Data communications systems and methods using different wireless links for inbound and outbound data

• US 7,174,127 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Duckworth, David G., Otten, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US10/246,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20030022625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 455/13.1, 455/427, 455/428, 455/430, 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/11.1, 455/429, 455/431, 370/319, 370/326
• US Class Current: 455/13.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1858 Arrangements for data transmission on the physical system, i.e. for data bit transmission between network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks

Abstract

A hybrid satellite communications system provides communications, particularly Internet access, to computer users. The hybrid satellite communications system includes a satellite system and a terrestrial communications system. The satellite system includes two transceivers. The first transceiver receives and transmits a first set of signals received from the terrestrial communications system to a plurality of user units. In reverse fashion, the satellite systems second transceiver receives a second set of signals in a second frequency band from the user units and transmits those signals back to the terrestrial communications system. The first set of signals (downlink signals) are of much higher frequency than the second set of signals (uplink signals). Preferably, the first set of signals are relayed by a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite in a frequency band between 12.2 GHz and 12.9 GHz, while the second set of signals are relayed by a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) satellite operating between 1.0 GHz and 3.0 Ghz, or relayed by a terrestrial node operating between 0.8 and 2.0 Ghz. The differences in frequency between the first set of signals and second set of signals is considered optimal for the transmission and receipt of communications between a computer user with the Internet. Moreover, the present invention is capable of using the present communications infrastructures dedicated to the satellite transmission of television via DBS satellites, satellite cellular communications via MSS satellites, and radio communications via terrestrial cellular systems.

Claims

1. A hybrid satellite and terrestrial communications system comprising:

an earth orbiting satellite means including a first transceiver for receiving and transmitting a first set of signals;

one or more terrestrial nodes including a receiver for receiving a second set of signals;

a terrestrial communications means for transmitting said first set of signals to said satellite means and for receiving said second set of signals from said terrestrial nodes; and

a plurality of user units, each of said user units including a transceiver for transmitting said second set of signals to said terrestrial nodes and for concurrently receiving said first set of signals from said satellite means;

wherein said first set of signals are in a first frequency band between 12.0 GHz–

13.0 GHz and wherein said second set of signals are in a second frequency band between 0.8 GHz–

2.0 GHz.

2. The hybrid satellite and terrestrial communications system of claim 1 wherein said user units include personal computers and said terrestrial communications means is connected to the Internet for providing said personal computers access to the Internet through said terrestrial communications means, said terrestrial nodes and said satellite means.

3. A user unit that provides Internet access, comprising:

a wireless receiver that is configured to receive inbound data from an Internet service provider via a satellite; and

a wireless transmitter that is configured to wirelessly transmit outbound data to the Internet service provider via a terrestrial wireless link that is independent of the satellite;

wherein the satellite is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite and wherein the terrestrial wireless link is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) link, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) link, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) link and/or a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) link.

4. A user unit according to claim 3 wherein the wireless receiver is a first wireless receiver and wherein the user unit further comprises:

a second wireless receiver that is configured to wirelessly receive inbound control data from the Internet service provider via the terrestrial wireless link that is independent of the satellite.

5. A user unit according to claim 4 wherein the wireless receiver is a first wireless receiver and wherein the user unit further comprises:

a second wireless receiver that is configured to wirelessly receive inbound control data from the Internet service provider via the space-based wireless link that is independent of the satellite.

6. A user unit according to claim 3:

wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit outbound data to the Internet service provider via the terrestrial wireless link that is independent of the satellite in response to user input at the wireless terminal; and

wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive inbound data from the Internet service provider via the satellite in response to receipt by the Internet service provider of the outbound data.

7. A user unit according to claim 6:

wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit outbound data to the Internet service provider via the space-based wireless link that is independent of the satellite in response to user input at the wireless terminal; and

wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive inbound data from the Internet service provider via the satellite in response to receipt by the Internet service provider of the outbound data.

8. A user unit that provides Internet access, comprising:

a wireless receiver that is configured to receive inbound data from an Internet service provider via a satellite; and

a wireless transmitter that is configured to wirelessly transmit outbound data to the Internet service provider via a space-based wireless link that is independent of the satellite;

wherein the satellite is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite and wherein the space-based wireless link is in a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) frequency band.

9. A method of operating a user unit comprising:

wirelessly transmitting outbound data via a terrestrial wireless link in response to user input at the user unit; and

wirelessly receiving inbound data at the user unit in response to the outbound data that was transmitted, the inbound data being wirelessly received at the user unit via a satellite link that is independent of the wireless link;

wherein the satellite link is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite link and wherein the terrestrial wireless link is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) link, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) link, a Code Division Access (CDMA) link, and/or a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) link.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the following are performed between wirelessly transmitting and wirelessly receiving:

receiving the outbound data at a data provider;

generating the inbound data at the data provider in response to receipt of the outbound data; and

transmitting the inbound data from the data provider to the satellite link.

11. A method of operating a user unit comprising:

wirelessly transmitting outbound data via a wireless link in response to user input at the user unit; and

wirelessly receiving inbound data at the user unit in response to the outbound data that was transmitted, the inbound data being wirelessly received at the user unit via a satellite link that is independent of the wireless link;

wherein the wireless link comprises a space-based wireless link that is independent of the satellite link; and

wherein the satellite link is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite link and wherein the space-based wireless link is in a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) wireless frequency band.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the following are performed between wirelessly transmitting and wirelessly receiving:

receiving the outbound data at a data provider;

generating the inbound data at the data provider in response to receipt of the outbound data; and

transmitting the inbound data from the data provider to the satellite link.

13. A method of providing Internet services by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) comprising:

receiving a request at the ISP from a user unit via a terrestrial wireless link;

generating data at the ISP in response to the request that was received; and

transmitting the data from the ISP to the user unit via a satellite link that is independent of the wireless link;

wherein the satellite link is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite link and wherein the terrestrial wireless link is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) link, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) link, a Code Division Access (CDMA) link, and/or a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) link.

14. A method of providing Internet services by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) comprising:

receiving a request at the ISP from a user unit via a wireless link;

generating data at the ISP in response to the request that was received; and

transmitting the data from the ISP to the user unit via a satellite link that is independent of the wireless link;

wherein the wireless link comprises a space-based wireless link that is independent of the satellite link; and

wherein the satellite link is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite link and wherein the space-based wireless link is in a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) frequency band.

15. A user unit comprising:

a wireless transmitter that is configured to wirelessly transmit outbound data via a terrestrial wireless link in response to user input at the user unit; and

a wireless receiver that is configured to wirelessly receive inbound data at the user unit in response to the outbound data that was transmitted, the inbound data being wirelessly received at the user unit via a satellite link that is independent of the wireless link;

wherein the satellite link is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite link and wherein the terrestrial wireless link is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) link, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) link, a Code Division Access (CDMA) link, and/or a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) link.

16. A user unit comprising:

a wireless transmitter that is configured to wirelessly transmit outbound data via a wireless link in response to user input at the user unit; and

a wireless receiver that is configured to wirelessly receive inbound data at the user unit in response to the outbound data that was transmitted, the inbound data being wirelessly received at the user unit via a satellite link that is independent of the wireless link;

wherein the wireless link comprises a space-based wireless link that is independent of the satellite link; and

wherein the satellite link is a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite link and wherein the space-based wireless link is in a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) frequency band.