Systems and methods for terrestrial reuse of cellular satellite frequency spectrum in a time-division duplex and/or frequency-division duplex mode

• US 7,664,460 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• 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., Churan, Gary G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US11/021,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20050118948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455 631- 632, 455/427, 455/428, 455/429, 455/430, 455/450, 455/452.2
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1853 Satellite systems for providing telephony service to a mobile station, i.e. mobile satellite service for selecting H04W
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13333 Earth satellites
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range

Abstract

A space-based component, such as a satellite, is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency, and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink radiotelephone frequency. An ancillary terrestrial network, that may include one or more ancillary terrestrial components, is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode. An interference reducer is configured to reduce interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space-based component from the second radiotelephone and/or from the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency, using the wireless communications that are transmitted by the ancillary terrestrial to, and/or received by the ancillary terrestrial network from, the second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

Claims

1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:

a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency; and

an ancillary terrestrial network (ATN) that is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,

wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is not configured to directly communicate wirelessly with the space-based component.

2. satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.

3. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first portion is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second portion is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

4. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.

5. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first portion of the transmit/receive time interval and/or frame and/or a first number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second portion of the transmit/receive time interval and/or frame and/or a second number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

6. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first portion thereof is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using OFDM and/or OFDMA and M-ary QAM modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second portion thereof is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using OFDM and/or OFDMA and L-ary QAM modulation and/or protocol wherein L≦

M and L and M are greater than or equal to one.

7. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first one portion thereof is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one portion thereof is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.

8. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1:

wherein the space-based component is configured to receive wireless communications from a first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and to transmit wireless communications to the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band;

wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, a second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the space-based component also receiving the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band as interference along with the wireless communications that are received from the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band; and

wherein the satellite radiotelephone system further comprises an interference reducer that is responsive to the space-based component and to the ancillary terrestrial network, and that is configured to reduce the interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space-based component from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, using the wireless communications that are transmitted by the ancillary terrestrial network to, and/or received by the ancillary terrestrial network from, the second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

9. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 8 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is closer to the second radiotelephone than to the space-based component such that the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone are generated by the ancillary terrestrial network prior to reception by the space-based component and wherein the interference reducer is configured to generate at least one delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone, and to subtract a measure of the delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone, from the wireless communications that are received from the space-based component.

10. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 8 wherein the interference reducer comprises an adaptive interference reducer.

11. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 8 further comprising a gateway that communicates with the space-based component and with the ancillary terrestrial network and wherein the interference reducer is at least partially included in the gateway.

12. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 8 wherein the interference reducer is at least partially included in the ancillary terrestrial network.

13. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode contains a sequence of transmit/receive intervals and wherein one first transmit/receive interval is different from one second transmit/receive interval.

14. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 13 wherein one first transmit/receive interval is different from one second transmit/receive interval in modulation, protocol and/or time duration.

15. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode contains a sequence of transmit/receive intervals and wherein one first transmit/receive interval is the same or substantially the same to one second transmit/receive interval in modulation, protocol, and/or time duration.

16. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode contains a sequence of identical or substantially identical transmit/receive intervals in modulation, protocol and/or time duration.

17. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to obtain the wireless communications that are transmitted to, and to provide the wireless communications that are received from, the radiotelephones over a wired terrestrial link.

18. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, the ancillary terrestrial component comprising:

an electronics system that is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,

wherein the electronics system is not configured to directly communicate wirelessly with the space-based component.

19. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18 wherein the electronics system also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.

20. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first one portion thereof is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second one portion thereof is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

21. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18 wherein the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the electronics system is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency hand in a time-division duplex mode.

22. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first portion of the transmit/receive time interval and/or frame and/or a first number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second portion of the transmit/receive time interval and/or frame and/or a second number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

23. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first one portion thereof is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using OFDM and/or OFDMA and M-ary QAM modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one portion thereof is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using OFDM and/or OFDMA and L-ary QAM modulation and/or protocol and wherein L≦

M, and M L≧

1.

24. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first one portion thereof is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one portion thereof is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.

25. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18:

wherein the space-based component is configured to receive wireless communications from a first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and to transmit wireless communications to the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band;

wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and/or receive wireless communications from, a second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the space-based component also receiving the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band as interference along with the wireless communications that are received from the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

26. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 25:

wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is further configured to transmit to a satellite gateway, a measure of the wireless communications that are transmitted to, and the wireless communications that are received from, the second radiotelephone.

27. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 25:

wherein the ancillary terrestrial component further comprises an interference reducer that is responsive to the space-based component, and that is configured to reduce the interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space-based component from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, using the wireless communications that are transmitted by the ancillary terrestrial component to, and/or received by the ancillary terrestrial component from, the second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

28. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 27 wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is closer to the second radiotelephone than to the space- based component such that the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone are received by the ancillary terrestrial component and the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component to the second radiotelephone are generated by the ancillary terrestrial component prior to reception by the space-based component and wherein the interference reducer is configured to generate at least one delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial component and/or the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component to the second radiotelephone, and to subtract a measure of the delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial component and/or the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component to the second radiotelephone, from the wireless communications that are received from the space-based component.

29. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 27 wherein the interference reducer comprises an adaptive interference reducer.

30. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 18 wherein the electronics system is further configured to obtain the wireless communications that are transmitted to, and to provide the wireless communications that are received from, the radiotelephones over a wired terrestrial link.

31. A radiotelephone comprising:

an electronics system that is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, an ancillary terrestrial component over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,

wherein the electronics system is not configured to communicate wirelessly with the space-based component via the ancillary terrestrial component.

32. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the electronics system also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the ancillary terrestrial component over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.

33. A radiotelephone according to claim 32 wherein the electronics system is further configured to transmit wireless communications to a space-based component over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to receive wireless communications from the space-based component over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

34. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first portion is used to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second portion is used to receive wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

35. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises a uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the electronics system also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.

36. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first portion of the transmit/receive time interval and/or frame and/or a first number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second portion of the transmit/receive time interval and/or frame and/or a second number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications by the radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

37. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first portion thereof is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using OFDM and/or OFDMA and M-ary QAM modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second portion thereof is used to transmit wireless communications by the radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using OFDM and/or OFDMA and L-ary QAM modulation and/or protocol, wherein L≦

M, and L and M are greater than or equal to one.

38. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a transmit/receive time interval and/or frame, wherein at least a first one portion thereof is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one portion thereof is used to transmit wireless communications by the radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.

39. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the electronics system is further configured to transmit wireless communications to a space-based component over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to receive wireless communications from the space-based component over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

40. A radiotelephone according to claim 31 wherein the electronics system is further configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the ancillary terrestrial component that itself is configured to obtain the wireless communications that are transmitted to the radiotelephone. and to provide the wireless communications that are received from the radiotelephone over a wired terrestrial link.

41. A gateway for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, and an ancillary terrestrial network (ATN) that is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode, the gateway comprising:

an electronics system that is configured to receive from the space-based component, the wireless communications that are received at the space-based component from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and is further configured to receive from the ancillary terrestrial network, the wireless communications that are transmitted to and received from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode;

wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is not configured to directly communicate wirelessly with the space-based component.

42. A gateway according to claim 41:

wherein the space-based component is configured to receive wireless communications from a first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency hand and to transmit wireless communications to the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band;

wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, a second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the space-based component also receiving the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band as interference along with the wireless communications that are received from the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band; and

wherein the gateway further comprises an interference reducer that is responsive to the space-based component and to the ancillary terrestrial network, and that is configured to reduce the interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space- based component from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, using the wireless communications that are transmitted by the ancillary terrestrial network to, and/or received by the ancillary terrestrial network from, the second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

43. A gateway according to claim 42 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is closer to the second radiotelephone than to the space-based component such that the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone are generated by the ancillary terrestrial network prior to reception by the space-based component and wherein the interference reducer is configured to generate at least one delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone, and to subtract a measure of the delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone, from the wireless communications that are received from the space-based component.

44. A gateway according to claim 42 wherein the interference reducer comprises an adaptive interference reducer.

45. A gateway according to claim 41 wherein the electronics system is further configured to receive from the ancillary terrestrial network, via a terrestrial wired link connected thereto, the wireless communications that are transmitted to and received from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.

46. A satellite radiotelephone communication method comprising:

receiving wireless communications at a space-based component from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency;

transmitting wireless communications from the space-based component to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency;

transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network (ATN) to the radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time- division duplex mode; and

refraining from directly communicating wirelessly between the space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial network.

47. A method according to claim 46 further comprising:

transmitting wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time- division duplex mode.

