Mobile cellular radio

• US 7,120,435 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2001
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratos Global Ltd. (Inmarsat PLC)
• Original Assignee: Stratos Global Ltd. (Inmarsat PLC)
• Inventors: Allaway, Andrew Wayne, Usher, Martin Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon J.
• Application Number:
  US09/833,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 455427-428, 455/431, 455566-567, 455/432.2, 455/412.2, 455/556.1, 455/466, 455/414.4, 455/417, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A method of forwarding a data message to a vehicle is provided. The method includes registering a user'"'"'s cellular identity as present aboard a vehicle; receiving a data message intended for the cellular telephone associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity, the data message including at including at least a first address and a data packet, the first address being associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity; associating the data packet with a destination address, the destination address representing a wireless node aboard the vehicle; and forwarding the data packet to the vehicle consistent with the destination address.

Claims

1. A method of forwarding a data message to a vehicle, comprising:

registering a user'"'"'s cellular identity as present aboard a vehicle;

receiving a data message intended for the cellular telephone associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity, the data message including at least a first address and a data packet, the first address being associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity;

sending an advisory message to a destination address representing a wireless node aboard the vehicle, the advisory message indicating that the data message is available for forwarding to the node and requesting authorization from the user to forward the data message;

receiving an affirmative response to the advisory message;

associating the data packet with the destination address; and

forwarding the data packet to the vehicle consistent with the destination address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said registering comprising linking the user'"'"'s cellular identity with the destination address; and

said associating comprising using the contents of the first address to identify the destination address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a voice authorization to forward the data message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a coded authorization to forward the data message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least the destination address.

6. A method of forwarding a data message to a vehicle, comprising:

registering a user'"'"'s cellular identity as present aboard a vehicle;

receiving a data message intended for the cellular telephone associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity, the data message including at least a first address and a data packet, the first address being associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity;

associating the data packet with a destination address, the destination address representing a wireless node aboard the vehicle; and

forwarding the data packet to the vehicle consistent with the destination address;

wherein the data packet is originally configured for transmission over a cellular telephone network for display by a cellular telephone handset, and said reconfiguring reconfigures the data packet for transmission over a telecommunications network for display by a display mounted in the vehicle.