US6134437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual-mode satellite/cellular phone architecture with physically separable mode
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-13
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Granted: 2000-10-17
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Expires: 2017-06-13
Abstract
Abstract In a dual-mode satellite/cellular phone system, a user has the option of placing or receiving calls to and from the satellite network with either the cellular/PCS phone or the fully self-contained, stand-alone satellite phone. If the user places or receives a satellite call with the cellular/PCS phone, the communication signals to and from the cellular/PCS phone will first be received from or transmitted to the satellite phone over a short-range, low-power communication link. The satellite phone, in turn, communicates directly with the satellite network from a location that is within a short range of the cellular/PCS phone, and from a location that preferably has a direct line-of-sight with the one or more satellites that make up the satellite network.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter D. Karabinis
- 👤 Nils Rutger Carl Rydbeck
- 👤 Michael Kornby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18563; H04B7/18569; H04B7/18571; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/06; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A cellular/satellite communication system comprising: a cellular telephone handset which communicates with a base station on a first frequency band and includes a short-range, low-power transceiver; a stand-alone satellite telephone including a short-range, low-power transceiver; and a short-range, low-power telecommunications link coupling said cellular telephone handset and said stand-alone satellite telephone, wherein said short-range, low-power telecommunications link operates in a second frequency band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A cellular/satellite communication system comprising: a cellular telephone handset which communicates with a base station on a first frequency band and includes a short-range, low-power transceiver; a stand-alone satellite telephone including a short-range, low-power transceiver; and a short-range, low-power telecommunications link coupling said cellular telephone handset and said stand-alone satellite telephone, wherein said short-range, low-power telecommunications link operates in a second frequency band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said short-range, low-power telecommunications link is a low-power microwave link.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said low-power microwave link operates in the ISM band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said cellular handset comprises: an IF/RF module for communicating on said first frequency band with said base station, wherein said base station is part of a compatible local cellular/PCS service; and a SIM card containing identification information that permits said cellular handset to receive both cellular calls through the local cellular/PCS service and satellite calls through the stand-alone satellite telephone and the short-range, low-power telecommunications link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the identification information is a single subscriber identification code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the identification information comprises: a first subscriber identification code for receiving calls through the local cellular/PCS service; and a second subscriber identification code for receiving calls through the stand-alone satellite telephone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said stand-alone satellite telephone comprises: an IF/RF module for communicating with an orbiting satellite; and a SIM card containing identification information that permits said satellite telephone to receive satellite communications directly from an orbiting satellite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said short-range, low-power telecommunications link operates in a frequency hopping mode within said second frequency band.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising: a first SIM card contained within said cellular telephone handset; and a second SIM card contained within said stand-alone satellite telephone, wherein said first and said second SIM cards define a frequency hopping sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said cellular telephone handset and said stand-alone satellite telephone comprise: means for receiving incoming signals; means for downconverting said incoming signals to baseband; means for remodulating said baseband signals; and means for transmitting said remodulated signals over said short-range, low-power telecommunications link.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cellular/satellite telecommunications apparatus comprising: a cellular telephone handset which communicates with a base station on a first frequency band; a stand-alone satellite telephone; and means for establishing a short-range, low-power telecommunications link between said cellular telephone handset and said stand-alone satellite telephone, wherein said short-range, low-power telecommunications link operates within a second frequency band.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cellular/satellite telecommunications apparatus comprising: a cellular telephone handset which communicates with a base station on a first frequency band; a stand-alone satellite telephone; and means for establishing a short-range, low-power telecommunications link between said cellular telephone handset and said stand-alone satellite telephone, wherein said short-range, low-power telecommunications link operates within a second frequency band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said means for establishing a short-range, low-power telecommunications link comprises: transceiver means, in said stand-alone satellite telephone, for transmitting and receiving low-power signals to and from said cellular telephone handset; and transceiver means, in said cellular telephone handset, for transmitting and receiving low-power signals to and from said stand-alone satellite telephone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the short-range, low-power telecommunications link is a microwave link.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the second frequency band is in the ISM frequency band.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said stand-alone satellite telephone comprises: telephone identification module means for allowing said stand-alone satellite telephone to receive satellite communications.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said cellular telephone handset comprises: telephone identification module means for allowing said cellular telephone handset to receive either satellite network calls or cellular network calls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said telephone identification module means comprises: a single subscriber identification code means for permitting said cellular telephone handset to receive satellite network calls and cellular network calls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said telephone identification module means comprises: a first subscriber identification means for permitting said cellular telephone handset to receive satellite network calls; and a second subscriber identification means for permitting said cellular telephone handset to receive cellular network calls.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said means for establishing a short-range, low-power telecommunications link comprises: frequency hopping means for generating a sequence of frequencies, within said second frequency band, over which the short-range, low-power telecommunications link operates.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said cellular telephone handset and said stand-alone satellite telephone comprise: means for receiving an incoming signals; means for downconverting said incoming signals to baseband; means for remodulating said baseband signals; and means for transmitting said remodulated signals over said short-range, low-power telecommunications link.
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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) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |