US5651050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ground-to-air telephone calling system and related method for establishing a telephone link between a ground-based caller and a passenger on board an aircraft
Assignee: Mobile Telecommunication Technology
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Filing: 1995-05-02
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Granted: 1997-07-22
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Expires: 2015-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A ground-to-air telephone calling system is provided including a computer for receiving an airborne telephone number and a call-back number from a calling party and forming the telephone numbers into a data signal comporting with existing protocol filed in the FCC, an uplink unit for uplinking the data signal to a satellite and a plurality of downlink stations for receiving the data signal from the satellite; a plurality of ground stations corresponding to each of the downlink units for receiving the data signals and passing a call signal identifying the airborne telephone and particular ground station to a corresponding transmit/receive unit for subsequent transmission to the aircraft; a call being initiated from the ground station to the calling party over the public switched telephone network if the aircraft responds to the call signal. An alternative embodiment provides for a plurality of telephones on board the aircraft, and is capable of directing a call from a ground based caller to a particular telephone assigned to a passenger on the aircraft.
Inventors
- 👤 Jai P. Bhagat
- 👤 William D. Hays
- 👤 Ernest A. Oswalt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18502; H04B7/18506; H04B7/18508
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for establishing a communication link between a ground-based caller and a passenger on board an aircraft having a plurality of telephones, comprising: a ground station, including: a) a receiving device to receive a call for a passenger and collect the caller's telephone number, and b) signal a generator to generate a signal including the caller's telephone number; one or more transmitters to transmit the signal over a predetermined geographic region; a correlation device to correlate the passenger to a predetermined aircraft seat associated with a predetermined telephone; a receiver on the aircraft to receive the signal; an indicator on the predetermined telephone to inform the passenger of the call; transmitting means on the aircraft for generating a response signal and transmitting the response signal to the ground station; and a dialer at the ground station to dial the caller's telephone number when the ground station receives the response signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A system for establishing a communication link between a ground-based caller and a passenger on board an aircraft having a plurality of telephones, comprising: a ground station, including: a) a receiving device to receive a call for a passenger and collect the caller's telephone number, and b) signal a generator to generate a signal including the caller's telephone number; one or more transmitters to transmit the signal over a predetermined geographic region; a correlation device to correlate the passenger to a predetermined aircraft seat associated with a predetermined telephone; a receiver on the aircraft to receive the signal; an indicator on the predetermined telephone to inform the passenger of the call; transmitting means on the aircraft for generating a response signal and transmitting the response signal to the ground station; and a dialer at the ground station to dial the caller's telephone number when the ground station receives the response signal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of establishing a communication link between a ground-based caller and a passenger on board an aircraft having a plurality of telephones, the method comprising the steps of: correlating the passenger to a predetermined aircraft seat having a predetermined telephone; receiving a call for the passenger; receiving the caller's telephone number; transmitting a signal over a predetermined geographic region, said signal including information to alert said passenger to a call; receiving said signal at the aircraft; alerting said passenger via said predetermined telephone that said signal has been received; transmitting a response signal from the aircraft to a ground station in response to said signal; and establishing a communication link between the predetermined telephone and the caller in response to the response signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of establishing a communication link between a ground-based caller and a passenger on board an aircraft having a plurality of telephones, the method comprising the steps of: correlating the passenger to a predetermined aircraft seat having a predetermined telephone; receiving a call for the passenger; receiving the caller's telephone number; transmitting a signal over a predetermined geographic region, said signal including information to alert said passenger to a call; receiving said signal at the aircraft; alerting said passenger via said predetermined telephone that said signal has been received; transmitting a response signal from the aircraft to a ground station in response to said signal; and establishing a communication link between the predetermined telephone and the caller in response to the response signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-21 | 2001-01-20 | 2001-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-21 | 2005-01-20 | 2005-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-21 | 2009-01-20 | 2009-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |