Abstract: A satellite communications system includes a satellite that is configured to wirelessly communicate with radioterminals in a satellite coverage area over a satellite frequency band, and an ancillary terrestrial component that is configured to wirelessly communicate with radioterminals in the satellite coverage area over at least some of the satellite frequency band, to thereby terrestrially reuse at least some of the satellite frequency band. Wireless communications with a radioterminal are handed over from the ancillary terrestrial component to the satellite if the radioterminal transmit power exceeds a threshold, and a received satellite signal quality exceeds a threshold, even though the radioterminal is able to wirelessly communicate with the ancillary terrestrial component.

Abstract: A first radio signal is received via a first satellite reception path, for example, an antenna or spot beam, which serves a satellite cell. The received first radio signal includes a desired satellite uplink signal transmitted from a first source using a frequency assigned to the satellite cell and an interfering signal transmitted from at least one second source using the frequency assigned to the satellite cell. A second radio signal is received via a second satellite reception path, for example, via another antenna or spot beam of the system and/or via a satellite antenna beam of another system. The second radio signal includes a measure of the interfering signal. The first and second radio signals are processed to recover the desired satellite uplink signal.

Abstract: Space-based wireless radiotelephone communications are provided in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The satellite footprint is divided into satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused. At least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is assigned to a given satellite cell in the satellite footprint is terrestrially reused outside the given satellite cell. A radiation pattern of at least the given satellite cell is modified to reduce interference with the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is terrestrially reused outside the given satellite cell.

Abstract: A satellite radiotelephone system can include a space-based component and a plurality of ancillary terrestrial components. The space-based component is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The plurality of ancillary terrestrial components are configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies, at least some of the ancillary terrestrial components terrestrially reusing the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies in a staggered sectorization. Related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A satellite is used to route push-to-send messages among terrestrial base stations. Reduced push-to-send delays thereby may be provided, when a source push-to-send radioterminal is widely separated from a destination push-to-send radioterminal. Satellite routing only may be used when the source push-to-send radioterminal and the destination push-to-send radioterminal are not communicating with a single terrestrial base station or with a group of terrestrial base stations that are proximate one another. A destination base station that is communicating with the destination push-to-send radioterminal may be determined at the satellite, at a satellite gateway and/or at a central server.

Abstract: Satellite radiotelephone systems and communications methods include a space-based component that is configured to communicate with radiotelephones in a satellite footprint that is divided into satellite cells. The space-based component is configured to communicate with a first radiotelephone in a first satellite cell over a first frequency band and/or a first air interface, and to communicate with a second radiotelephone in the first or a second satellite cell over a second frequency band and/or a second air interface. An ancillary terrestrial network also is provided that is configured to communicate terrestrially with the first radiotelephone over substantially the first frequency band and/or substantially the first air interface, and to communicate terrestrially with the second radiotelephone over substantially the second frequency band and/or substantially the second air interface.

Abstract: A hybrid satellite communications system provides communications, particularly Internet access, to computer users. The hybrid satellite communications system includes a satellite system and a terrestrial communications system. The satellite system includes two transceivers. The first transceiver receives and transmits a first set of signals received from the terrestrial communications system to a plurality of user units. In reverse fashion, the satellite systems second transceiver receives a second set of signals in a second frequency band from the user units and transmits those signals back to the terrestrial communications system. The first set of signals (downlink signals) are of much higher frequency than the second set of signals (uplink signals). Preferably, the first set of signals are relayed by a Direct Broadcast System (DBS) satellite in a frequency band between 12.2 GHz and 12.9 GHz, while the second set of signals are relayed by a Mobile Satellite System (MSS) satellite operating between 1.

Abstract: A mobile terminal is configured to receive wireless communications including GPS data from a terrestrial and/or satellite wireless network, and to perform pseudo-range measurements using the GPS data that is received. The mobile terminal may be configured to perform pseudo-range measurements by receiving GPS coarse/acquisition (C/A) signals from GPS satellites, estimating Doppler shifts in the received GPS C/A signals, and estimating received code phases of the GPS C/A signals using the Doppler shifts that are estimated. The estimated code phases and/or the estimated Doppler shifts of the GPS C/A signals can provide the pseudo-range measurements. By removing the Doppler shift from the received signal samples prior to performing the code phase measurement, reduced computational complexity and/or processing time may be obtained.

Abstract: A system and method of operation for efficiently reusing and/or sharing at least a portion of the frequency spectrum between a first satellite spot beam and a second satellite spot beam, and/or an underlay terrestrial network associated with a second satellite spot beam. The spectrum is efficiently reused and/or shared between respective spot beams and/or associated underlay terrestrial systems in a manner minimizes interference between the respective satellite and terrestrial systems.

Abstract: Two satellite communications systems can use the same frequency or frequencies in geographically overlapping footprints, without creating undue interference in a given system that is caused by the same frequency signal(s) that is/are used by the other system. In particular, an aggregate Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of the radioterminals and/or ancillary terrestrial components of a second satellite communications system in the common footprint is sufficiently low, and/or the receive antenna gain of a first satellite communications system is sufficiently low compared to the receive antenna gain of the second satellite communications system, so as to increase an aggregate receiver noise that is seen by the first satellite system receivers by an amount that does not substantially change a Quality of Service (QoS) of the first satellite communications system.

