Multi-band/multi-mode satellite radiotelephone communications systems and methods
First Claim
1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
- a space-based component that is configured to communicate with first and second radiotelephones using respective first and second air interfaces;
wherein the first and second radiotelephones are within a geographic area associated with a single cell of the space-based component, the first and second radiotelephones communicate with the space-based component using respective first and second frequencies that are different, at least one of the first and second air interfaces is based upon a terrestrial cellular air interface, and either one or both of forward and reverse feeder links used by the space-based component to communicate with a gateway is/are individually segmented into first and second bands that are used to transport carriers associated respectively with the first and second air interfaces.
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Abstract
Satellite radiotelephone systems and communications methods include a space-based component that is configured to communicate with radiotelephones in a satellite footprint that is divided into satellite cells. The space-based component is configured to communicate with a first radiotelephone in a first satellite cell over a first frequency band and/or a first air interface, and to communicate with a second radiotelephone in the first or a second satellite cell over a second frequency band and/or a second air interface. An ancillary terrestrial network also is provided that is configured to communicate terrestrially with the first radiotelephone over substantially the first frequency band and/or substantially the first air interface, and to communicate terrestrially with the second radiotelephone over substantially the second frequency band and/or substantially the second air interface.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
a space-based component that is configured to communicate with first and second radiotelephones using respective first and second air interfaces;
wherein the first and second radiotelephones are within a geographic area associated with a single cell of the space-based component, the first and second radiotelephones communicate with the space-based component using respective first and second frequencies that are different, at least one of the first and second air interfaces is based upon a terrestrial cellular air interface, and either one or both of forward and reverse feeder links used by the space-based component to communicate with a gateway is/are individually segmented into first and second bands that are used to transport carriers associated respectively with the first and second air interfaces.- View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 43, 45, 49, 50, 51, 75)
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2. A satellite radiotelephone communications method comprising:
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communicating between a space-based component and first and second radiotelephones using respective first and second air interfaces;
wherein the first and second radiotelephones are within a geographic area associated with a single cell of the space-based component, the first and second radiotelephones communicate with the space-based component using respective first and second frequencies that are different, and at least one of the first and second air interfaces is based upon a terrestrial cellular air interface; andcommunicating between the space-based component and a gateway using forward and reverse feeder links, either one or both of which is/are individually segmented into first and second bands that arc used to transport carriers associated respectively with the first and second air interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 44, 46, 52, 53, 54, 76)
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28. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
a space-based component that is configured to communicate with first and second radiotelephones using respective first and second air interfaces;
wherein the space-based component is further configured to communicate with a gateway over forward and reverse feeder links, either one or both of which is/are individually partitioned into first and second bands that are used to transport respective first and second sets of carriers associated respectively with the first and second air interfaces.- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 41, 47, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 67, 69, 70, 71, 77)
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34. A satellite radiotelephone communications method comprising:
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communicating between a spaced-based component and first and second radiotelephones using respective first and second air interfaces; and communicating between the space-based component and a gateway over forward and reverse feeder links, either one or both of which is/are individually partitioned into first and second bands that are used to transport respective first and second sets of carriers associated respectively with the first and second air interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 48, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 72, 73, 74, 78)
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Specification