Satellite assisted push-to-send radioterminal systems and methods

• US 7,203,490 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D., Dutta, Santanu, Deobald, Brian M., Bogatin, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US10/795,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 455/519, 455/13.1, 455/427, 455/428, 455/507, 455/550.1, 455/13.3, 455/561, 370/354
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0491 using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0837 using pre-detection combining H04B7/0868 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0854 using error minimizing algorithms, e.g. minimum mean squared error [MMSE], "cross-correlation" or matrix inversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18584 Arrangements for data networking, i.e. for data packet routing, for congestion control data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/38 TPC being performed in particular situations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/42 in systems with time, space, frequency or polarisation diversity

Abstract

A satellite is used to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations. Reduced push-to-send delays thereby may be provided, when a source push-to-send radioterminal is widely separated from a destination push-to-send radioterminal. Satellite routing only may be used when the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal are not communicating with a single terrestrial base station or with a group of terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another. A destination base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal may be determined at the satellite, at a satellite gateway and/or at a central server.

Claims

1. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

accessing a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith;

determining from the listing whether a source push-to-send radioterminal and a destination push-to-send radioterminal are communicating with a single terrestrial base station; and

using the satellite to route a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal are not communicating with a single terrestrial base station.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises:

using a satellite of a satellite radioterminal communication system to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises:

using a satellite to at least partially bypass terrestrial routing of push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein accessing is preceded by:

registering the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal with the listing.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein registering is performed upon power-on of the source push-to-send radioterminal or the destination push-to-send radioterminal and/or upon movement of the source push-to-send radioterminal or the destination push-to-send radioterminal among terrestrial base stations.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the listing is associated with a satellite gateway for the satellite.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the listing is associated with the single terrestrial base station.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the terrestrial base stations communicate with push-to-send radioterminals using at least one satellite band frequency.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises:

using a satellite to route push-to-send signaling messages and/or push-to-send communications messages among terrestrial base stations.

10. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

accessing a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith;

determining from the listing whether a source push-to-send radioterminal and a destination push-to-send radioterminal are communicating with terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another; and

using the satellite to route a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal are not communicating with terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein accessing is preceded by:

registering the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal with the listing.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the listing is associated with a satellite gateway for the satellite.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the listing is associated with at least one of the terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein registering is performed upon power-on of the source push-to-send radioterminal or the destination push-to-send radioterminal and/or upon movement of the source push-to-send radioterminal or the destination push-to-send radioterminal among terrestrial base stations.

15. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith;

sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite;

sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to a satellite gateway that is associated with the satellite;

determining by the satellite gateway, a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal;

sending the push-to-send message from the satellite gateway back to the satellite along with routing information that identifies the second terrestrial base station;

sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to the second terrestrial base station; and

sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the following is performed between sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith and sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite:

determining whether the destination push-to-send radioterminal is also communicating with the first terrestrial base station; and

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite is selectively performed if the destination push-to-send radioterminal is not communicating with the first terrestrial base station.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the following is performed between sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith and sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite:

determining whether the second terrestrial base station is proximate the first terrestrial base station; and

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite is selectively performed if the second terrestrial base station is not proximate the first terrestrial base station.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein determining by the satellite gateway, a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal comprises:

accessing a listing, that is located at the satellite gateway and/or outside the satellite gateway, of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith; and

identifying from the listing the second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite comprises:

concentrating the push-to-send message with other communications from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite.

20. A method according to claim 15 wherein sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to the destination radioterminals comprises:

deconcentrating the push-to-send message from other communications from the satellite to the second terrestrial base station.

21. A method according to claim 15 wherein sending the push-to-send message from the second base station to the destination radioterminal comprises:

sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to a plurality of destination radioterminals.

22. A method according to claim 15:

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to the second terrestrial base station comprises sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to a plurality of the second terrestrial base stations; and

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to the destination radioterminal comprises sending the push-to-send message from the plurality of second base stations to a plurality of destination radioterminals that communicate therewith.

