Apparatus, method and system for integrating mobile and satellite phone service

• US 9,906,989 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert K. Buckle, Thomas Hafley
• Original Assignee: Robert K. Buckle, Thomas Hafley
• Inventors: Buckle, Robert K., Hafley, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Elhag, Magdi
• Application Number:
  US14/491,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20150011220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 455436, 455439, 455442, 455444, 370331-332
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/22 Transparent or translucent parts glassware for laboratory use B01L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/06 Plates; Walls; Drawers; Multilayer plates
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/00 Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps pumps per se F04B
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/04 by injection or suction, e.g. using pipettes, syringes, needles pipettes in general B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/36 by user or terminal equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A communications system which allows for the integration of mobile and satellite communication networks, which includes an interface device configured to bi-directionally communicate with a mobile device (preferably wirelessly), that includes a satellite antenna on the communications device and a voice/data modem configured to bi-directionally communicate with a satellite network via the antenna.

Claims

1. A method of switching an active ongoing electronic communication at a mobile device from a first communications channel over a first network to a second communications channel over a second network, where said first network is one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network is the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network, using a switch device located remotely from said mobile device, said switch device communicating with a second subscriber identity module (SIM) or re-usable identification module (RUIM) card, said second SIM or RUIM card located remote from said mobile device but being assigned to said mobile device and associated with said mobile device by said switch device, said mobile device comprising a cellular communications device and a satellite transceiver device physically separate from said cellular communications device but capable of communication with the cellular communications device over a short range wireless link, said satellite transceiver having a user satellite number assigned to the mobile device and said switch device is configured to communicate with a mobile cellular communications network and a satellite communications network;

said method comprising the steps of;

(1) said switch device receiving a notice communication, said notice communication directed to said second SIM card from said mobile device, where said mobile device cellular communications device includes a first SIM or RUIM card, said first SIM or RUIM card being assigned to said mobile device and associated with said second SIM or RUIM card by said switch device, said notice communication operating to indicate that a switch to said second network is desired;

(2) said switch device initiating or establishing a second communications channel directed to said mobile device, where said second communications channel is configured to establish communications to said mobile device via said second network;

(3) switching said ongoing electronic communication on said first communications channel on said first network to said second communications channel on said second network.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of termination of said electronic communication over said first network.

3. The method of claim 1 where said cellular communications device comprises a mobile smart phone.

4. The method of claim 1 where said switch device comprises a computer processor and an associated memory device.

5. The method of claim 3 where said switch device further comprises a softswitch, said softswitch further comprising a computer processor and associated memory devices.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first communication channel and said second communication channel are legs of a single conference call.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said electronic communication is simultaneously ongoing on said first and second channels.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic communications to said mobile device over said satellite communications network are directed to said user satellite number.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of switching said ongoing electronic communications from said first network to said second network includes the step of conferencing said ongoing communications over said first communications channel on said first network with said second communication channel over said second network.

10. A method of selecting, at a mobile device, a network over which to receive an incoming electronic communication, where said selection includes either a first network or a second network, where said first network is one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network is the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network, said mobile device comprising a cellular communication device having a first subscriber identity module (SIM) or re-usable identification module (RUIM) card, said mobile device further comprising a satellite transceiver device physically separate from said cellular communications device but capable of communication with the cellular communications device over a short range wireless link, said satellite transceiver having a user satellite number assigned to the mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving at said mobile device a first notice communication, over said satellite communications network of a pending incoming electronic communication, said first notice communication received from a remotely located switch device, where said switch device is in communication with a second SIM or RUIM card that is located remote from said mobile device, said second SIM card being assigned to said mobile device and said first SIM or RUIM card associated with said second SIM or RUIM card by said switch device, and further associated with said mobile device by said switch device, where said switch device is configured to communicate with a mobile cellular communications network and a satellite communications network;

(2) receiving a second notice communication at said mobile device over said mobile cellular communications network of a pending incoming electronic communication over said mobile cellular communications network, said second notice communication received from said remotely located switch device;

(3) said mobile device determining if cellular signal strength is above or below a predetermined threshold limit;

(4) if said cellular signal strength is above said threshold limit, said mobile device answering said incoming electronic communication over said mobile cellular communications network;

(5) if said signal strength is below said threshold limit, said mobile device answering said incoming electronic communication over said satellite communications network.

11. A method of transferring or switching an ongoing electronic communication at a mobile device from a first communications channel over a first network to a second communications channel over a second network, where said first network is one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network is the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network, and said mobile device comprises a mobile component having a first subscriber identity module (SIM) or re-usable identification module (RUIM) card and configured to operatively communicate over said mobile cellular communications network and a satellite component physically separate from said cellular communications component but capable of communication with the cellular component over a short range wireless link, configured to operatively communicate over said satellite communications network;

said method comprising the steps of;

(1) determining at said mobile device the cellular signal strength of said mobile cellular communications network, and based on said cellular signal strength, determining to transfer from said first network to said second network;

(2) said mobile device sending a first notice communication directed to a second SIM or RUIM card where a switch device communicates with said second SIM or RUIM card and the second SIM or RUIM card being assigned to said mobile device, said second SIM or RUIM card located remote from said mobile device but said second SIM card being associated with said mobile device by said switch device, said first notice communication being sent over said second network or said first network, said first notice communication acting as a request to transfer from said first network to said second network;

(3) said mobile device receiving a second notice communication that a second communications channel for said ongoing communications is available on said second network;

(4) said mobile device transferring said ongoing communications from said first communications channel on said first network, to said second communications channel on said second network.

12. A system for switching electronic communications between a first network and a second network where said first network comprises one of a mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network and said second network comprises the other of said mobile cellular communications network or a satellite communications network;

said system comprising a plurality of mobile devices, each comprising a satellite transceiver component for direct two way communications with a satellite in a satellite communications network and a cellular communications component for direct two way communications with a cell in a cellular communications network where said cellular communications component is physically separate from said satellite communications component but capable of communication with the satellite communications component over a short range wireless link;

each of said mobile devices having a pair subscriber identity module (SIM) or re-usable identification module (RUIM) cards associated therewith;

for each mobile device, one of said pair of SIM or RUIM cards assigned to said mobile device and located with said mobile device, the other of said pair of SIM or RUIM cards being assigned to said mobile device and located remote from said mobile device, and said pair of SIM or RUIM cards being associated with said mobile device in said switch device;

said switch device further being located remotely from said mobile devices;

said switch device comprising a processor and a database, said switch device capable of establishing or initiating a first communication channel over said first network and a second communication channel over said second network to allow a communication, to a select one of said plurality of mobile devices, to be present simultaneously on said first communication channel and said second communications channel.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein for each of said plurality of mobile devices, said pair of associated SIM or RUIM cards are associated with said respective mobile device in said database of said switch device.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said mobile device further comprises a session initiation protocol server.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said cellular communications component further comprises a smart phone.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprising a simbank, said simbank storing a plurality of said SIM or RUIM cards, where for each of said mobile devices, one of said stored SIM or RUIM cards is one of said pair of SIM or RUIM cards that is associated with and located remotely from said mobile device.

17. The system of claim 12 where said short range wireless link is a WiFi link.