EP0748064A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Two-system protocol conversion transceiver repeater
Assignee: Globalstar LP
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Filing: 1996-04-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A system and method are disclosed for bidirectionally coupling a first satellite communication system to a second satellite communication system, wherein the first and second systems operate with different protocols. In a presently preferred embodiment of this invention the first system uses a spread spectrum (SS), code division multiple access (CDMA) technique wherein the satellites serve as simple 'bent pipe' repeaters for relaying communications between a user and a gateway. The second satellite communication system may be any other type of system having at least one characteristic that precludes direct communication between the first and the second systems. In an exemplary embodiment the second system uses a time division multiple access (TDMA) technique, and furthermore enables direct satellite-to-satellite communication links. A ground-based protocol conversion unit (70) is positioned for receiving a communication from a satellite of either the first or the second system, and includes circuitry for converting the transmission into a transmission that is suitable for transmission into the other system. For example, a SS-CDMA transmission is received from the first system, is translated into a TDMA format, and is transmitted into the second system. The communication may then be relayed between at least two satellites of the second system before being transmitted to a ground station of the second system for connection to the local public switched telephone network (PSTN). A hybrid communication system in accordance with this invention is formed by placing the protocol converter between two dissimilar satellite-based communication systems, thereby linking the two dissimilar systems for bidirectional voice and/or data communications.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Wiedeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18532; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/18; H04B7/18563; H04B7/204; H04B7/212; H04B7/216; H04J; H04J13/00; H04J13/0007; H04J13/004; H04J13/0048; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/08; H04B1/00; H04B1/69; H04B1/707; H04B1/7097; H04B1/711; H04B1/7115; H04B1/709; H04B1/7093; H04B2001/70935; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/06; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A communication repeater unit, comprising: a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with at least one first satellite of a first satellite-based communication system; a second transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with at least one second satellite of a second satellite-based communication system; wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol, wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a second protocol, wherein the first protocol is different than the second protocol; and wherein said repeater unit further comprises, a protocol converter that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver and to said second transceiver for receiving a transmission from one of said satellite-based communication systems, for converting the received transmission to the protocol employed by the other satellite-based communication system, and for transmitting a protocol-converted transmission to the other satellite-based communication system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
A communication repeater unit as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a data base of authorized users, and wherein said protocol converter converts a received transmission only if the received transmission is originated by a user that is recorded in the data base of authorized users.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A communication repeater unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a spread spectrum, code division multiple access-based protocol, and wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a time division, multiple access-based protocol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 3 wherein satellites of said first satellite-based communication system are capable of direct communication only with terrestrial transceivers, including said protocol conversion unit, and wherein satellites of said second satellite-based communication system are capable of direct communication with terrestrial transceivers, including said protocol conversion unit, and also with at least one other satellite of said second satellite-based communication system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
A hybrid communication system, comprising: a first satellite-based communication system including at least one first satellite; a second satellite-based communication system including at least one second satellite; wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol, wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a second protocol, wherein the first protocol is different than the second protocol; and wherein said hybrid communication system further comprises at least one protocol conversion unit that includes, a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one first satellite of said first satellite-based communication system; a second transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one second satellite of said second satellite-based communication system; and a protocol converter that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver and to said second transceiver for receiving a transmission from one of said satellite-based communication systems, for converting the received transmission to the protocol employed by the other satellite-based communication system, and for transmitting a protocol-converted transmission to the other satellite-based communication system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
A hybrid communication system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one first satellite is a low earth orbit satellite comprising means for receiving a communication uplink feeder link from at least one ground station and means for transmitting the received communication feeder link to a plurality of terrestrially located terminals that are located within a downlink coverage area associated with said first satellite, and wherein said at least one ground station comprises means for transmitting said communication feeder link to said at least one first satellite and further comprises means for coupling said communication feeder link to a terrestrially located communication system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hybrid communication system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said protocol converter further comprises a data base of authorized users, and wherein said protocol converter converts a received transmission only if the received transmission is originated by a user that is recorded in the data base of authorized users.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A hybrid communication system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a spread spectrum, code division multiple access-based protocol, and wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a time division, multiple access-based protocol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A hybrid communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein satellites of said first satellite-based communication system are capable of direct communication only with terrestrial transceivers, including said protocol conversion unit, and wherein satellites of said second satellite-based communication system are capable of direct communication with terrestrial transceivers, including said protocol conversion unit, and also with at least one other satellite of said second satellite-based communication system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for communicating from one user terminal to another user terminal, comprising the steps of: originating a communication at a first terminal; relaying the communication through a ground station to at least one satellite of a first satellite-based communication system, the first satellite-based communication system operating in accordance with a first protocol; repeating the communication with the at least one first satellite; receiving the repeated communication; converting the communication into a communication with a second protocol that is associated with a second satellite-based communication system; transmitting the converted communication into the second satellite-based communication system; receiving the transmitted converted communication with at least one second satellite of the second satellite-based communication system; and delivering the converted communication to a second terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of delivering includes a step of relaying the converted communication from the at least one second satellite to at least one further satellite of the second satellite-based communication system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of converting includes an initial step of determining if the communication was initiated by a user that is recorded in a data base of authorized users.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first satellite-based communication system employs a spread spectrum, code division multiple access-based protocol, and wherein the second satellite-based communication system employs a time division, multiple access-based protocol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the step of converting converts at least one of access type, modulation type, frequency plan, bit rate, signalling format, error protection technique, power level control, voice coding technique, voice coding rate, access and paging format, call set-up format, and handover technique.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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