23. A method according to claim 15 wherein determining by the satellite gateway, a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal is selectively performed for a first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal and is not performed for subsequent push-to-send messages from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal that are closely spaced in time to the first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

24. A method according to claim 15 wherein the following is performed between determining by the satellite gateway, a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal and sending the push-to-send message from the satellite gateway back to the satellite along with routing information that identifies the second terrestrial base station:

interrogating the destination push-to-send-radioterminal to determine whether it is capable of receiving the push-to-send message.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein interrogating is selectively performed for a first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal and is not performed for subsequent push-to-send messages from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal that are closely spaced in time to the first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

26. A method according to claim 15 wherein sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to the second terrestrial base station comprises sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to the second terrestrial base station using a satellite spot beam that covers a plurality of terrestrial base stations including the second terrestrial base station.

27. A method according to claim 26 further comprising ignoring the push-to-send message at the plurality of terrestrial base stations that are covered by the satellite spot beam, except for the second terrestrial base station.

28. A method according to claim 15 wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith comprises:

seizing an uplink channel of the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal;

receiving confirmation from the first terrestrial base station in response to the seizing the uplink channel; and

sending the push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the first terrestrial base station over the uplink channel in response to receiving the confirmation.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the following is performed by the first terrestrial base station between seizing an uplink channel of the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal and receiving confirmation from the first terrestrial base station in response to the seizing the uplink channel:

determining at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal based upon a listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal;

determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message; and

sending the confirmation to the source push-to-send radioterminal upon determining that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

30. A method according to claim 28 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises determining whether the listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal indicates that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

31. A method according to claim 29 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises interrogating the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal.

32. A method according to claim 15 wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith comprises:

requesting an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal;

receiving assignment of an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station in response to the requesting; and

sending the push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the first terrestrial base station over the uplink channel in response to receiving the assignment.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the following is performed by the first terrestrial base station between requesting an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal and receiving assignment of an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station in response to the requesting:

determining at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal based upon a listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal;

determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message; and

sending the assignment of an uplink channel to the source push-to-send radioterminal upon determining that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises determining whether the listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal indicates that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

35. A method according to claim 33 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises interrogating the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal.

36. A method according to claim 15:

wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith is performed over a return link using a return link alphabet; and

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the second base station to the destination radioterminal is performed over a forward link using a forward link alphabet that has more symbols than the return link alphabet.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith is performed over a channel of the return link in a manner that collides with at least one other message from a radioterminal to the first terrestrial base station, and wherein the first terrestrial base station is configured to decode both the push-to-send message and the at least one other message.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the push-to-send message comprises a push-to-send signaling message and/or push-to-send communication message and wherein the first terrestrial base station is configured to decode both the at least one other message and the push-to-send signaling message and/or push-to-send communication message.

39. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

determining whether a source push-to-send radioterminal and at least one of a plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals are not communicating with a single terrestrial base station; and

using the satellite to route a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals if the source push-to-send radioterminal and at least one of the plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals are not communicating with the single terrestrial base station.

40. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

determining whether a source push-to-send radioterminal and at least one of a plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals are not communicating with a plurality of terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another; and

using the satellite to route a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals if the source push-to-send radioterminal and at least one of the plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals are not communicating with the terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another.

41. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith;

sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite;

determining at the satellite, a satellite spot beam that covers a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal;

sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to the second terrestrial base station over the spot beam that was determined; and

sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

42. A method according to claim 41 wherein the following is performed between sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith and sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite:

determining whether the destination push-to-send radioterminal is also communicating with the first terrestrial base station; and

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite is selectively performed if the destination push-to-send radioterminal is not communicating with the first terrestrial base station.

43. A method according to claim 41 wherein the following is performed between sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith and sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite:

determining whether the second terrestrial base station is proximate the first terrestrial base station; and

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite is selectively performed if the second terrestrial base station is not proximate the first terrestrial base station.

