Global cell phone system and method for aircraft

• US 7,187,927 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitchell, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US11/151,090
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/12.1, 455/427, 455/428, 455/429, 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18541 for handover of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/328 by altitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A global airborne cell phone system is used for cell phone calls by using a pico cell. A switch connected to the pico cell switches the cell phone call between a first radio that transmits to a first satellite system and a second radio that transmits to a second satellite system. A navigation system provides aircraft position data. A processor switches the call to the first radio and to the second radio according to coverage of the first satellite and the second satellite for a current aircraft position. A cell phone of a second type makes calls to a pico cell of the second type. A second switch connected to the pico cell of the second type switches the cell phone call between the first radio and the second radio according to coverage of the first satellite and the second satellite for the current aircraft position.

Claims

1. A method of providing cell phone communications with a global airborne cell phone system comprising the steps of:

making a cell phone call with a cell phone of a first type;

receiving the cell phone call with a pico cell of the first type;

switching the cell phone call with a first switch connected to the pico cell of the first type;

receiving the cell phone call from the first switch with a first satellite radio connected to the first switch;

transmitting the cell phone call to a first satellite in a first satellite system;

receiving the cell phone call from the first switch with a second satellite radio connected to the first switch;

transmitting the cell phone call to a second satellite in a second satellite system;

providing aircraft position data with a navigation system;

storing satellite system parameters and service data in a database; and

switching the pico cell of the first type to the first satellite radio and to the second satellite radio according to coverage of the first satellite and the second satellite for a current aircraft position with a processor connected to the first switch, the first satellite radio, the second satellite radio, the database, and the navigation system;

initiating a call with the cell phone;

delivering an electronic serial number over a control channel;

determining with the pico cell quality of service (QoS) needs from a QoS indicator from the cell phone;

directing the call to a low earth orbit satellite system if a voice call is needed;

directing the call to a geosynchronous earth orbit satellite if high speed data is needed;

waiting for authorization;

enabling a selected service when authorization is received;

beginning data communications; and

completing data communications.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

making a cell phone call with a cell phone of a second type;

receiving the cell phone call with a pico cell of the second type;

switching the cell phone call with a second switch connected to the pico cell of the second type;

receiving the cell phone call from the second switch with the first satellite radio connected to the second switch;

transmitting the cell phone call to the first satellite in the first satellite system;

receiving the cell phone call from the second switch with the second satellite radio connected to the second switch;

transmitting the cell phone call to the second satellite in the second satellite system; and

switching the pico cell of the second type to the first satellite radio and to the second satellite radio according to coverage of the first satellite and the second satellite for the current aircraft position with the processor connected to the second switch.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

programming satellite coverage data into the database;

correlating the current aircraft position with a corresponding set of satellite coverage area data to select a satellite.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

performing an algorithm with the processor using the current aircraft position and a projected heading to identify satellite services for an aircraft position; and

switching in an appropriate satellite radio.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of using aircraft position data to switch over from one satellite to a next satellite based on known satellite beam coverage regions.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing an algorithm with the processor that produces a switchover from one satellite beam to another satellite beam when the first beam has reduced beam power and the second beam has increased beam power as the aircraft traverses forward.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of switching over between beams from a same satellite system as the aircraft moves from the coverage of one satellite to a next satellite within the same satellite system.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing an algorithm using the current aircraft position and data stored in the database to select a satellite for at least one of a lowest cost service, a highest quality of service, a highest data rate service, and a low or high latency service.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

initiating a call with the cell phone;

performing an algorithm to detect quality of service (QoS) needs; and

directing the call through an appropriate available SATCOM system according to a best match to the QoS needs of the cell phone.