Virtual network configuration and management system for satellite communications system

• US 6,411,806 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobile Satellite Venture LP
• Inventors: Garner, William B., Tisdale, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moore, James K.
• Application Number:
  US09/611,713
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 455/428, 455/430, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/403, 455/410, 455/411, 455/422, 455/424, 455/425, 455/426, 455/427, 455/429, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 455/524
• US Class Current: 455/428
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18539 Arrangements for managing radio, resources, i.e. for establishing or releasing a connection
• 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 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

In a mobile satellite system, a system for providing satellite communication between multiple users in a virtual network arrangement includes first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) responsively connected to and registering with the mobile satellite system. The first MET selects a virtual network identifier (VN ID) representing a virtual network group including the first and second METs to establish voice communication therewith and transmits the VN ID to a central controller. The central controller receives the VN ID from the first MET, validates the first MET for communication, validates the VN ID, allocates a frequency for the virtual network group, and broadcasts the message to the virtual network group including the second MET informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency and the voice communication associated therewith. The second MET tunes to the frequency in response to the message broadcast by the central controller.

Claims

1. In a mobile satellite system including a satellite communication switching office having a satellite antenna for receiving/transmitting a satellite message via a satellite from/to a vehicle using a mobile communication system, a satellite interface system, a central controller receiving/transmitting the satellite message from/to the satellite communication switching office issued from the vehicle via the satellite and the satellite interface system, the mobile communication system comprising a user interface system providing a user interface through which a user has access to services supported by the mobile satellite system, an antenna system providing an interface between the mobile communication system and the mobile satellite system via the satellite interface system, and receiving a first satellite message from the satellite and transmitting a second satellite message to the satellite, a transceiver system, operatively connected to said antenna system, including a receiver and a transmitter,

the transmitter converting the second satellite message including at least one of voice, data, fax and signaling signals into a modulated signal, transmitting the modulated signal to said antenna system, the transmitter including an amplifier, a first converter and associated first frequency synthesizer, a modulator, an encoder, multiplexer, scrambler and frame formatter for at least one of voice, fax, and data, the receiver accepting the first satellite message from the antenna system and converting the first satellite message into at least one of voice, data, fax and signaling signals, at least one of the voice, data and fax signals routed to the user interface system, the receiver including a second converter with an associated second frequency synthesizer, a demodulator, a decoder, demultiplexer, descrambler and frame unformatter for at least one of voice, fax, and data and a logic and signaling system, operatively connected to said transceiver, controlling initialization of the mobile communication system, obtaining an assigned outbound signaling channel from which updated system information and commands and messages are received, said logic and signaling system configuring said transceiver for reception and transmission of at least one of voice, data, tax and signaling messages, and controlling protocols between the mobile communication system and the mobile satellite system, and validating a received signalling messages and generating codes for a signaling message to be transmitted, a method of providing satellite communication between multiple users in a closed user group arrangement, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) communicable in the mobile satellite system;

(b) selecting, by at least one of the first and second METs and the central controller, a closed user group network identifier (CUG ID) representing a virtual network (VN) group including the first and second METs to establish voice communication therewith, and transmitting the CUG ID to at least another of the first and second METs and the central controller;

(c) receiving the CUG ID, validating at least one of the first and second METs for communication, validating the CUG ID, allocating a frequency for the VN group, and broadcasting the message to the VN group including informing the VN group of the allocated frequency and the voice communication associated therewith;

(d) broadcasting by the central controller the frequency for the VN group; and

(e) the first and second METs communicating with each other on the frequency.

2. In a mobile satellite system, a method of providing satellite communication between multiple users including first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) communicable in the mobile satellite system in a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting, by at least one of the first and second METs and the central controller, a closed user group network identifier (CUG ID) representing a virtual network (VN) group including the first and second METs to establish voice communication therewith, and transmitting the CUG ID to at least another of the first and second METs and the central controller;

(b) allocating, by the central controller, a frequency for the VN group, and broadcasting the message to the VN group including informing the VN group of the allocated frequency and the voice communication associated therewith; and

(c) broadcasting by the central controller the frequency for the VN group for the first and second METs to communicate with each other on the frequency.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(1) a third MET included in the virtual network group communicable with the mobile satellite system;

(2) the central controller broadcasting the message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency; and

(3) the third MET tuning to the allocated frequency for the virtual network group to communicate with the first and second METs.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the central controller manages the satellite communication of the virtual network arrangement including virtual network variables used by the first and second METs.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the central controller accumulates account information regarding the satellite communication, and wherein the mobile satellite system charges a service fee to a customer that has requested the virtual network arrangement responsive to the account information.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(1) a non-MET accessing the mobile satellite system via one of a public switched telephone network and a cellular network to initiate a communication with the virtual network group;

(2) the central controller broadcasting the message to the virtual network group including the allocated frequency; and

(3) the at least one of the first and second METs tuning to the frequency to communicate with the non-MET.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(1) the first MET selecting the virtual network identifier (VN ID) including a non-MET serviced by one of a public switched telephone network and a cellular network;

(2) the first MET transmitting the VN ID to the central controller;

(3) the central controller receiving the VN ID, determining that the virtual network group includes the non-MET, and broadcasting a non-MET message to the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network; and

(4) the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network receiving and transmitting the non-MET message to the non-MET to establish communication between the NIET and the non-MET.

8. In a mobile satellite system including a satellite communication switching office and network system having a satellite antenna for receiving and transmitting a satellite message via a satellite and satellite beams to and from feederlink earth stations (FESs) and mobile earth terminals (METs) using a mobile communication system, a satellite interface system, a central controller receiving and transmitting the satellite message to and from the satellite communication switching office, the mobile satellite system being responsively connected to said mobile communication system and including a network operations center (NOC) managing and controlling the resources of the satellite network system and carrying out the administrative functions associated with the management of the network system, a first network communications controller (NCC) managing the real time allocation of circuits between METs and FESs for the purposes of supporting communications, available circuits being held in circuit pools managed by group controllers (GCs) within the NCC, a FES supporting communications links between METs, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), private networks, and other METs, call completion and service feature management being accomplished via in-band signaling over the communication channel following the establishment of such a channel, the FES including a gateway FES providing mobile telephone service (MTS) and mobile telephone cellular roaming service (MTCRS) services, and a base FES providing mobile radio service (MRS) and a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, and a group controller subsystem (GCS) incorporating one or multiple group controllers (GC), each GC maintaining state machines for every call in progress within its control group and allocating and de-allocating circuits for FES-MET calls, managing the CUG arrangement, a method of providing satellite communication between multiple users including first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) communicable in the mobile satellite system in a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting, by at least one of the first and second METs and the central controller, a closed user group network identifier (CUG ID) representing a virtual network (VN) group including the first and second METs to establish voice communication therewith, and transmitting the CUG ID to at least another of the first and second METs and the central controller;

(b) allocating, by the central controller, a frequency for the VN group, and broadcasting the message to the VN group including informing the VN group of the allocated frequency and the voice communication associated therewith; and

(c) broadcasting by the central controller the frequency for the VN group for the first and second METs to communicate with each other on the frequency.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

(1) a third MET included in the virtual network group communicable with the mobile satellite system;

(2) the central controller broadcasting the message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency; and

(3) the third MET tuning to the allocated frequency for the virtual network group to communicate with the first and second METs.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the central controller manages the satellite communication of the virtual network arrangement including virtual network variables used by the first and second METs.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the central controller accumulates account information regarding the satellite communication, and wherein the mobile satellite system charges a service fee to a customer that has requested the virtual network arrangement responsive to the account information.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

(1) a non-MET accessing the mobile satellite system via one of a public switched telephone network and a cellular network to initiate a communication with the virtual network group;

(2) the central controller broadcasting the message to the virtual network group including the allocated frequency; and

(3) the at least one of the first and second METs tuning to the frequency to communicate with the non-MET.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

(1) the first MET selecting the virtual network identifier (VN ID) including a non-MET serviced by one of a public switched telephone network and a cellular network;

(2) the first MET transmitting the VN ID to the central controller;

(3) the central controller receiving the VN ID, determining that the virtual network group includes the non-MET, and broadcasting a non-MET message to the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network; and

(4) the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network receiving and transmitting the non-MET message to the non-MET to establish communication between the MET and the non-MET.

14. In a mobile satellite system including a network operations center (NOC) managing and controlling the resources of the satellite network system and carrying out the administrative functions associated with the management of the network system, a first network communications controller (NCC) managing the real time allocation of circuits between METs and FESs for the purposes of supporting communications, available circuits being held in circuit pools managed by group controllers (GCs) within the NCC, a FES supporting communications links between METs, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), private networks, and other METs, call completion and service feature management being accomplished via in-band signaling over the communication channel following the establishment of such a channel, the FES providing a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, and a group controller subsystem (GCS) incorporating one or multiple group controllers (GC), each GC allocating and de-allocating circuits for FES-MET calls, managing the CUG arrangement, a system for providing communication between multiple users in a virtual network arrangement, comprising:

first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) responsively connected to the communication system, the first MET selecting a virtual network identifier (VN ID) representing a virtual network group to establish voice communication therewith and transmitting the VN ID; and

a central controller responsively connected to the first and second METs, the central controller receiving the VN ID from the first MET, validating the VN ID, allocating a frequency for the virtual network group, and broadcasting the message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency, the second MET tuning to the frequency in response to the message broadcast by the central controller.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the central controller controls the communication including virtual network parameters used by the first and second METs.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the central controller amasses account information regarding the communication and transmits the account information to the communication system, and wherein the communication system charges a service fee responsive to the account information.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein

a non-MET accesses the communication system via one of a public switched telephone network and a cellular network to communicate with the virtual network group,

the central controller broadcasts the message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency, and

the at least one of the first and second METs tunes to the frequency in response to the message broadcast by the central controller in the virtual network arrangement.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein

the first MET selects the virtual network identifier (VN ID) to establish voice communication therewith, and transmits the VN ID to the central controller,

the central controller receives the VN ID, determines that the virtual network group includes the non-MET, and broadcasts a non-MET message to the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network, and

the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network receives and transmits the non-MET message to the non-MET to establish the virtual network arrangement.

19. The system according to claim 14, further comprising a third MET responsively connected to said central controller and included in the virtual network group communicable in the communication system, and wherein

the central controller broadcasts the message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency,

the third MET generating a scrambling vector for access to the voice communication, and tuning to the allocated frequency using the scrambling vector to gain access thereto.

20. A mobile satellite communication system for providing communication between multiple users in a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, comprising:

first and second mobile earth terminals (METs) responsively connected to the communication system, the first MET being capable of selecting a virtual network identifier (VN ID) representing a virtual network group to establish communication therewith and transmitting the VN ID;

a network operations center (NOC) managing and controlling the resources of the satellite network system and carrying out the administrative functions associated with management of the network system;

a feederlink earth station (FES) supporting communications links between mobile earth terminals, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and optionally private networks;

a first network communications controller (NCC) managing the real time allocation of circuits between METs and FESs for the purposes of supporting communications;

a central controller responsively connected to the first and second METs, the central controller receiving the VN ID from the first MET, validating the VN ID, allocating a frequency for the virtual network group, and broadcasting a message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency; and

the second MET tuning to the frequency in response to the message broadcast by the central controller.

21. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a third MET communicable with the mobile satellite communication system; and

wherein;

the central controller broadcasts the message to both the virtual network group and the third MET informing them of the allocated frequency, and

the third MET tunes to the allocated frequency to join the virtual network group and communicate with the first and second METs.

22. The mobile satellite communication system of claim 20, further comprising:

a non-MET operating on one of a public switched telephone network and a cellular network, the non-MET transmitting a request to the mobile satellite communication system to initiate communication with the virtual network group; and

wherein;

the central controller broadcasts the message, including the allocated frequency, to the virtual network group and the non-MET, and

the non-MET tunes to the allocated frequency to join the virtual network group and communicate with the first and second METs.

23. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 22, wherein:

the first MET selects the virtual network identifier (VN ID) to establish voice communication therewith, and transmits the VN ID to the central controller,

the central controller receives the VN ID, determines that the virtual network group includes the non-MET, and broadcasts a non-MET message to the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network, and

the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network receives and transmits the non-MET message to the non-MET to establish the virtual network arrangement.

24. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 20, wherein the central controller controls the communication including virtual network parameters used by the first and second METs.

25. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 20, wherein the central controller amasses account information regarding the communication and transmits the account information to the communication system, and wherein the communication system charges a service fee responsive to the account information.

26. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a third MET responsively connected to the central controller and included in the virtual network group communicable in the communication system; and

wherein;

the central controller broadcasts the message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency, and

the third MET generates a scrambling vector for access to the voice communication, and tuning to the allocated frequency using the scrambling vector to gain access thereto.

27. a mobile satellite communication system comprising:

a first and second mobile earth terminal (MET), the first MET being capable of selecting a closed user group network identifier (CUG ID) representing a virtual network (VN) group including the first and second METs to establish communication therewith, the first MET being further capable transmitting the CUG ID to at least the second MET;

a satellite communication switching office;

network system including;

a satellite antenna for receiving and transmitting a satellite message via a satellite and satellite beams to and from feederlink earth stations (FESs) and METs,

a satellite interface system, and

a central controller receiving and transmitting the satellite message to and from the satellite communication switching office, the central controller further receiving the CUG ID transmitted by the first MET;

the central controller being configured to;

allocate a frequency for the VN group, and

broadcast a message, including the allocated frequency, to the VN group;

a network operations center (NOC) managing and controlling the resources of the network system and carrying out the administrative functions associated with the management of the network system;

a first network communications controller (NCC) managing the real time allocation of circuits between METs and FESs for the purposes of supporting communications; and

at least one group controller included in the NCC for managing circuit pools holding available circuits, the at least one group controller allocating and de-allocating circuits for FES-MET calls;

the FESs supporting communications links between METs, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and private optionally networks,

the FESs including a gateway FES providing mobile telephone service (MTS) and mobile telephone cellular roaming service (MTCRS) services, and a base FES providing mobile radio service (MRS) and a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, and

whereby the first and second METs tune to the allocated frequency and communicate with each other on the allocated frequency.

28. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 27, further comprising:

a third MET communicable with the mobile satellite communication system; and

wherein;

the central controller broadcasts the message to both the virtual network group and the third MET informing them of the allocated frequency; and

the third MET tunes to the allocated frequency to join the virtual network group and communicate with the first and second METs.

29. The mobile satellite communication system of claim 27, further comprising:

a non-MET operating on one of a public switched telephone network and a cellular network, the non-MET transmitting a request to the mobile satellite communication system to initiate communication with the virtual network group; and

wherein;

the central controller broadcasts the message including the allocated frequency to both the virtual network group and the non-MET; and

the non-MET tunes to the allocated frequency to join the virtual network group and communicate with the first and second METs.

30. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 29, wherein:

the first MET selects the virtual network identifier (VN ID) to establish voice communication therewith, and transmits the VN ID to the central controller,

the central controller receives the VN ID, determines that the virtual network group includes the non-MET, and broadcasts a non-MET message to the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network, and

the one of the public switched telephone network and the cellular network receives and transmits the non-MET message to the non-MET to establish the virtual network arrangement.

31. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 27, wherein the central controller controls the communication including virtual network parameters used by the first and second METs.

32. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 27, wherein the central controller amasses account information regarding the communication and transmits the account information to the communication system, and wherein the communication system charges a service fee responsive to the account information.

33. The mobile satellite communication system according to claim 27, further comprising a third MET responsively connected to the central controller and included in the virtual network group communicable in the communication system, and wherein:

the central controller broadcasts the message to the virtual network group informing the virtual network group of the allocated frequency, and

the third MET generates a scrambling vector for access to the voice communication, and tunes to the allocated frequency using the scrambling vector to gain access thereto.