44. A method according to claim 41 wherein determining at the satellite, a satellite spot beam that covers a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal comprises:

accessing a listing that is located at the satellite, of terrestrial base stations, push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith and spot beams that are assoicated therewith; and

identifying from the listing the satellite spot beam that covers the second terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

45. A method according to claim 41 wherein sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to the destination radioterminal comprises:

sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to a plurality of destination radioterminals.

46. A method according to claim 41 wherein the satellite spot beam that was determined covers a plurality of base stations including the second terrestrial base station.

47. A method according to claim 46 further comprising ignoring the push-to-send message at the plurality of terrestrial base stations that are covered by the satellite spot beam, except for the second terrestrial base station.

48. A method according to claim 41 wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith comprises:

seizing an uplink channel of the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal;

receiving confirmation from the first terrestrial base station in response to the seizing the uplink channel; and

sending the push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the first terrestrial base station over the uplink channel in response to receiving the confirmation.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein the following is performed by the first terrestrial base station between seizing an uplink channel of the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal and receiving confirmation from the first terrestrial base station in response to the seizing the uplink channel:

determining at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal based upon a listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal;

determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message; and

sending the confirmation to the source push-to-send radioterminal upon determining that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

50. A method according to claim 49 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises determining whether the listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal indicates that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

51. A method according to claim 49 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises interrogating the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal.

52. A method according to claim 41 wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith comprises:

requesting an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal;

receiving assignment of an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station in response to the seizing the requesting; and

sending the push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the first terrestrial base station over the uplink channel in response to receiving the assignment.

53. A method according to claim 52 wherein the following is performed by the first terrestrial base station between requesting an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station by the source push-to-send radioterminal and receiving assignment of an uplink channel from the first terrestrial base station in response to the requesting:

determining at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal based upon a listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal;

determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message; and

sending the assignment of an uplink channel to the source push-to-send radioterminal upon determining that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

54. A method according to claim 53 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises determining whether the listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with the source push-to-send radioterminal indicates that the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message.

55. A method according to claim 53 wherein determining whether the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal is able to receive the push-to-send message comprises interrogating the at least one likely destination push-to-send radioterminal.

56. A method according to claim 41:

wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith is performed over a return link using a return link alphabet; and

wherein sending the push-to-send message from the second base station to the destination radioterminal is performed over a forward link using a forward link alphabet that has more symbols than the return link alphabet.

57. A method according to claim 56 wherein sending a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith is performed over a channel of the return link in a manner that collides with at least one other message from a radioterminal to the first terrestrial base station, and wherein the first terrestrial base station is configured to decode both the push-to-send message and the at least one other message.

58. A method according to claim 57 wherein the push-to-send message comprises a push-to-send signaling message and/or push-to-send communication message and wherein the first terrestrial base station is configured to decode both the at least one other message and the push-to-send signaling message and/or push-to-send communication message.

59. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

configuring a first multimode radioterminal to use a first communication protocol and/or a first air interface in response to activation of a push-to-send mode;

sending a push-to-send message from the first multimode radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith using the first communication protocol and/or the first air interface;

sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite;

sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with a second multimode radioterminal;

configuring the second multimode radioterminal to use the first communication protocol and/or the first air interface in response to the second terrestrial base station; and

sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to the second multimode radioterminal using the first communication protocol and/or air interface.

60. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

configuring a first multimode radioterminal to use a first communication protocol and/or a first air interface in response to activation of a push-to-send mode;

sending a push-to-send message from the first multimode radioterminal to a first terrestrial base station communicating therewith using the first communication protocol and/or the first air interface;

sending the push-to-send message from the first terrestrial base station to the satellite;

sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to a second terrestrial base station that is communicating with a second multimode radioterminal;

configuring the second multimode radioterminal to use a second communication protocol and/or a second air interface that is different from the first communication protocol and/or the first air interface in response to the second terrestrial base station; and

sending the push-to-send message from the second terrestrial base station to the second multimode radioterminal using the second communication protocol and/or air interface.

61. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

transmitting push-to-send messages among push-to-send radioterminals and terrestrial base stations using a satellite frequency band; and

using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

determining whether a source push-to-send radioterminal and a destination push-to-send radioterminal are communicating with a single terrestrial base station; and

using the satellite to route a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal are not communicating with a single terrestrial base station.

62. A push-to-send radioterminal communication method comprising:

transmitting push-to-send messages among push-to-send radioterminals and terrestrial base stations using a satellite frequency band; and

using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations;

wherein using a satellite to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations comprises;

determining whether a source push-to-send radioterminal and a destination push-to-send radioterminal are communicating with terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another; and

using the satellite to route a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal are not communicating with terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another.

63. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a terrestrial base station that is configured to transmit push-to-send messages from source push-to-send radioterminals to a satellite via a wireless link from the terrestrial base station to the satellite and to transmit push-to-send messages that are received from the satellite via a wireless link from the satellite to the terrestrial base station to destination push-to-send radioterminals;

wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to determine whether a destination push-to-send radioterminal is communicating with the terrestrial base station and to transmit the push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the satellite if the destination push-to-send radioterminal is not communicating with the terrestrial base station;

wherein the terrestrial base station further comprises a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith; and

wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to determine from the listing whether the destination push-to-send radioterminal is communicating with the terrestrial base station.

64. A system according to claim 63 wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to transmit selected push-to-send messages from the source push-to-send radioterminals to the satellite.

65. A system according to claim 63 wherein the base station is further configured to register push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith in the listing.

66. A system according to claim 63 wherein the terrestrial base station communicates with push-to-send radioterminals using at least one satellite band frequency.

67. A system according to claim 63 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to concentrate the push-to-send messages from source push-to-send radioterminals with other communications from the terrestrial base station to the satellite.

68. A system according to claim 63 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to deconcentrate the push-to-send messages from the satellite from other communications from the satellite.

69. A system according to claim 63 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to send a push-to-send message that is received from the satellite to a plurality of destination radioterminals that are communicating therewith.

70. A system according to claim 63 wherein the push-to-send messages comprise push-to-send signaling messages and/or push-to-send communications messages.

71. A system according to claim 63 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to ignore a push-to-send message that is received from the satellite but that does not apply to a push-to-send radioterminal that is communicating with the terrestrial base station.

72. A system according to claim 63 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to determine whether at least one of a plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals is not communicating with the terrestrial base station and to transmit a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the satellite if at least one of the plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals is not communicating with the terrestrial base station.

73. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a terrestrial base station that is configured to transmit push-to-send messages from source push-to-send radioterminals to a satellite via a wireless link from the terrestrial base station to the satellite and to transmit push-to-send messages that are received from the satellite via a wireless link from the satellite to the terrestrial base station to destination push-to-send radioterminals;

wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to determine whether a destination push-to-send radioterminal is communicating with another terrestrial base station that is proximate the terrestrial base station and to transmit the push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the satellite if the destination push-to-send radioterminal is not communicating with another terrestrial base station that is proximate the terrestrial base station;

wherein the terrestrial base station further comprises a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith; and

wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to determine from the listing whether the destination push-to-send radioterminal is communicating with another terrestrial base station that is proximate the terrestrial base station.

74. A system according to claim 73 wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to register push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith in the listing.

75. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a terrestrial base station that is configured to transmit push-to-send messages from source push-to-send radioterminals to a satellite via a wireless link from the terrestrial base station to the satellite and to transmit push-to-send messages that are received from the satellite via a wireless link from the satellite to the terrestrial base station to destination push-to-send radioterminals;

wherein the terrestrial base station is further configured to determine whether at least one of a plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals is not communicating with another terrestrial base station that is proximate the terrestrial base station and to transmit a push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the satellite if at least one of the plurality of destination push-to-send radioterminals is not communicating with another terrestrial base station that is proximate the terrestrial base station.

76. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a terrestrial base station that is configured to transmit push-to-send messages from source push-to-send radioterminals to a satellite via a wireless link from the terrestrial base station to the satellite and to transmit push-to-send messages that are received from the satellite via a wireless link from the satellite to the terrestrial base station to destination push-to-send radioterminals;

wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to receive a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal communicating therewith over a return link using a return link alphabet; and

wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to send a push-to-send message to a destination radioterminal over a forward link using a forward link alphabet that has more symbols than the return link alphabet.

77. A system according to claim 76 wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to receive a push-to-send message from a source push-to-send radioterminal communicating therewith over the return link in a manner that collides with at least one other message from a radioterminal to the terrestrial base station, and wherein the terrestrial base station is configured to decode both the push-to-send message and the at least one other message.

78. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite gateway that is configured to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the terrestrial base station and a satellite;

wherein the satellite gateway is configured to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the terrestrial base stations and the satellite by routing a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station that is communicating with a source push-to-send radioterminal to a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with a destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source terrestrial base station and the destination terrestrial base station are not proximate one another.

79. A system according to claim 78 wherein the satellite gateway further comprises:

a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith; and

wherein the gateway is configured to determine the destination base station from the listing.

80. A system according to claim 79 wherein the satellite gateway is further configured to register the push-to-send radioterminals with the listing.

81. A system according to claim 80 wherein the registering is performed upon power-on of a push-to-send radioterminal and/or upon movement of a push-to-send radioterminal among terrestrial base stations.

82. A system according to claim 78 wherein the satellite gateway is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations by routing push-to-send signaling messages and/or push-to-send communications messages among the terrestrial base stations.

83. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite gateway that is configured to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the terrestrial base stations and a satellite;

wherein the satellite gateway is configured to route selected push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via a satellite by routing a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station that is communicating with a source push-to-send radioterminal to a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with a destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source terrestrial base station and the destination terrestrial base station are not identical;

wherein the satellite gateway further comprises a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith; and

wherein the satellite gateway is configured to determine the destination terrestrial base station from the listing.

84. A system according to claim 83 wherein the satellite gateway is further configured to register the push-to-send radioterminals with the listing.

85. A system according to claim 84 wherein the registering is performed upon power-on of a push-to-send radioterminal and/or upon movement of a push-to-send radioterminal among terrestrial base stations.

86. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite gateway that is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the terrestrial base stations and a satellite;

wherein the satellite gateway is configured to route a push-to-send message among terrestrial base stations by receiving a push-to-send message from the satellite including identification of a destination push-to-send radioterminal, determining a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal, and sending the push-to-send message back to the satellite along with information that identifies the destination terrestrial base station.

87. A system according to claim 86 wherein the following is performed between determining a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal and sending the push-to-send message back to the satellite along with routing information that identifies the destination terrestrial base station:

interrogating the destination push-to-send-radioterminal to determine whether it is capable of receiving the push-to-send message.

88. A system according to claim 87 wherein interrogating is selectively performed for a first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal and is not performed for subsequent push-to-send messages from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal that are closely spaced in time to the first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

89. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite that is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein the satellite is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations by routing a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station that is communicating with a source push-to-send radioterminal to a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with a destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source terrestrial base station and the destination terrestrial base station are not identical;

wherein the satellite further comprises a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith; and

wherein the satellite is configured to determine the destination terrestrial base station from the listing.

90. A system according to claim 89 wherein the satellite comprises a space-based component of a satellite radioterminal communication system.

91. A system according to claim 89 wherein the satellite is further configured to register the push-to-send radioterminals with the listing.

92. A system according to claim 91 wherein registering is performed upon power-on of a push-to-send radioterminal and/or upon movement of a push-to-send radioterminal among terrestrial base stations.

93. A system according to claim 89 wherein the satellite is configured to route push-to-send signaling messages and/or push-to-send communications messages among terrestrial base stations.

94. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite that is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein the satellite is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations by routing a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station that is communicating with a source push-to-send radioterminal to a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with a destination push-to-send radioterminal if the source terrestrial base station and the destination terrestrial base station are not proximate one another;

wherein the satellite further comprises a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith; and

wherein the satellite is configured to determine the destination terrestrial base station from the listing.

95. A system according to claim 94 wherein the satellite is further configured to register the push-to-send radioterminals with the listing.

96. A system according to claim 95 wherein registering is performed upon power-on of a push-to-send radioterminal and/or upon movement of a push-to-send radioterminal among terrestrial base stations.

97. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite that is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein the satellite is further configured to receive a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station including identification of a destination push-to-send radioterminal, and to send the push-to-send message from the satellite to a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal; and

wherein the satellite is configured to selectively determine a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal for a first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal but not for subsequent push-to-send messages from the source push-to-send send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal that are closely spaced in time to the first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

98. A system according to claim 97 wherein the satellite is further configured to receive the push-to-send message along with other communications from the first terrestrial base station.

99. A system according to claim 97 wherein the satellite is configured to send the push-to-send message to the second terrestrial base station along with other communications from the satellite.

100. A system according to claim 97 wherein the satellite is further configured to send the push-to-send message to a plurality of destination terrestrial base stations.

101. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite that is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein the satellite is further configured to receive a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station including identification of a destination push-to-send radioterminal, and to send the push-to-send message from the satellite to a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal; and

wherein the following is performed between receiving a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station and sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to the destination terrestrial base station;

interrogating the destination push-to-send radioterminal to determine whether it is capable of receiving the push-to-send message.

102. A system according to claim 101 wherein interrogating is selectively performed for a first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal and is not performed for subsequent push-to-send messages from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal that are closely spaced in time to the first push-to-send message from the source push-to-send radioterminal to the destination push-to-send radioterminal.

103. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite that is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein the satellite is further configured to receive a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station including identification of a destination push-to-send radioterminal, and to send the push-to-send message from the satellite to a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal; and

wherein the satellite is configured to send the push-to-send message from the satellite to the destination terrestrial base station by sending the push-to-send message from the satellite to the destination terrestrial base station using a satellite spot beam that covers a plurality of terrestrial base stations including the destination terrestrial base station.

104. A push-to-send radioterminal communication system comprising:

a satellite that is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations via wireless links between the satellite and the terrestrial base stations;

wherein the satellite is configured to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations by receiving a push-to-send message from a source terrestrial base station that is communicating with a source push-to-send radioterminal, determining a satellite spot beam that covers a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with a destination push-to-send radioterminal, and sending the push-to-send message to the destination terrestrial base station over the spot beam that was determined.

105. A system according to claim 104 wherein the satellite is configured to determine the satellite spot beam that covers a destination terrestrial base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal by accessing a listing that is located at the satellite, of terrestrial base stations, push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith and spot beams that are associated therewith, and by identifying from the listing the satellite spot beam that covers the destination terrestrial base station.

106. A system according to claim 104 wherein the satellite spot beam that was determined covers a plurality of base stations including the destination terrestrial base station.

107. A push-to-send radioterminal system comprising:

a central server that comprises registration information for all push-to-send radioterminals in the push-to-send radioterminal system;

wherein the registration information comprises;

a listing of terrestrial base stations and push-to-send radioterminals that are communicating therewith;

wherein the listing further comprises a listing of likely destination push-to-send radioterminals that is associated with a source push-to-send radioterminal; and

wherein the listing further comprises a listing of spot beams that are associated with the terrestrial base stations.

108. A system according to claim 107 wherein the central server is configured to register the push-to-send radioterminals with the listing.

109. A system according to claim 108 wherein the central server is configured to register a push-to-send radioterminal with the listing upon power-on of the push-to-send radioterminal and/or upon movement of the push-to-send radioterminal among terrestrial base stations.