48. A satellite radiotelephone method according to claim 46:

wherein receiving wireless communications at a space-based component comprises receiving wireless communications at the space-based component from a first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band;

wherein transmitting wireless communications from the space-based component comprises transmitting wireless communications from the space-based component to the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band;

wherein transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network to radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network comprises transmitting wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to a second radiotelephone and transmitting wireless communications from the second radiotelephone to the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the space-based component also receiving the wireless communications that are transmitted from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band as interference along with the wireless communications that are received from the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band; and

wherein the method further comprises reducing the interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space-based component from the second radiotelephone and/or from the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, using the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to, and/or received by the ancillary terrestrial network from, the second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is closer to the second radiotelephone than to the space-based component such that the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone are transmitted by the ancillary terrestrial network prior to reception by the space-based component, and wherein reducing interference comprises:

generating at least one delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone; and

subtracting a measure of the delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone, from the wireless communications that are received from the space-based component.

50. A method according to claim 46 further comprising obtaining the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and providing the wireless communications that are transmitted from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network, over a wired terrestrial link.

51. A method of operating an ancillary terrestrial component in a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, the ancillary terrestrial component operating method comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to, and receiving wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time- division duplex mode; and

refraining from directly communicating wirelessly between a space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component.

52. A method according to claim 51 further comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to, and receiving wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time- division duplex mode.

53. A method according to claim 51:

wherein the space-based component is configured to receive wireless communications from a first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and to transmit wireless communications to the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band; and

wherein the ancillary terrestrial component operating method further comprises transmitting wireless communications to, and/or receiving wireless communications from, a second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the space-based component also receiving the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone and/or from the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band as interference along with the wireless communications that are received from the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

54. A method according to claim 53 further comprising:

transmitting from the ancillary terrestrial component to a satellite gateway, a measure of the wireless communications that are transmitted to, and the wireless communications that are received from, the second radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

55. A method according to claim 53 wherein the ancillary terrestrial component operating method further comprises:

reducing the interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space-based component from the second radiotelephone and/or from the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, using the wireless communications that are transmitted by the ancillary terrestrial component to, and/or received by the ancillary terrestrial component from, the second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

56. A method according to claim 55 wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is closer to the second radiotelephone than to the space-based component such that the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone are received by the ancillary terrestrial component and the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component to the second radiotelephone are generated by the ancillary terrestrial component prior to reception by the space-based component, and wherein reducing interference comprises:

generating at least one delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial component and/or the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial component to the second radiotelephone; and

subtracting a measure of the delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial component and/or the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial component to the second radiotelephone, from the wireless communications that are received from the space- based component.

57. A method according to claim 51 further comprising obtaining the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and providing the wireless communications that are transmitted from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network, over a wired terrestrial link.

58. A radiotelephone operating method comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to, and receiving wireless communications from, an ancillary terrestrial component over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode; and

refraining from directly communicating wirelessly between a space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component.

59. A method according to claim 58 further comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to a space-based component over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency; and

receiving wireless communications from the space-based component over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.

60. A method according to claim 58 further comprising:

transmitting wireless communications to, and receiving wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.

61. A method according to claim 58 further comprising the following that is performed by the ancillary terrestrial component:

obtaining wireless communications that are transmitted to radiotelephones and providing the wireless communications that are received from the radiotelephones, over a wired terrestrial link.

62. A method of operating a gateway of a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, and an ancillary terrestrial network (ATN) that is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode, the gateway operating method comprising:

receiving from the space-based component, the wireless communications that are received at the space-based component from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency;

receiving from the ancillary terrestrial network, the wireless communications that are transmitted to and received from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode; and

refraining from directly communicating wirelessly between the space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component.

63. A method according to claim 62:

wherein the space-based component is configured to receive wireless communications from a first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and to transmit wireless communications to the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band;

wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, a second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the space-based component also receiving the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone and/or the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band as interference along with the wireless communications that are received from the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band; and

wherein the gateway operating method further comprises reducing the interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space-based component from the second radiotelephone and/or from the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band, using the wireless communications that are transmitted by the ancillary terrestrial network to, and/or received by the ancillary terrestrial network from, the second radiotelephone over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

64. A method according to claim 63 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is closer to the second radiotelephone than to the space-based component such that the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and the wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network are transmitted to the second radiotelephone prior to reception by the space-based component, and wherein reducing interference comprises:

generating at least one delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone; and

subtracting a measure of the delayed replica of the wireless communications from the second radiotelephone that are received by the ancillary terrestrial network and the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the second radiotelephone, from the wireless communications that are received from the space-based component.

65. A method according to claim 62 wherein receiving from the ancillary terrestrial network comprises receiving from the ancillary terrestrial network, over a wired terrestrial link, the wireless communications that are transmitted to and received from the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.