Mobile phone combined with satellite radio capability

• US 7,340,258 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: True, Sandra Lynn, Benco, David S, Overend, Kevin J, Sheen, Baoling S, Voight, Kenneth J
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/899,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 306, 4554041-411, 455/452.2, 455/452.1, 455/450, 455/422.1, 455/2.01
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A wireless telephony network provides satellite radio program information and content, in addition to conventional wireless telephony services, to eligible mobile stations of the wireless telephony network. The wireless telephony network receives satellite radio programming from a satellite radio service network, establishes one or more bearer channels (e.g., conventional voice channels or higher-bandwidth data links) and sends the programming to the one or more mobile stations via the one or more bearer channels. The wireless telephony network monitors and obtains billing information associated with integrated service delivery and coordinates the billing information with a satellite radio service provider. A controlling provider may be selected to control billing for the integrated services such that the customer receives a single statement.

Claims

1. A mobile switching center (MSC) comprising:

a satellite service provider gateway;

a satellite traffic controller;

a base station gateway;

the satellite service provider gateway being operable to retrieve satellite radio program content from a satellite service provider and send the information to the satellite traffic controller, the satellite traffic controller managing service requests for satellite radio program content from at least one mobile station and being operable to deliver requested content to the at least one mobile station at a selected quality of service level, the selected quality of service level having been selected from among multiple service levels available for delivery of satellite radio content, the multiple service levels including at least one service level greater than that of conventional voice bearer traffic, the base station gateway operably connecting the satellite traffic controller to one or more base stations serving the at least one mobile station and thereby being operable to communicate the requested satellite radio program content from the satellite traffic controller to the at least one mobile station at the selected quality of service level.

2. The MSC of claim 1, the satellite traffic controller operable to deliver the requested satellite radio program content responsive to determining the at least one mobile station is authorized to receive the requested content, a positive determination being made if the requested content is authorized pursuant to an existing subscription with the satellite service provide.

3. The MSC of claim 1, the satellite traffic controller operable to deliver the requested satellite radio program content responsive to determining the at least one mobile station is authorized to receive the requested content, a positive determination being made if the requested content is purchased by the at least one mobile station coincident to the service request.

4. The MSC of claim 1, wherein the satellite traffic controller is operable to query the at least one mobile station to select the selected quality of service level from among the multiple service levels available for delivering the content to the at least one mobile station.

5. In a communication system including a mobile switching center (MSC) comprising a satellite service provider gateway, a satellite traffic controller and a base station gateway, a method comprising:

the satellite service provider gateway retrieving satellite radio program content from a satellite service provider and sending the content to the satellite traffic controller;

the satellite traffic controller managing service requests for satellite radio program content from at least one mobile station and delivering requested content to the at least one mobile station at a selected quality of service level, the selected quality of service level having been selected from among multiple service levels available for delivery of satellite radio content, the multiple service levels including at least one service level greater than that of conventional voice bearer traffic; and

the base station gateway operably connecting the satellite traffic controller to one or more base stations serving the at least one mobile station and thereby being operable to communicate the requested satellite radio program content from the satellite traffic controller to the at least one mobile station at the selected quality of service level.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the satellite traffic controller:

determining the at least one mobile station is authorized to receive the requested content, a positive determination being made if the requested content is authorized pursuant to an existing subscription with the satellite service provider; and

delivering the requested satellite radio program content responsive to determining the at least one mobile station is authorized to receive the requested content.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the satellite traffic controller:

determining the at least one mobile station is authorized to receive the requested content, a positive determination being made if the requested content is purchased by the at least one mobile station coincident to the service request; and

delivering the requested satellite radio program content responsive to determining the at least one mobile station is authorized to receive the requested content.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the satellite traffic controller querying the at least one mobile station to select the selected quality of service level from among the multiple service levels available for delivering the content to the at least one mobile station.