Apparatus for satellite telecommunications

• US 8,294,614 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tessier Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tessier Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Tessier, Thomas Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US12/491,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.25, 342/357.46, 342/357.74, 342/419, 701/213, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/357.74
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a GPS system and a communication system through a low-earth orbit communication satellites or geosynchronous satellite. The processing system periodically calculates from GPS a current position which is compared to a saved position and saved if the amount of movement is greater than a set distance and also transmits each calculated position. In order to reduce power consumption, in the event that at least one and preferably several calculated differences between the current position and the previously saved position is less than the predetermined set distance, the processing system is placed in an idle mode in which position is transmitted at a lower frequency. The position is periodically calculated and as soon as the position changes the system is returned from idle. In order to keep remote recipients informed signals indicating entry into and return from the idle mode are transmitted with the position signals.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device for transport by a user in movement over the earth to different locations comprising:

a portable housing;

a battery power supply mounted in the portable housing;

a processing system and memory mounted in the housing;

an antenna mounted in the housing;

the processing system having a first communication system for receiving signals through the antenna from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites;

the processing system having a second communication system for communication through the antenna with a communication satellite system;

the processing system being arranged to periodically calculate from the GPS signals a calculated current position of the apparatus;

the processing system being arranged periodically, at a set frequency, to calculate a difference between the calculated current position with a previously saved calculated current position to determine whether the apparatus has moved by a distance greater than a set trigger distance;

the processing system being arranged, when activated, to transmit periodically through the second communication system at the set frequency a position signal indicative of the calculated current position;

the processing system being arranged, in the event that at least one calculated difference between the calculated current position and the previously saved calculated current position is less than the set trigger distance, to place the processing system in an idle mode in which the processing system is halted from transmitting the position signal through the second communication system at the set frequency.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said set frequency defines a first set frequency and wherein, in the idle mode, the processing system is arranged to transmit the position signal through the second communication system periodically at a second set frequency which is lower than said first set frequency.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the second set frequency is adjustable by the user.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, in the event that the processing system is placed into the idle mode, the processing system is arranged to transmit with the position signal through the second communication system a signal that the idle mode is activated.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said set frequency defines a first set frequency and wherein, in the idle mode, the processing system is arranged to transmit the position signal through the second communication system periodically at a second set frequency which is lower than said first set frequency and wherein the signal that the idle mode is activated includes data defining the second set frequency.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, in the idle mode, the processing system is arranged periodically to calculate a difference between the calculated current position with a previously saved calculated current position to determine whether the apparatus has moved by a distance greater than said set trigger distance and, in the event that the distance moved is greater than said set trigger distance, to return the system out of the idle mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein, in the event that the processing system is returned from the idle mode, the processing system is arranged to transmit with the position signal through the second communication system a signal that the idle mode is de-activated.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, in the idle mode, the processing system is arranged at the set frequency, to calculate a difference between the calculated current position with a previously saved calculated current position to determine whether the apparatus has moved by a distance greater than said set trigger distance and, in the event that the distance moved is greater than said set trigger distance, to return the system out of the idle mode.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processing system is arranged such that the calculated current position is only saved as a saved calculated current position if the difference between the calculated current position and the previously saved calculated current position is greater than the set trigger distance.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second communication system is arranged for transmit and receive bi-directional communication.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the processing system is arranged to be returned out of the idle mode by receipt of a signal from a remote person received on the second communication system.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second communication system is arranged for transmit-only communication.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processing system is placed in the idle mode in the event that a plurality of calculated differences from a previously saved calculated current position are less than the set trigger distance.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the number of calculated differences required to place the processing system in the idle mode is adjustable by the user.