Systems and methods for terrestrial use of cellular satellite frequency spectrum

• US 7,603,117 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q
• Application Number:
  US11/147,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 455/427, 455/524, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/63.1, 455/522, 455/11.1, 455/428, 455/429, 370/321
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18543 for adaptation of transmission parameters, e.g. power control for detecting or preventing errors in the information received H04L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/216 Code division or spread-spectrum multiple access [CDMA, SSMA]

Abstract

A satellite radiotelephone system includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones over a range of satellite band return link frequencies and to transmit wireless communications to radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies. An ancillary terrestrial component is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones over the range of satellite band return link frequencies, and to transmit wireless communications to radiotelephones over the range of satellite band forward link frequencies.

Claims

1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:

a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones over a range of satellite band return link frequencies and to transmit wireless communications to radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies; and

an ancillary terrestrial component that is configured to transmit wireless communications to radiotelephones using at least one frequency and to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones using the same at least one frequency.

2. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the radiotelephones are located where a satellite footprint of the space-based component and a cell of the ancillary terrestrial component overlap.

3. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones over a range of satellite band return link frequencies and to transmit wireless communications to radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies, the ancillary terrestrial component comprising:

an electronics system that is configured to transmit wireless communications to radiotelephones using at least one frequency and to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones using the same at least one frequency.

4. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 3 wherein the radiotelephones are located where a satellite footprint of the space-based component and a cell of the ancillary terrestrial component overlap.

5. A radiotelephone comprising:

an electronics system that is configured to transmit wireless communications to a space-based component over a range of satellite band return link frequencies and to receive wireless communications from the space-based component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies;

the electronics system further configured to transmit wireless communications to an ancillary terrestrial component using at least one frequency and to receive wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component using the same at least one frequency.

6. A radiotelephone according to claim 5 wherein the radiotelephone is located where a satellite footprint of the space-based component and a cell of the ancillary terrestrial component overlap.

7. A satellite radiotelephone communication method comprising:

receiving wireless communications at a space-based component from radiotelephones over a range of satellite band return link frequencies;

transmitting wireless communications from the space-based component to radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies; and

transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial component to radiotelephones using at least one frequency and receiving wireless communications at the ancillary terrestrial component from radiotelephones using the same at least one frequency.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the radiotelephones are located where a satellite footprint of the space-based component and a cell of the ancillary terrestrial component overlap.

9. An ancillary terrestrial component operating method for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones over a range of satellite band return link frequencies and to transmit wireless communications to radiotelephones over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies, the ancillary terrestrial component operating method comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to radiotelephones using at least one frequency and receiving wireless communications from radiotelephones using the same at least one frequency.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the radiotelephones are located where a satellite footprint of the space-based component and a cell of the ancillary terrestrial component overlap.

11. A radiotelephone operating method comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to a space-based component over a range of satellite band return link frequencies;

receiving wireless communications from the space-based component over a range of satellite band forward link frequencies; and

transmitting wireless communications to an ancillary terrestrial component using at least one frequency and receiving wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component using the same at least one frequency.

12. A radiotelephone according to claim 11 wherein the radiotelephone is located where a satellite footprint of the space-based component and a cell of the ancillary terrestrial component overlap.