Remote control and location system

• US 6,148,196 A
• Filed: 07/29/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baumann, William John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Lana
• Application Number:
  US09/124,367
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 455/427, 455/428, 455/429, 455/430, 455/426, 455/431, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/456, 455/457, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18552 using a telephonic control signal and a second ranging satellite determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location G01S5/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system for transmitting instructions from a master control facility (50) to a number of remotely located player units (11-14). The remotely located player units communicate through a mobile cell site (10). Cellular communication links (16) are provided to link the remote units (11-14) to cell site (10). Cell site (10) is linked to a satellite arrangement (20) via a communication link (21). The master control facility is linked to the satellite arrangement via communication link (23).

Claims

1. A remote control and location system comprising:

a remote unit;

a mobile cell site for transmitting to and receiving data from said remote unit, said mobile cell site being cellularly coupled to said remote unit;

a satellite for receiving and transmitting said data, said satellite coupled to said mobile cell site;

a master control facility for transmitting instructions to the remote unit and for analyzing said data returned by said remote unit, said master control facility coupled to said satellite;

an aircraft for coupling said master control facility to said mobile cell site; and

said mobile cell site includes a cellular communication facility mounted in a vehicle.

2. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a global positioning system coupled to said remote unit, said global positioning system providing information for self-determination of location by said remote unit.

3. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is further included an RF link for coupling said global positioning system to said remote unit for self-determination by said remote unit of its location.

4. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said satellite includes a satellite communication system.

5. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a cellular communication link between said remote unit and said mobile cell site.

6. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included an RF link between said satellite and said mobile cell site.

7. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a cellular communication link between said satellite and said mobile cell site.

8. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included an RF communication link between said satellite and said master control facility.

9. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a cellular communication link between said satellite and said master control facility.

10. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a fixed cell site for coupling said remote unit through said satellite to said master control facility.

11. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said remote unit includes cellular communication means for coupling said remote unit to said fixed cell site.

12. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included:

a gateway coupled to said satellite;

a public switched telephone network coupled to said gateway; and

said master control facility being coupled through public switched telephone network and said gateway for transmitting said data to said remote unit.

13. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote unit includes communication means for coupling said remote unit to said mobile cell site.

14. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a plurality of remote units coupled through said mobile cell site and said satellite to said master control facility.

15. The remote control and location system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further included a plurality of mobile cell sites coupled through said satellite to said master control facility.