Abstract: A satellite radiotelephone system includes a space-based component that is configured to communicate with multiple radiotelephones over multiple frequency bands and/or multiple air interfaces. An ancillary terrestrial network is configured to communicate terrestrially with the multiple radiotelephones over substantially the multiple frequency bands and/or substantially the multiple air interfaces. An aggregate radiated power controller is configured to limit an aggregate radiated power by the multiple radiotelephones to a maximum aggregate radiated power.

Abstract: The capacity of a terrestrial wireless communications system that uses a terrestrial frequency band for communications with wireless terminals is expanded by utilizing a satellite frequency band for terrestrially receiving terrestrial communications from the wireless terminals. Since the wireless terminals are configured to transmit communications to a space-based component such as a satellite via a satellite frequency band, these transmissions also may be picked up (received) terrestrially. Thus, terrestrial base stations can be equipped with satellite frequency band receivers that can receive communications from the wireless terminals over a satellite frequency band. By using the satellite frequency band receiver in a terrestrial base station, additional capacity and/or quality of service may be provided for a terrestrial and/or satellite communications system.

Abstract: Space-based wireless radiotelephone communications are provided in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The satellite footprint is divided into satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused. At least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is assigned to a given satellite cell in the satellite footprint is terrestrially reused outside the given satellite cell. A radiation pattern of at least the given satellite cell is modified to reduce interference with the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is terrestrially reused outside the given satellite cell.

Abstract: Radiation by an ancillary terrestrial network, and/or satellite radiotelephones that communicate therewith are monitored and controlled, to reduce and preferably prevent intra-system interference and/or interference with other satellite radiotelephone systems. In particular, a satellite radiotelephone system includes a space-based component that is configured to wirelessly communicate with first radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, and an ancillary terrestrial network that is configured to wirelessly communicate with second radiotelephones in the satellite footprint over at least some of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band, to thereby terrestrially reuse the at least some of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

Abstract: A satellite radiotelephone system includes a space-based component, an ancillary terrestrial network, a monitor and a controller. The space-based component is configured to wirelessly communicate with radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The satellite footprint is divided into satellite cells in which subsets of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused in a spatial reuse pattern. The ancillary terrestrial network is configured to wirelessly communicate with radiotelephones in the satellite footprint over at least some of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band, to thereby terrestrially reuse the at least some of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

Abstract: A space-based network for a satellite radiotelephone system includes at least one receive-only satellite and at least one transmit satellite. The transmit satellite can be a transmit-only satellite or a transmit and receive satellite. The receive-only satellite(s) are configured to receive wireless communications from a radiotelephone at a location over a satellite frequency band. The transmit satellite(s) are configured to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephone at the location over the satellite frequency band. By providing at least one receive-only satellite and at least one transmit satellite, space-based networks can offer a significant link margin, without the need to undesirably burden the radiotelephones themselves to achieve this link margin.

Abstract: Satellite radiotelephone systems include a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The satellite footprint is divided into a plurality of satellite cells, in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused. An ancillary terrestrial network is configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the ancillary radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the cell and in some embodiments separated therefrom by a spatial guardband.

Abstract: A mobile communications system transporting messages between mobile terminals and a central control center using a satellite communications system. The central control center and the mobile terminals each store a plurality of message display forms each having a form identifier and a predetermimed display format. The message display forms are selected as templates for generating user messages including message data supplied at the originating station. The satellite messages transmit the user message by transmitting the message data and the form identifier of the corresponding selected message display form. The receiving station, upon receiving the satellite message, accesses the message display form from memory in response to the supplied form identifier, and combines the accessed message display form with the message data to recreate the user message. The mobile terminals are designed as low-cost data terminals requiring a minimum amount of memory.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for providing suction and/or irrigation has a surgical tool or electrode tip mounted within the wall of an elongated housing or cannula such that the passageway through the housing is substantially unobstructed. A mounting notch is formed in the elongated housing and the surgical tool is formed with a mounting tab that matches the mounting notch. The mounting tab is positioned into the mounting notch and is substantially flush with the wall of the elongated housing. The mounting tab is then secured to the wall of the elongated housing, for example, by laser welding. The surgical tool can be formed with various different tip shapes including, but not limited to, a J hook, an L hook, a spatula, a needle, and a ball. In one example, the surgical instrument is used as a laparoscopic electrosurgical instrument and the elongated housing and surgical tool are made of electrically conductive materials.

Abstract: A threaded quick disconnect adapter is used to connect one or more different surgical probes, such as laparoscopic probes, to a valve device, such as a trumpet valve. The threaded quick disconnect adapter includes an adapter body having first and second ends. A valve engaging portion is disposed on the first end of the adapter body and is preferably threaded to threadably engaging an outlet on the valve. A threaded probe engaging portion is disposed on the second end of the adapter body for threadably engaging a probe base on one of the probes. A sealing portion, such as an O-ring, is also disposed on the second end for sealing with the probe base. The threaded probe engaging portion has a larger outer diameter than the sealing portion. In one example, the probe is attached with first a linear motion to engage the probe base with the sealing portion and then a rotating or twisting motion to thread the probe base on the threaded probe engaging portion.