EP0365885A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Satellite cellular telephone and data communication system
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1989-10-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A system for facilitating global cellular/trunked mobile communication is disclosed. This system permits communication with hand held and mobile mounted cellular telephones. The system permits two-way communications anywhere on or above the earth up to a particular height above the earth of several hundred nautical miles. The system employs a number of low-earth orbiting satellites (1,2, etc.) moving about the earth in orbit. Links (i) are provided from the satellites directly to the users and via the public switched telephone network (20) to other users (30). The satellites are interconnected via links (j) in a ring structure surrounding the earth. Switching is performed by each of the satellites. In addition, each of the satellites hands off a call as it moves out of the range of a particular user.
Inventors
- 👤 Bary Robert Bertiger
- 👤 Raymond Joseph Leopold
- 👤 Kenneth Maynard Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/06; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18521; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18558; H04B7/1856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low- earth orbit; and link means (i) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low- earth orbit; and link means (i) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A satellite cellular communication system as claimed in claim 1, said satellite switching means including: a plurality of satellite switching unit means (40-60 etc.) positioned surrounding the earth in low-earth orbit; and second link means (j) for permitting multi-directional communication between one satellite switching unit means and any adjacent satellite switching unit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A satellite cellular communication system as claimed in claim 2, said second link means including microwave communication means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A satellite cellular communication system as claimed in claim 2, said second link means including laser communication means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A satellite cellular communication system as claimed in claim 2, said satellite switching unit means including: antenna means (11) coupled to said plurality of users for establishing communication between said users and satellite switching unit means; solar cell means (12) for providing power for said satellite switching unit means; and storage battery means connected to said solar cell means for storing said power.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A satellite cellular communication system as claimed in claim 1, said satellite switching means including a plurality of cell means coupled to one another, one said cell means operating to hand-off said established communication link between users to another one of said cell means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A satellite cellular communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said users is connected to said link means by cellular telephone means (A,B).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low-earth orbit; link means (j) for directly coupling certain ones of said users to said satellite switching means; and public switched telephone network means (10,20) coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means, other ones of said users being connected to said public switched telephone network means, said public switched telephone network means operating to selectively connect users of said public switched telephone network means with users directly coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low-earth orbit; link means (j) for directly coupling certain ones of said users to said satellite switching means; and public switched telephone network means (10,20) coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means, other ones of said users being connected to said public switched telephone network means, said public switched telephone network means operating to selectively connect users of said public switched telephone network means with users directly coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A satellite cellular communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein there is further included means for connecting (10) said link means to said public switched telephone network means, said means for connecting providing gateway facility services between said satellite switching means and said public switched telephone network means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low-earth orbit; link means (j) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means; and data base means (110-130) coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means, said data base means for storing and transmitting switching information describing each of said plurality of users.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low-earth orbit; link means (j) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means; and data base means (110-130) coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means, said data base means for storing and transmitting switching information describing each of said plurality of users.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
140 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low earth orbit; link means (j) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means; cellular telephone means (A,B) having a control signal for connecting each of said users to said satellite switching means via said link means; data base means (110-130) coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means, said data base means for storing and transmitting switching information describing each of said plurality of users; and said satellite switching means operating in response to said control signal of each of said user's cellular telephone means to update said data base means with a present location of each user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in low earth orbit; link means (j) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means; cellular telephone means (A,B) having a control signal for connecting each of said users to said satellite switching means via said link means; data base means (110-130) coupled to said satellite switching means via said link means, said data base means for storing and transmitting switching information describing each of said plurality of users; and said satellite switching means operating in response to said control signal of each of said user's cellular telephone means to update said data base means with a present location of each user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in orbit about the earth; and link means (j) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A satellite cellular communication system for establishing communication among a plurality of users comprising: satellite switching means (1,2, etc.) positioned in orbit about the earth; and link means (j) for coupling said users to said satellite switching means whereby a communication link is established between selected ones of said users via said satellite switching means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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