduct the call a single hop call. The switching center recognizes the suspension code and conducts the call in the active state to the second satellite radiotelephone as a dual hop call. In other words, the suspension code transmitted by the first satellite radiotelephone instructs the switching center to avoid conducting the call as a single hop call which may be the default action performed by the switching center.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a call from a satellite user terminal to a user terminal via a satellite in a satellite radiotelephone system, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information from the satellite user terminal to the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite, wherein the information includes a request to conduct an active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via a ground segment in the satellite radiotelephone system; and
conducting the active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via the ground segment based on the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
determining whether the user terminal is a second satellite user terminal that communicates with the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite; and
establishing the active state of the call between the satellite user terminal and the user terminal via the ground segment in response to the request if the user terminal is a second satellite user terminal that communicates with the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite.
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3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:
conducting the active state of the call between the satellite user terminal and the user terminal, wherein the user terminal does not communicate with the satellite directly if the user terminal is not a second satellite user terminal that communicates with the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite.
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4. A method of conducting a call from a satellite user terminal to a user terminal via a satellite in a satellite radiotelephone system, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information from the satellite user terminal to the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite, wherein the information includes a request to conduct an active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via a ground segment in the satellite radiotelephone system, wherein the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting information from the first satellite user terminal to the satellite radiotelephone system, wherein the information includes at least one of a suspension code and a suspension message which requests the suspension of default single hop call configuration for the active state of the call; and
conducting the active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via the ground segment based on the request. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method of conducting a call from a first satellite user terminal to a second satellite user terminal via a satellite in a satellite radiotelephone system, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information from the first satellite user terminal to the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite, wherein the information includes a request to suspend single hop call configuration by the satellite radiotelephone system and conduct an active state of the call from the first satellite user terminal to the second satellite user terminal via a ground segment in the satellite radiotelephone system;
receiving channel information from the satellite radiotelephone system that identifies a channel over which the first satellite user terminal communicates with the second satellite user terminal during the active state of the call; and
communicating with second satellite user terminal over the channel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of conducting a call from a first satellite user terminal to a second satellite user terminal via a satellite in a satellite radiotelephone system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving information from the first satellite user terminal via the satellite, wherein the information includes a request to suspend single hop call configuration by the satellite radiotelephone system and conduct an active state of the call from the first satellite user terminal to the second satellite user terminal via a ground segment in the satellite radiotelephone system;
assigning at least one of a dual hop channel configuration and a single hop channel configuration over which the call between the first and second satellite radiotelephones is conducted during the active state of the call, wherein the dual hop channel configuration is assigned when the information includes the request to suspend single hop call configuration by the satellite radiotelephone system and the single hop channel configuration is assigned when the information does not include the request to suspend single hop call configuration by the satellite radiotelephone system; and
transmitting the assigned channels in the at least one of the dual hop channel configuration and the single hop channel configuration to the first and second satellite radiotelephone user terminals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of conducting a call from a first user terminal to a second user terminal in a communications system, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting information from the first user terminal to the communications system, wherein the information includes a request to suspend single hop call configuration by the communications system and to conduct an active state of the call from the first user terminal to the second user terminal via a ground segment in the communications system; and
conducting the active state of the call from the first user terminal to the second user terminal via the ground segment based on the request. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A satellite user terminal that communicates with a satellite radiotelephone system via a satellite in the satellite radiotelephone system, the satellite user terminal comprising:
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a transceiver that transmits and receives signals to and from the satellite radiotelephone system;
a keypad configured to provide input to the satellite user terminal;
a processor, responsive to the transceiver and the keypad, that configures a signal for transmission to the satellite radiotelephone system in response to initiating a call to a user terminal, wherein the signal includes a request to conduct an active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via a ground segment in the satellite radiotelephone system.
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17. A satellite user terminal that communicates with a satellite radiotelephone system via a satellite in the satellite radiotelephone system, the satellite user terminal comprising:
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a transceiver that transmits and receives signals to and from the satellite radiotelephone system;
a keypad configured to provide input to the satellite user terminal;
a processor, responsive to the transceiver and the keypad, that configures a signal for transmission to the satellite radiotelephone system in response to initiating a call to a user terminal, wherein the signal includes a request to conduct an active state of the call from the satellite user terminal to the user terminal via a ground segment in the satellite radiotelephone system, wherein the request comprises at least one of a suspension code and a suspension message which requests the suspension of single hop call configuration for the active state of the call in the satellite radiotelephone system. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
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a satellite that communicates with a plurality of satellite user terminals in the satellite radiotelephone system;
a satellite user terminal that transmits a signal to the satellite radiotelephone system via the satellite, wherein the signal includes a request to the satellite radiotelephone system to conduct an active state of a call from the first satellite user terminal to a destination as a dual hop call;
a switching center, responsive to the satellite and the satellite user terminal, wherein the switching center conducts the call from the satellite user terminal to the destination in the active state based on the request. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A switching center that communicates with a plurality of satellite user terminals in a satellite radiotelephone system via a satellite in the satellite radiotelephone system, the switching center comprising:
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a transceiver that transmits and receives signals to and from the plurality of satellite user terminals; and
a processor, responsive to the transceiver, wherein the processor receives a request from a first satellite user terminal to conduct an active state of a call initiated by the first satellite user terminal to a destination, and that conducts the call from the first satellite user terminal to the destination in the active state based on the request. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A switching center that communicates with a plurality of satellite user terminals in a satellite radiotelephone system via a satellite in the satellite radiotelephone system, the switching center comprising:
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a transceiver that transmits and receives signals to and from the plurality of satellite user terminals; and
a processor, responsive to the transceiver, wherein the processor receives a request from a first satellite user terminal to conduct an active state of a call initiated by the first satellite user terminal to a destination, and that conducts the call from the first satellite user terminal to the destination in the active state based on the request, wherein the signals received from the first satellite user terminal include at least one of a suspension code and a suspension message which requests the suspension of single hop call configuration for the active state of the call. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification