Mobile telephony

• US 7,349,361 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratos Global Ltd. (Inmarsat PLC)
• Original Assignee: Stratos Global Ltd. (Inmarsat PLC)
• Inventors: Allaway, Andrew Wayne, Usher, Martin Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam; Phirin
• Application Number:
  US10/129,148
• Time in Patent Office: 2,784 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

An interface (52) is provided between a satellite telephone system (4) and a cellular telephone system (5) for allowing calls to a user'"'"'s cellular telephone to be diverted to a satellite telephone handset (25) when the user is unable to use his cellular telephone, for example when on board an aircraft (2) fitted with a satellite telephone system (20). The user inserts a card (which may be the SIM of his mobile phone, or a card compatible with existing satellite telephone equipment) into a suitable reader in the satellite telephone (20), which causes the satellite ground station'"'"'s card verification system (42) to connect to a host cellular network (50). The host cellular network has an interface unit (52) which emulates the operation of a normal base station, so that the host cellular system (50) acts as if the mobile user'"'"'s terminal is roaming on the host network, but is currently “busy”. The interface (52) also resets the user'"'"'s existing call diversion instructions so that when the host cellular system (5) receives a busy tone from the base station emulator (52), it routes calls to the directory number of the terminal (20). Data messages originally formatted for transmission over the cellular telecommunications network for generation of a display on a display unit of a cellular telephone, can instead be transmitted over the satellite network for display on the information and entertainment system of the aircraft by replacing the address information in the original data message by address information appropriate to the selected display unit to generate an amended data message. A new data message is created, addressed to the server of the information display system and having the amended data message as payload. The onboard server has means for converting the amended data message into control instructions suitable to display the information content of the data message on the information display unit identified in the amended data message.

Claims

1. A method of converting data messages originally formatted for transmission over a first telecommunications network for generation of a display on a display unit of a first type, the conversion being such that messages can be transmitted over another telecommunications network for display by a selected display by a selected display unit of a second type forming part of a server-based information display system, wherein the address information in the original data message is replaced by address information appropriate to the selected display unit to generate an amended data message, and a new data message is created, addressed to the server of the information display system and having the amended data message as payload, and wherein the server converts the amended data message into control instructions suitable to display the information content of the data message on the information display unit identified in the amended data message.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data message is originally formatted for transmission over a cellular telephone network for display by a cellular telephone handset.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data message is generated by the cellular switching system in response to a message being deposited in a call answering system.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein prior to transmission of the amended original data message to the server an alerting data message is created, indicative of the presence of the original data message, addressed to the server of the information display system, and carrying address information appropriate to the selected display unit, thereby causing the server to generate control instructions suitable to display an altering message on the information display unit so identified, and wherein the amended original data message is forwarded to the server in response to an instruction from a termination point associated with the destination display unit.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the amended data message includes password data, and wherein when the server receives a data message it causes the display means to indicate the presence of a data message, and displays the data message only if it receives a predetermined input from a user terminal associated with the display means.

6. Apparatus for converting data messages originally formatted for transmission over a first telecommunications network for generation of a display on a display unit of a first type, such that messages can be transmitted over another telecommunications network for display by a selected display unit of a second type forming part of a server-based information display system, the apparatus comprising

means for replacing the address information in the original data message by address information appropriate to the selected display unit to generate an amended data message,

means for creating a new data message addressed to the server of the information display system and having the amended data message as payload.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising

means for creating an alerting data message indicative of the presence of the original data message, addressed to the server of the information display system, the alerting message carrying address information appropriate to the selected display unit to cause the server to generate control instructions suitable to display an alerting message on the information display unit so identified, and

means for forwarding the amended original data message to the selected server in response to an instruction from a termination point associated with the destination display unit.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means to generate password data.

9. Server apparatus forming part of a server-based information display system for receiving messages generated by the apparatus of claim 6, for display by a selected display unit, the server comprising means for converting a data message formatted for display on a display unit of a first type into control instructions suitable to display the information content of the data message on an information display unit of a second type controlled by the server, the information display unit being identified in the data message.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising means to cause the display means to indicate the presence of a data message, and means responsive to a predetermined input from a user terminal associated with the display means to display the data message, the predetermined input being a password associated with the data in the data message.

11. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the data message is originally formatted for transmission over a cellular telephone network for display by a cellular telephone handset.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the first type of transmission system is a public switched telephone network, and the second type of transmission system is a computer network.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the data packet is originally configured for transmission over a cellular telephone network for display by a cellular telephone handset, and said reconfiguring reconfigures the data packet for transmission over a computer network for display by an display mounted in the vehicle.

12. A method of forwarding a data message to a vehicle, comprising:

registering a user'"'"'s cellular identity as present aboard a vehicle;

receiving a data message, configured for transmission through a first type of transmission system and intended for the cellular telephone associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity, the data message including at including at least a first address and a data packet, the first address being associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity;

associating the data packet with a destination address, the destination address representing a node aboard the vehicle, said associating including reconfiguring the data message for transmission over a second type of transmission system; and

forwarding the data packet to the vehicle consistent with the destination address through the second type of transmission system different from the first type.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

said registering comprising linking the user'"'"'s cellular identity with the destination address; and

said associating comprising using the contents of the first address to identify the destination address.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sending an advisory message to said destination address, the advisory message indicating that the data message is available for forwarding to the node and requesting authorization to forward the data message; and

receiving, before said associating, an affirmative response to the advisory message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a voice authorization to forward the data message.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a coded authorization to forward the data message.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least the destination address.

20. A method of forwarding a data message, the method comprising:

registering the user'"'"'s cellular identity as present aboard a vehicle;

linking the user'"'"'s cellular identity with the destination address;

receiving an original data message intended for a user'"'"'s cellular telephone and configured for transmission over the public switched telephone network, the data message including at including at least a first address and a data packet, the first address being associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity;

determining the user'"'"'s cellular identity from the original data message, and locating the destination address from the link between the user'"'"'s cellular identity and the destination address, the destination address representing a display aboard the vehicle associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity;

forming a new data message including at least the destination address and data packet, the new data message being configured for transmission over a computer network;

forwarding the new data message to the vehicle consistent with the destination address.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

sending an advisory message to the destination address, the advisory message indicating that a message is available for forwarding and requesting authorization to forward the message; and

receiving, before said forming, an affirmative response to said advisory message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a voice authorization to forward the message.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a coded authorization to forward the message.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least the destination address.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said forming further comprises replacing the first address in the original message with the destination address.

26. An apparatus for a data message to a vehicle, comprising:

an interface including at least a register, a processor, and a transmitter and being configured to;

receive an original data message intended for a user'"'"'s cellular telephone and configured for transmission over the public switched telephone network, the data message including at including at least a first address and a data packet, the first address being associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity;

identify a destination address, the destination address representing a display aboard the vehicle associated with the user'"'"'s cellular identity;

form a new data message including at least the destination address and data packet, the new data message being configured for transmission over a computer network; and

forward the new data message to the vehicle consistent with the destination address;

said interface being configured to send an advisory message to said destination address the advisory message indicating that a message is available for forwarding and requesting authorization to forward the message.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the interface can communicate with the public switched telephone network and the computer network.