Abstract: An interface is provided between a satellite telephone system and a wireless telephone system for allowing calls to a user's wireless telephone to be diverted to a satellite telephone handset when the user is unable to use his wireless telephone, for example when on board an aircraft fitted with a satellite telephone system. The interface unit emulates the operation of a normal base station, so that the host wireless telephone system acts as if the mobile user's terminal is roaming on the host network, but is currently “busy”. The user inserts a card (which may be the SIM of his mobile phone, or a card compatible with existing satellite telephone equipment) into a suitable reader in the satellite telephone, which causes the satellite ground station's card verification system to connect to a host wireless telephone network.

Abstract: An interface (52) is provided between a satellite telephone system (4) and a cellular telephone system (5) for allowing calls to a user's cellular telephone to be diverted to a satellite telephone handset (25) when the user is unable to use his cellular telephone, for example when on board an aircraft (2) fitted with a satellite telephone system (20). The user inserts a card (which may be the SIM of his mobile phone, or a card compatible with existing satellite telephone equipment) into a suitable reader in the satellite telephone (20), which causes the satellite ground station's card verification system (42) to connect to a host cellular network (50). The host cellular network has an interface unit (52) which emulates the operation of a normal base station, so that the host cellular system (50) acts as if the mobile user's terminal is roaming on the host network, but is currently “busy”.

Abstract: An interface (52) is provided between a satellite telephone system (4) and a cellular telephone system (5) for allowing calls to a user's cellular telephone to be diverted to a satellite telephone handset (25) when the user is unable to use his cellular telephone, for example when on board an aircraft (2) fitted with a satellite telephone system (20). The user inserts a card (which may be the SIM of his mobile phone, or a card compatible with existing satellite telephone equipment) into a suitable reader in the satellite telephone (20), which causes the satellite ground station's card verification system (42) to connect to a host cellular network (50). The host cellular network has an interface unit (52) which emulates the operation of a normal base station, so that the host cellular system (50) acts as if the mobile user's terminal is roaming on the host network, but is currently “busy”.

Abstract: An interface (52) is provided between a satellite telephone system (4) and a cellular telephone system (5) for allowing calls to a user's cellular telephone to be diverted to a satellite telephone (25) when the user is unable to use his cellular telephone, for example when on board an aeroplane (2) fitted with a satellite telephone system (20). The user inserts a card (which may be the SIM of his mobile phone, or a card compatible with existing satellite telephone equipment) into a suitable reader in the satellite telephone (20), which causes the satellite ground station's card verification system (42) to connect to a host cellular network (50). The host cellular network has an interface unit (52) which emulates the operation of a normal base station, so that the host cellular system (50) acts as if the mobile user's terminal is roaming on the host network, but is currently “busy”.

Abstract: A method of forwarding a data message to a vehicle is provided. The method includes registering a user's cellular identity as present aboard a vehicle; receiving a data message intended for the cellular telephone associated with the user's cellular identity, the data message including at including at least a first address and a data packet, the first address being associated with the user's cellular identity; associating the data packet with a destination address, the destination address representing a wireless node aboard the vehicle; and forwarding the data packet to the vehicle consistent with the destination address.

Abstract: An interface (52) is provided between a satellite telephone system (4) and a cellular telephone system (5) for allowing calls to a user's cellular telephone to be diverted to a satellite telephone handset (25) when the user is unable to use his cellular telephone, for example when on board an aircraft (2) fitted with a satellite telephone system (20). The user inserts a card (which may be the SIM of his mobile phone, or a card compatible with existing satellite telephone equipment) into a suitable reader in the satellite telephone (20), which causes the satellite ground station's card verification system (42) to connect to a host cellular network (50).