Dual mode satellite terminal for emergency operation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A satellite communications system that supports both voice communication and data communication comprising a ground earth station segment, a satellite segment, and an airborne earth station segment, wherein said airborne earth station segment comprises:
- a power amplifier for providing signals to an antenna, a management unit for managing power levels of said power amplifier wherein said power levels include a normal level for use during simultaneous voice and data, transmission;
said management unit responsive to requests for voice calls wherein one of said requests is an emergency voice call;
said management unit further for terminating said voice communications when said emergency voice call is present and said power levels are insufficient to support voice and data communications;
said management unit further for terminating said data communications when said emergency voice call is present and said power levels are insufficient to support the emergency voice call and data communications; and
said management unit increases drive power to said power amplifier to a level above said normal level for use during an emergency voice call.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-channel mobile satellite communication system for normal operation within spotbeams and during emergency operation, beyond the normal limit of a spotbeam. The system involves terminating non-emergency calls, then increasing the transmission power on the one channel to carry the emergency call, to a level above the normally acceptable transmission power levels, thereby permitting an extended range for emergency calls.
32 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A satellite communications system that supports both voice communication and data communication comprising a ground earth station segment, a satellite segment, and an airborne earth station segment, wherein said airborne earth station segment comprises:
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a power amplifier for providing signals to an antenna, a management unit for managing power levels of said power amplifier wherein said power levels include a normal level for use during simultaneous voice and data, transmission;
said management unit responsive to requests for voice calls wherein one of said requests is an emergency voice call;
said management unit further for terminating said voice communications when said emergency voice call is present and said power levels are insufficient to support voice and data communications;
said management unit further for terminating said data communications when said emergency voice call is present and said power levels are insufficient to support the emergency voice call and data communications; and
said management unit increases drive power to said power amplifier to a level above said normal level for use during an emergency voice call. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of satellite communication wherein an airborne earth station segment performs the steps of:
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determining whether a call is an emergency voice call;
terminating other calls being transmitted by a common transmitter in the airborne earth station, in response to said emergency call;
increasing a drive of said common transmitter to cause said common transmitter to transmit at a power level in excess of a normal transmission level. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A method of satellite communication wherein an airborne earth station segment performs the steps of:
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making a first determination of whether a power level of an airborne earth station transmitter is sufficient for normal operation, and terminating non emergency calls, in response to said first determination;
making a second determination of whether non emergency calls have been terminated;
making a third determination of whether a current power level of said airborne earth station transmitter is sufficient for an emergency call;
terminating packet data communications in response to said second and third determinations; and
,increasing a power level of said airborne earth station transmitter above a normal power level. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for an airborne earth station segment in satellite communications system comprising:
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an airborne earth station transmitter for providing a plurality of simultaneous calls;
means for managing effective isotropic radiation power for said airborne earth station transmitter; and
means for determining if an emergency call is to be transmitted by said airborne earth station transmitter and for effecting a change in operation of said means for managing effective isotropic radiation power in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification