Integrated or autonomous system and method of satellite-terrestrial frequency reuse using signal attenuation and/or blockage, dynamic assignment of frequencies and/or hysteresis

• US 20050164701A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D., Singh, Rajendra
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

A cellular communications system comprising a space based system comprising a first set of cells, and a ground based system comprising a second set of cells. The space and ground systems can optionally function substantially autonomously, with each using spectrum from at least one predetermined frequency band.

Claims

1-111. -111. (canceled)

112. A wireless communications system comprising:

a space-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a first service region by selectively reusing frequencies of a satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis; and

a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band,

wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band.

113. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

114. A wireless communications system according to claim 113, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands in substantially all regions of overlap of the first and second service regions.

115. A wireless communications system according to claim 113, wherein the radioterminal communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system is/are segregated to the respective first and second sub-bands in at least one region where the first and second service regions do not overlap.

116. A wireless communications system according to claim 113, wherein the radioterminal communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system is/are segregated to the respective first and second sub-bands over substantially all of their respective first and second service regions.

118. A wireless communications system according to claim 113, wherein all radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band in the substantially all regions of overlap.

119. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, wherein the space-based system and the ground-based system comprise respective first and second controllers configured to independently manage respective radio resources of the ground-based system and the space-based system.

120. A wireless communications system according to claim 119, wherein the first and second controllers are configured to manage the respective radio resources of the space-based system and the ground-based system without control signaling therebetween.

121. A wireless communications system according to claim 119, wherein the first controller and/or the second controller is/are configured to detect radio transmissions and to manage radio resources responsive to the detected radio transmissions.

122. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, further comprising a joint controller configured to provide coordinated management of radio resources of the space-based and ground-based systems.

123. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, wherein the ground-based system and the space-based system are configured to communicate with radioterminals using substantially the same air interface.

124. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, wherein the ground-based system is configured to selectively reuse frequencies of the satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis.

125. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, wherein the satellite service link frequency band comprises a frequency band licensed for satellite communications.

126. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, wherein the space-based system and the ground-based system are configured to preferentially segregate radioterminal communications thereof to the respective separate first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band.

127. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, further comprising a controller that preferentially assigns radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system to the respective first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band.

128. A wireless communications system according to claim 112, further comprising at least one controller configured to allow overlap of the first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band responsive to a measure of frequency availability.

117. A wireless communications system according to claim 1113, wherein the first sub-band and/or the second sub-band comprise/comprises a plurality of non-contiguous frequency bands.

129. A space-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a first service region by selectively reusing frequencies of a satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis, wherein the first service region at least partially overlaps a second service region in which a ground-based system communicates with radioterminals using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band, and wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system are frequency-segregated from radioterminal communications of the ground-based system.

130. A space-based system according to claim 129, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

131. A space-based system according to claim 129, wherein the space-based system comprises a controller configured to manage radio resources of the space-based system independently of the ground-based system.

132. A space-based system according to claim 129, wherein the space-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a different air interface than the ground-based system.

133. A space-based system according to claim 129, wherein the space-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using substantially the same air interface as the ground-based system.

134. A ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals using at least a portion of a satellite service link frequency band in a first service region that at least partially overlaps a second service region in which a space-based system communicates with radioterminals by selectively reusing frequencies of the satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis, wherein radioterminal communications of the ground-based system are frequency-segregated from radioterminal communications of the space-based system.

135. A ground-based system according to claim 134, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

136. A ground-based system according to claim 134, comprising a controller configured to manage radio resources of the ground-based system independently of the space-based system.

137. A ground-based system according to claim 134, wherein the ground-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a different air interface than the space-based system.

138. A ground-based system according to claim 134, wherein the ground-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using substantially the same air interface as the space-based system.

139. A ground-based system according to claim 134, wherein the ground-based system is configured to selectively reuse frequencies of the satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis.

140. A wireless communications method comprising:

communicating between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region by selectively reusing frequencies of a satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis; and

communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band,

wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band.

141. A method according to claim 140, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

142. A method according to claim 141, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands in substantially all regions of overlap of the first and second service regions.

143. A method according to claim 141, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system are segregated to the respective first and second sub-bands in at least one region where the first and second service regions do not overlap.

144. A method according to claim 141, wherein the radioterminal communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system are segregated to the respective first and second sub-bands over substantially all of their respective first and second service regions.

145. A method according to claim 141, wherein the first sub-band and/or the second sub-band comprise/comprises a plurality of non-contiguous frequency bands.

146. A method according to claim 141, wherein all radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band in the substantially all regions of overlap.

147. A method according to claim 140, further comprising independently managing respective radio resources of the ground-based system and the space-based system.

148. A method according to claim 147, wherein independently managing respective radio resources of the ground-based system and the space-based system comprises managing the respective radio resources of the space-based system and the ground-based system without control signaling therebetween.

149. A method according to claim 147, further comprising:

detecting radio transmissions at the first controller and/or the second controller; and

managing radio resources responsive to the detected radio transmissions.

150. A method according to claim 140, comprising jointly managing of radio resources of the space-based and ground-based systems.

