Satellite communication system

• US 5,404,568 A
• Filed: 03/25/1994
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamagishi, Harumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, CHI H
• Application Number:
  US08/217,760
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/18, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 455/154.1, 455/154.2, 455/158.1, 455/158.2, 455/186.1, 455/186.2, 455/38.2, 455/38.4, 340/311.1, 340/825.44, 340/158.4
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service

Abstract

A satellite communication system for transmitting a message between a mobile station and a stationary station through a communication satellite comprises a memory provided in a mobile station for previously storing a plurality of types of messages to be transmitted, and a unit provided in the stationary station for transmitting a command for modifying a message stored in the memory to the mobile station through the communication satellite to thereby modify the message stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A satellite communication system for transmitting a message between a mobile station and a stationary station through a communication satellite, comprising:

a ROM provided in said mobile station for storing a plurality of types of pre-recorded messages to be transmitted from said mobile station to said stationary station;

a RAM provided in said mobile station for receiving a command transmitted from said stationary station;

means provided in the stationary station for transmitting said command to said RAM in said mobile station for modifying one of said pre-recorded messages stored in said ROM, said command being transmitted to the mobile station through the communication satellite to thereby modify the one pre-recorded message stored in said ROM; and

means provided in said mobile station for modifying the message stored in said ROM in accordance with the command stored in said RAM.

2. A satellite communication system according to claim 1, wherein said command transmitted from the stationary station includes information representing a code number of the message to be modified and information of a part to be modified of the message.

3. A satellite communication system according to claim 1, wherein said ROM means includes a memory which is exchangeable from another one.

4. A satellite communication system according to claim 3, wherein said ROM comprises a ROM (read only memory) cartridge.

5. A communication apparatus for use in a mobile vehicle, comprising:

a central controller;

input means, connected to said central controller, for receiving information from an operator;

a display panel, connected to said central controller, for displaying information to said operator;

an antenna;

a transmitter unit, connected to said antenna and to said central controller, for sending signals to said antenna from said central controller;

a receiver unit, connected to said antenna and to said central controller, for supplying signals received from said antenna to said central controller;

a ROM, connected to said central controller, for storing a plurality of pre-recorded standardized messages; and

a RAM, connected to said central controller, for storing command signals transmitted from a stationary station remote from said vehicle;

wherein a command signal is transmitted by said stationary station in order to modify one of said plurality of pre-recorded messages, said central controller retrieves said one pre-recorded message along with its associated command signal when said one pre-recorded message is selected with said input means, and wherein said central controller displays said one pre-recorded message on said display panel after being modified by said command signal.

6. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said central controller comprises a CPU and said input means comprises a keyboard.

7. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a ROM cartridge for replacing said ROM, said ROM cartridge incorporating said plurality of pre-recorded messages with said command signals.