Providing satellite communication capabilities to existing communication devices, including a common smart phone

• US 9,641,657 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TMC Design Corp.
• Original Assignee: Xplotrax Inc.
• Inventors: Ham, Christopher, Edwards, Kimball, Tripp, Brandon, Jones, Michael, Zoller, David, Russell, Joshua, Wright, Thomas, Apodaca, Jessica
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US14/991,702
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412, 455 121, 455427, 4555561, 34235731, 34235739, 34235722, 343904, 343907
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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

Abstract

A system and apparatus which permits an existing communication device, such as a common smart phone, to have satellite communication capabilities. The apparatus can include a transmitter/receiver which can relay communications and data, between the existing communications device and a satellite network. Optionally, the data can be encrypted before being sent over the satellite network. Optionally, the transmitter/receiver can have a distress activation input which can automatically emit an SOS signal along with the transmitter/receiver'"'"'s current GPS coordinates when a user activates the input.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising;

Bluetooth communications electronics;

a GPS receiver;

a satellite communications modem; and

said GPS receiver and said satellite communications modem sharing a single high gain helix antenna; and

a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus which is not said transmitter/receiver apparatus and said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to cause a Bluetooth antenna of the communications apparatus to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus.

2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus further comprises a distress activation input.

3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the communications apparatus comprises a smart phone.

4. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus further comprises a USB port.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus comprises software that encrypts data before sending it to said satellite communications modem for transmission.

6. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus comprises a rechargeable battery.

7. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said rechargeable battery is electrically connected such that it can be charged through a USB port.

8. A communications system comprising:

a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising;

Bluetooth communications electronics;

a GPS receiver; and

a satellite communications modem;

a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a cellular telephone, said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the cellular telephone to cause a Bluetooth antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus; and

said transmitter/receiver apparatus not comprising a cellular telephone.

9. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said GPS receiver and said satellite communications modem share a single antenna.

10. The communications system of claim 9 wherein said single antenna comprises a high gain helix antenna.

11. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus further comprises a USB port.

12. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus comprises software stored on tangible non-transitive memory-storage and said software containing instructions which cause a microprocessor or microcontroller to encrypt data before it is sent to said satellite communications modem for transmission.

13. A communications system comprising:

a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising;

a GPS receiver;

a satellite communications modem;

a USB port; and

said GPS receiver and said satellite communications modem sharing a single antenna; and

a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to communicate with said transmitter/receiver apparatus via said USB port.

14. The communications system of claim 13 wherein said single antenna comprises a high gain helix antenna.

15. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the communications apparatus comprises a cellular telephone.

16. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the communications apparatus does not comprise said transmitter/receiver apparatus.

17. A communications system comprising:

a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising;

Bluetooth communications electronics; and

a satellite communications modem; and

a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus which is not said transmitter/receiver apparatus and said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to cause a Bluetooth antenna of the communications apparatus to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus.

18. A communications system comprising:

a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising;

Bluetooth communications electronics;

a satellite communications modem; and

a high gain helix antenna; and

a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus which is not said transmitter/receiver apparatus and said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to cause a Bluetooth antenna of the communications apparatus to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus.

19. The communications system of claim 18 further comprising a USB port.

20. The communications system of claim 18 further comprising a distress activation input.