Abstract:
The mobile telephone system employs a fleet of satellites (214) and a set of gateway ground stations (210) arranged around the globe for handling communications to and from mobile communication units such as mobile telephones. Signals are transmitted between a subscriber (212) unit and the nearest gateway (210) via one or more of the satellites (214). The gateway is connected to a set of individuel service providers (216) such as local telephone systems. The individual service providers may be constrained for various reasons such as contractual or other legal constraints to handle communications only from subscriber units (212) located in certain geographical areas such as within only certain countries or portions of countries. For a mobile communication from a particular subscriber unit (212), the gateway selects (210) a service provider (216) capable of handling the communication. In one implementation, the selection is based upon the location of the subscriber unit and upon any references specified by the subscriber unit. In other implementations, the selection is based on other parameters such as the altitude, speed or velocity of the subscriber unit or the time of day or date upon which the communication is initiated.
Abstract:
A mobile wireless terminal (MWT) (206) receives IP packets (404) destined for a ground network (234) in a predetermined sequence order. The MWT (206) fragments each of the IP packets into many smaller packet fragments (406), appends identifying information to each of the packet fragments (408), and transmits the packet fragments in parallel with one another (416) over concurrently operating satellite channels (240a-240n). A receiving station (180) receives the packet fragments (904) transmitted by the MWT (206). The receiving station (180) forwards the received packet fragments to a ground controller (232) over a network connection, based on the identifying information appended to the packet fragments. The ground controller (232) combines the packet fragments (908) into reconstructed IP packets based on the identifying information appended to the fragments. The ground controller (232) also sequences the reconstructed IP packets (1006) in the predetermined sequence order based on the identifying information. The ground controller (232) forwards the reconstructed IP packets (1008) in the correct sequence order to the destination ground network (234). The same sequence of events occur in the opposite direction as well i.e., from the ground controller to the MWT (206).
Abstract:
A mobile telephone system employs a fleet of satellites (14) and a set of gateway ground stations (10) arranged around the globe for handling communications to and from mobile communication subscriber units (12) such as mobile telephones. Signals are transmitted between a subscriber unit (10) and the nearest gateway (10) via one or more of the satellites. The gateway system is configured to process telephone call connection requests from a mobile subscriber unit (12) based upon the location of the subscriber unit. The location of the subscriber unit is employed, for example, to determine how telephone numbers are to be parsed and how to properly route emergency telephone calls to the nearest appropriate emergency service centers. Multiple location mapping schemes are employed to facilitate a determination of the location of a subscriber unit and to assist in routing emergency calls. In one implementation, each location with the service area of the system is mapped into a set of uniformly sized and shaped information cells (802). Each information cell includes pointers to data structures (806, 808) defining, among other things, the service providers that are permitted to process calls to or from that location and the nearest emergency services center. Each location is also mapped into at least one virtual service provider cell (812, 814, 816, 818, 820) which includes service provider preferences and requirements for handling a call to from that location and including a unique location identifier. A specific implementation for use with the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is described.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for operating a wireless telecommunication system utilizing code division multiple access (CDMA) over-the-air with a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications A-interface based network is described. A CDMA radio frequency (RF) signal interface provides a bi-directional interface to a subscriber unit (50), and a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications A-interface SS7 transport provides a bi-directional interface with GSM mobile services switching center (MSC) (52). Additionally, a transparent message transport (44) is provided over which signaling messages defined in the GSM A-interface protocol are exchanged between the GSM MSC (52) and a subscriber unit (50).