151. A method according to claim 140, comprising communicating between radioterminals and respective ones of the ground-based system and the space-based system using substantially the same air interface.

152. A method according to claim 140, wherein communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band comprises communicating between the ground-based system and radioterminals in the second service region by selectively reusing frequencies of the satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis.

153. A method according to claim 140, wherein the satellite service link frequency band comprises a frequency band licensed for satellite communications.

154. A method according to claim 140, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are preferentially segregated to the respective separate first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band.

155. A method according to claim 154, comprising allowing overlap of the first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band responsive to a measure of frequency availability.

156. A wireless communications system comprising:

a space-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a first service region using a first air interface and selectively reusing frequencies of a satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis; and

a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band and a second air interface,

wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band.

157. A wireless communications system according to claim 156, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

158. A wireless communications system according to claim 156, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands in substantially all regions of overlap of the first and second service regions.

159. A wireless communications system according to claim 156, wherein the ground-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a CDMA air interface and wherein the space-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a TDMA air interface.

160. A wireless communications method comprising:

communicating between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region using a first air interface and selectively reusing frequencies of a satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis; and

communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band and a second air interface,

wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band.

161. A method according to claim 160, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

162. A method according to claim 160, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands in substantially all regions of overlap of the first and second service regions.

163. A method according to claim 160:

wherein communicating between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region by selectively reusing frequencies of a satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis comprises communicating between the space-based system and radioterminals using a TDMA air interface; and

wherein communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band comprises communicating between the ground-based system and radioterminals using a CDMA air interface.

164. A wireless communications system comprising a space-based system and a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in respective first and second service regions using at least a portion of a satellite service link frequency band, wherein the space-based system and the ground-based system are configured to communicate with radioterminals using respective first and second air interfaces, to segregate radioterminal communications thereof to respective separate first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band, and to independently manage their respective radio resources.

165. A wireless communications system according to claim 164, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

166. A wireless communications system according to claim 165, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band in substantially all regions of overlap of the first and second service regions.

167. A wireless communications system according to claim 164, wherein the space-based system and the ground-based system comprise respective first and second controllers configured to independently manage respective radio resources of the ground-based system and the space-based system.

168. A wireless communications system according to claim 164, wherein the ground-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a CDMA air interface and wherein the space-based system is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a TDMA air interface.

169. A wireless communications method comprising:

communicating between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region using at least a portion of a satellite service link frequency band and a first air interface;

communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band and a second air interface;

segregating radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system to respective separate first and second portions of the satellite service link frequency band; and

independently managing respective radio resources of the spaced-based system and the ground-based system.

170. A method according to claim 169, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

171. A method according to claim 170, wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are segregated to the respective separate first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band in substantially all regions of overlap of the first and second service regions.

172. A method according to claim 169:

wherein communicating between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region using at least a portion of a satellite service link frequency band and a first air interface comprises communicating between the space-based system and radioterminal using a TDMA interface; and

wherein communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band and a second air interface comprises communicating between the ground-based system and radioterminal using a CDMA air interface.

173. A wireless communications system comprising:

a space-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a first service region using at least a portion of a satellite service link frequency band; and

a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band,

wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are completely segregated to respective first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

174. A wireless communications system according to claim 173, wherein the first sub-band and/or the second sub-band comprises a plurality of non-contiguous frequency bands.

175. A wireless communications system according to claim 173, wherein the space-based system and the ground-based system comprise respective first and second controllers configured to independently manage respective radio resources of the ground-based system and the space-based system.

176. A wireless communications system according to claim 173, further comprising a joint controller configured to provide coordinated management of radio resources of the space-based and ground-based systems.

177. A wireless communications system according to claim 173, wherein the ground-based system and the space-based system are configured to communicate with radioterminals using substantially the same air interface.

178. A wireless communications system according to claim 173, wherein the ground-based system and the space-based system are configured to communicate with radioterminals using different air interfaces.

179. A wireless communications system according to claim 173, wherein the ground-based system and/or the space-based system is configured to selectively reuse frequencies of the satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis.

180. A wireless communications method comprising:

communicating between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region using at least a portion of a satellite service link frequency band; and

communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band,

wherein radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system are completely segregated to respective first and second sub-bands of the satellite service link frequency band.

181. A method according to claim 180, wherein the first sub-band and/or the second sub-band comprises a plurality of non-contiguous frequency bands.

182. A method according to claim 180, further comprising independently managing respective radio resources of the ground-based system and the space-based system.

183. A method according to claim 180, further comprising jointly managing radio resources of the space-based and ground-based systems.

184. A wireless communications system according to claim 180, wherein the ground-based system and the space-based system are configured to communicate with radioterminals using substantially the same air interface.

185. A method according to claim 180:

wherein communicating between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region using at least a portion of a satellite service link frequency band comprises communicating between the space-based system and radioterminals using a first air interface; and

wherein communicating between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region that at least partially overlaps the first service region using at least a portion of the satellite service link frequency band comprises communicating between the ground-based system and radioterminals using a second air interface.

186. A method according to claim 180, comprising selectively reusing frequencies of the satellite service link frequency band on a geographic basis in the ground-based system and/or the space-based system.