Abstract: A satellite telephone system for communication between a fixed network (4) and a moveable network (1) on board a vehicle, has means for suspending operation of the moveable network, for example when the moveable network could interfere with a fixed network, during safety-critical stages of a flight, or to enforce “quiet” periods on board. When operation of the moveable network (1) is suspended a control signal is transmitted to the fixed network (4), causing the fixed network (4) to intercept calls directed to the moveable network, thereby avoiding unnecessary signal traffic over the satellite link (3, 6, 13). The moveable network may be a wireless network (FIGS. 1, 2), or a wired network (FIG. 4).

Abstract: A method for forwarding incoming cellular communications to an aircraft is provided. A request is received to divert incoming calls for a cellular telephone number to a communication system on board an aircraft. The request includes at least a temporary identification code representing a cellular telephone aboard the aircraft. A diversion instruction is associated with the cellular telephone number. The diversion instruction represents an instruction to forward an incoming call for the cellular telephone number to the communications system aboard the aircraft. A state of a cellular telephone associated with the cellular telephone number is considered as busy, regardless of an actual state of the cellular telephone. An incoming telephone call to the cellular telephone number is forwarded, consistent with said considering and in accordance with the diversion instruction, to the communications system on board the aircraft.

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 satellite telephone system for communication between a fixed network (4) and a moveable network (1) on board a vehicle, has means for suspending operation of the moveable network, for example when the moveable network could interfere with a fixed network, during safety-critical stages of a flight, or to enforce “quiet” periods on board. When operation of the moveable network (1) is suspended a control signal is transmitted to the fixed network (4), causing the fixed network (4) to intercept calls directed to the moveable network, thereby avoiding unnecessary signal traffic over the satellite link (3, 6, 13). The moveable network may be a wireless network (FIGS. 1, 2), or a wired network (FIG. 4).

Abstract: A moveable switching system provides a cell, or small network of cells, which moves with the aircraft or other vehicle on which it is located, but whose operation appears to the user as an ordinary fixed base station of the “host” network to which it is connected. A cellular mobile switching center 16, on board the aircraft, detects a call attempt or registration attempt from a mobile unit 10 and generates a temporary onboard identity for association with the mobile identity code. The temporary onboard identity code is associated with a node of the onboard part of a satellite communications system. The code is returned to the onboard MSC 16 which sets up a call over a satellite system 13,6,3 to the MSC 41 of a host network 4.

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 airplane (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).