Transmit authorization

• US 6,940,978 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Parkman, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morse, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Ellen C
• Application Number:
  US09/847,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20020164028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 380/270, 455/403, 455/427, 455/431, 455/428, 455/12.1, 370/347, 370/337, 370/442, 370/458, 370/312, 370/229, 370/238, 340/539.18
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service

Abstract

A communications system and method for transmitting authorization messages to mobile platforms is provided. The communications system authorizes the mobile platform to continue transmitting data with a single signal rather than multiple signals. Specifically, the authorization signal comprises a unique address for a path of forward link equipment that transmits data to the mobile platform. The unique address informs the mobile platform which equipment is currently being used for data transmission, and the mobile platform then relays this information back to a ground station. The authorization signal further comprises a return link assignment that informs the mobile platform which transponder is to be used for data transmission back to the ground station. Accordingly, a single signal is used to transmit the required data to the mobile platforms.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting an authorization message to a mobile platform comprising:

at least one base station having transmit equipment, the transmit equipment further comprising a path having a unique address; and

at least one space-based transponder that transmits data to the mobile platform;

wherein when the transmit equipment transmits the unique address in a signal to the mobile platform via the space-based transponder, the unique address serves as the authorization message, and wherein the signal is transmitted to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval.

2. A system for transmitting an authorization message to a mobile platform comprising:

at least one base station having transmit equipment, the transmit equipment comprising return link assignments; and

at least one space-based transponder that transmits data to the mobile platform;

wherein when the transmit equipment transmits the return link assignment in a signal to the mobile platform via the space-based transponder, the return link assignment serves as the authorization message, and wherein the signal is transmitted to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval.

3. A system for transmitting an authorization message to a mobile platform comprising:

at least one base station having transmit equipment, the transmit equipment further comprising a path having a unique address and return link assignments; and

at least one space-based transponder that transmits data to the mobile platform;

wherein the transmit equipment combines the unique address and the return link assignment into a single signal that serves as the authorization message, and wherein the single signal is transmitted to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval.

4. A method for transmitting an authorization message from a base station to a mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a signal comprising a unique address from a base station to a mobile platform via a space-based transponder;

(b) using the unique address as the authorization message;

(c) transmitting the signal to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval; and

(d) using the authorization message to authorize the mobile system to continue transmitting for a predefined time period after receiving the authorization message.

5. A method for transmitting an authorization message from a base station to a mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a signal comprising a return link assignment from a base station to a mobile platform via a space-based transponder;

(b) using the return link assignment as the authorization message;

(c) transmitting the signal to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval; and

(d) using the authorization message to authorize the mobile system to continue transmitting for a predefined time period after receiving the authorization message.

6. A method for transmitting an authorization message from a base station to a mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) embedding a return link assignment within a signal comprising a unique address;

(b) transmitting the signal comprising the unique address and the return link assignment from a base station to a mobile platform via a space-based transponder;

(c) transmitting the combination return link assignment and unique address signal to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval; and

(d) using the authorization message to authorize the mobile system to continue transmitting for a predefined time period after receiving the authorization message.

7. A method for transmitting an authorization message from a base station to a mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a link manager to communicate with a routing unit that provides communication between the base station and the mobile platform via transmitting equipment;

(b) determining a path having a unique address used as the authorization message;

(c) transmitting a signal comprising the unique address from the transmitting equipment to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval via a space-based transponder; and

(d) using the authorization message to authorize the mobile system to continue transmitting for a predefined time period after receiving the authorization message.

8. A method for transmitting an authorization message from a base station to a mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a link manager to communicate with a routing unit that provides communication between the base station and the mobile platform via transmitting equipment;

(b) determining a path having a return link assignment used as the authorization message;

(c) transmitting a signal comprising the return link assignment from the transmitting equipment to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval via a space-based transponder; and

(d) using the authorization message to authorize the mobile system to continue transmitting for a predefined time period after receiving the authorization message.

9. A method for transmitting an authorization message from a base station to a mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) activating a link manager to communicate with a routing unit that provides communication between the base station and the mobile platform via transmitting equipment;

(b) determining a single path having both a unique address and a return link assignment used as the authorization message;

(c) transmitting a signal comprising the unique address and the return link assignment from the transmitting equipment to the mobile platform repeatedly at a predetermined interval via a space-based transponder; and

(d) using the authorization message to authorize the mobile system to continue transmitting for a predefined time period after receiving the authorization message.