Satellite based high bandwidth data broadcast

• US 6,151,497 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keller, Theodore W., Osman, Jeff S., Yee, David Moon, Zucarelli, Philip John, Bickley, Robert Henry, Derr, Randall K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jama, Isaak R.
• Application Number:
  US09/022,828
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 455/430, 455/427, 455/12.1, 370/316, 380/49, 380/21
• US Class Current: 455/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18578 Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations for selecting H04W; provisions for broadband connection, H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A satellite based broadcast data communications service for a satellite communications system is presented which allows a data information service provider (40) to send large blocks of data information to mobile subscriber units (50). A satellite gateway (30) is coupled to a service provider (40) via a ground link (42) and to a satellite communications network (10) via a gateway link (36). A mobile subscriber unit (50) is coupled to the satellite communications network (10) via both a message link (56) and a high-speed high-bandwidth downlink (58). The mobile subscriber unit sends a data request for requested data information to service provider (40) via message link (56), satellite communications network (10), gateway link (36), gateway (30), and ground link (42). Service provider (40) responds by retrieving and sending the requested data information to the requesting subscriber unit (50) via ground link (42), gateway (30), gateway link (36), satellite communications network (10), and high-speed high-bandwidth downlink (58). Service provider (40) sends a set of standard data information to the satellite communications network (10) to be broadcast over the high-speed high-bandwidth downlinks (58). Each subscriber unit 50 receives the broadcast standard data information, preferably only those portions for which the subscriber unit (50) has access authorization. The satellite based broadcast data communications service provides for data requests, data delivery, data access control, delivery priority, and billing for use of the system.

Claims

1. A satellite based broadcast data communications system for allowing a data information service provider to send large blocks of data information to mobile subscriber units, comprising:

a satellite gateway coupled to said service provider;

a satellite communications network coupled to said satellite gateway via a gateway link;

a mobile subscriber unit coupled to said satellite communications network via both a message link and a high-speed high-bandwidth downlink, said mobile subscriber unit comprising means for sending a data request for requested data information to said service provider via said message link, and means for receiving said requested data information via said high speed high bandwidth data link, wherein said subscriber unit comprises means for blocking access to portions of said data information, wherein;

said data information comprises digital data packets, each said digital data packet comprising a subscriber identification (ID), an access code, and a data payload comprising a portion of said data information; and

said access authorization means comprises;

identification matching means for comparing a subscriber unit ID of said mobile subscriber unit with said subscriber ID of a received said data packet and providing an ID match indication if said subscriber unit ID is included in said subscriber ID;

access code matching means for reading said access code of said received data packet and providing an access granted indication if said mobile subscriber unit is authorized to access said data payload of said received data packet; and

said blocking means comprising means for blocking access to said data payload unless both said identification matching means provides said ID match indication and said access code matching means provides said access granted indication.

2. A satellite based broadcast data communications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said satellite communications network broadcasts said standard data information over said high-speed high-bandwidth downlink; and

said mobile subscriber unit receives selected portions of said standard data information, said mobile subscriber unit includes means for authorizing access to said selected portions.

3. A satellite based broadcast data communications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said data information is encrypted; and

said mobile subscriber unit comprises decrypting means for decrypting information data received via said high-speed high-bandwidth downlink.

4. A satellite based broadcast data communications system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said mobile subscriber unit comprises with a unique decryption key via said message link by a public key encryption system.

5. A satellite based broadcast data communications system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said satellite gateway extracts billing information from said data requests.

6. A satellite based broadcast data communications system in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

a billing function for receiving and processing said billing information extracted by said satellite gateway to assign fees to be billed to said mobile subscriber unit.

7. A mobile subscriber unit for use with a satellite based broadcast data communications service operating in a communications system comprising a satellite gateway coupled to a data information service provider via a ground link, a satellite communications network coupled to said satellite gateway via a gateway link, said mobile subscriber unit comprising:

a message transceiver coupled to said satellite communications network via a message link for sending and receiving data messages;

a user interface which receives a data request for requested data information;

a controller for processing said data request and sending said data request to said message transceiver to be transmitted by said message transceiver to said service provider via said message link, said satellite communications network, said gateway link, said gateway, and said ground link;

a high-speed high-bandwidth data receiver coupled to said satellite communications network via a high-speed high-bandwidth downlink which receives said requested data information, said requested data information being retrieved by said service provider in response to said data request and sent from said service provider via said ground link, said gateway, said gateway link, said satellite communications network, and said high-speed high-bandwidth downlink, wherein said high-speed high-bandwidth receiver receives only portions of said data information broadcast for which said mobile subscriber unit has access authorization; and

access authorization detecting means for determining whether said mobile subscriber unit has authorization to access said portions of said set of data information which is broadcast over said high-speed high-bandwidth downlink, and for block access to said portions of data information by a user of said mobile subscriber unit if said access authorization detecting means determines that said mobile subscriber unit does not have said authorization.

8. A mobile subscriber unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said high-speed high-bandwidth receiver receives a standard data information broadcast;

said standard data information broadcast sent by said service provider to said satellite communications network via said ground link, said gateway, and said gateway link, and broadcast by said satellite communications network over said high-speed high-bandwidth downlink.

9. A mobile subscriber unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said service provider sends said data information in digital data packets, each digital data packet comprising a subscriber identification (ID), an access code, and a data payload comprising a portion of said data information; and

said access authorization detecting means comprises;

identification matching means for comprising a subscriber unit ID of said mobile subscriber unit with said subscriber ID of a data packet received via said high-speed high-bandwidth downlink and providing an ID match indication if said subscriber unit ID is included in said subscriber ID; and

access code matching means for reading said access code of said received data packet and providing an access granted indication if said mobile subscriber unit is authorized to access said data payload of said received data packet; and

blocking means for blocking access to said data payload unless both said identification matching means provides said ID match indication and said access code matching means provides said access granted indication.

10. A mobile subscriber unit in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

said service provider comprises encryption means for encrypting said data information; and

said mobile subscriber unit comprises decrypting means for decrypting information data received via said high-speed high-bandwidth downlink.

11. A mobile subscriber unit in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

said mobile subscriber unit is provided with a unique decryption key via said message link by a public key encryption system.