Mobile telephony

• US 7,990,907 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• 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:
  US12/068,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 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 is provided between a satellite telephone system and a wireless telephone system for allowing calls to a user'"'"'s wireless telephone to be diverted to a satellite telephone handset when the user is unable to use his wireless telephone, for example when on board an aircraft fitted with a satellite telephone system. The interface unit emulates the operation of a normal base station, so that the host wireless telephone system acts as if the mobile user'"'"'s terminal is roaming on the host network, but is currently “busy”. 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, which causes the satellite ground station'"'"'s card verification system to connect to a host wireless telephone network.

Claims

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

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

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

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

3. The method of claim 1, 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.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a voice authorization to forward the data message.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least a coded authorization to forward the data message.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said receiving an affirmative response comprises receiving at least the destination address.