Satellite communications gateway management system
First Claim
1. A communication system wherein a user terminal can communicate with a plurality of satellites;
- wherein each of said plurality of satellites can communicate with a plurality of earth stations;
wherein each of said plurality of earth stations is operable to provide a gateway into a terrestrial communication system; and
wherein said user terminal is registered at a selected one of said plurality of earth stations as its gateway station;
wherein said gateway station, in the event of being unable to establish contact with said user terminal, is operative to select and instruct another earth station to establish contact with said user terminal to act as an alternative earth station and being further operative to pass messages to and from said user terminal through said alternative earth station while said GW station acts as the only gateway into said terrestrial communication system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for a system where a user terminal 11 can communicate with satellites 9A-C, the satellites 9A-C can communicate with earth stations 7A-E which in turn can communicate with the terrestrial telephone system 1. The user terminal can register with one of the earth stations 5C which has an associated mobile satellite switching center 5C which acts as a gateway into the terrestrial system 1. When attempting to contact the user terminal 11 from the terrestrial system 1 the mobile satellite switching center 5C of visitor registration, if it cannot make the contact itself, instructs other earth stations 5, 7, in turn, according to different methods of alternative earth station 7 selection, until contact is made, and then routes all voice messages 21 through itself 5C to retain the single and original gateway into the terrestrial system 1.
5 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A communication system wherein a user terminal can communicate with a plurality of satellites;
- wherein each of said plurality of satellites can communicate with a plurality of earth stations;
wherein each of said plurality of earth stations is operable to provide a gateway into a terrestrial communication system; and
wherein said user terminal is registered at a selected one of said plurality of earth stations as its gateway station;
wherein said gateway station, in the event of being unable to establish contact with said user terminal, is operative to select and instruct another earth station to establish contact with said user terminal to act as an alternative earth station and being further operative to pass messages to and from said user terminal through said alternative earth station while said GW station acts as the only gateway into said terrestrial communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- wherein each of said plurality of satellites can communicate with a plurality of earth stations;
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7. A method for establishing communication with a user terminal for use in a communication system wherein a user terminal can communicate with a plurality of satellites;
- wherein each of said plurality of satellites can communicate with a plurality of earth stations;
wherein each of said plurality of earth satellites is operable to provide a gateway into a terrestrial communication system; and
wherein said user terminal is registered at a selected one of said plurality of earth stations as its gateway station;
said method comprising the steps of said gateway station, in the event of being unable to establish contact with said user terminal, selecting and instructing another earth station to establish contact with said user terminal to act as an alternative earth station and said gateway station passing messages to and from said user terminal through said alternative earth station while acting as said gateway into said terrestrial communication system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- wherein each of said plurality of satellites can communicate with a plurality of earth stations;
Specification