Abstract: A switch system (20) switches at least sixty-four asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) input data streams (22) into at least sixty-four ATM output data streams (24). The switch system (20) includes a backplane assembly (38) having integral data transmission lines, integral clock transmission lines, and discrete slots (36). A single stage space switch circuit card (26), a clock circuit card (28), and input circuit cards (30) are connected to separate slots (36) in the backplane assembly (38). The integral data transmission lines are coupled between the input circuit cards (30) and the switch circuit card (26) and the integral clock transmission lines are coupled between the clock circuit card (28) and the input circuit cards (30). Data path lengths for the integral data transmission lines differ in the backplane assembly (38), and clock path lengths for the clock transmission lines differ in the backplane assembly.

Abstract: A product detector for converting a signal to baseband includes a commutating switch which serves to sample an RF waveform four times per period at the RF frequency. The samples are integrated over time to produce an average voltage at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees and 270 degrees. The average voltage at 0 degrees is the baseband in-phase signal, and the average voltage at 90 degrees is the baseband quadrature signal. Alternatively, to increase gain, the 0 degree average can be differentially summed with the 180 degree average to form the baseband in-phase signal, and the 90 degree average can be differentially summed with the 270 degree average to produce the baseband quadrature signal.

Abstract: Advanced subscriber outage notification methods (100) notify a user of a subscriber unit (30) that its call is going to be dropped. The subscriber unit (30), the satellite (20) or the mobile telecommunication system (10) first predicts whether an outage is going to occur and how much time there is before the outage. Second, the subscriber unit (30) notifies the user of the outage and the time remaining before the outage. Third, the subscriber unit (30) waits for whether the user wants to end the call. Next, the subscriber unit (30), the satellite (20) or the mobile telecommunication system (10) terminates the call if the user wants to end the call. Lastly, the mobile telecommunication system (10) drops the call once the time remaining before the outage expires.

Abstract: A high speed packet switch (100) is provided which uses a fabric size of 128.times.128 and operates at a 2.5 Gbps rate. Parallel data transport techniques are used to obtain the 2.5 Gbps data rate while operating internal switches (160) at slower rates. The packet switch fabric is fabricated on a single ASIC using high speed CMOS.

Abstract: A communication system is established for providing dual-coverage areas using communication satellites, one or more terrestrial stations and one or more dual-coverage subscriber units (DCSU). The communication system determines when and where to establish dual-coverage areas. Dual-coverage areas are provided using separate beams from two or more satellites. The satellites can be located in a variety of orbits around the earth. DCSUs receive signals and process data from at least two satellites at one time. DCSUs can also transmit signals to at least two satellites at one time. Data packets which are missing from one channel are replaced by data packets on another channel. Path delays are compensated for on the transmit side to minimize processing requirements on the receive side.

Abstract: At least one ground station (120) and at least one subscriber unit (SU) (130) allow users to perform user-aided registration procedures in satellite communications system (100). Ground station (120) and SU (130) communicate with each other using at least one communications satellite (110). The user-aided registration procedures (400, 500, and 600) enable border crossings to more accurately be processed by the system (100). Registration region information is presented to a user using a display device. A user response is processed by the SU and the ground station during registration procedures.

Abstract: A system facilitates global cellular communication by utilizing a gateway satellite (1000) which communicates with low-earth orbiting satellites (10, 20) via signalling links (1001, 1002). Switching is performed in each of the satellites (10, 20) and switching interconnections as well as voice path communications are switched via the gateway satellite (1000). With switching performed in a gateway satellite (1000), the use of a ground-based gateway network (74) is minimized and, in some cases, eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used by a communication system (100) to register communication system users which use service provider equipment. Multiple-user and special purpose single-user communication units (110) are provided and/or operated by service providers. MCUs (110) can be located on mobile vehicles or in fixed locations. The system along with MCUs (110) collect registration information and usage information for individual users (440) and individual MCUs (110). Service providers receive billing information concerning the usage of their MCUs (110) by communication system users. After communication system (100) registers each user whose registration information is contained within the at least one combined request message, communication system (100) provides communication services to each user and billing information services to the service provider for the communications service and the service provider furnishing the communications equipment.

Abstract: A telephone, such as a radiotelephone, is provided having the capability to concurrently operate with two subscriber identification module (SIM) cards. The telephone advantageously permits a single phone to have two telephone numbers associated therewith.

Abstract: A communication system including a constellation of satellites and a multi-channel unit having a plurality of co-located transceivers operative for exchanging communication information with users, and for monitoring a plurality of spot beams transmitted from one or more of the satellites for ring alert data contained within broadcast channels, and for monitoring and prioritizing the strongest of "n" broadcast channels for ring alerts based upon signal strength, upon a continuous sampling of ring alert channels contained within one or more broadcast channels, upon broadcast signal strength in relation to idle transceiver availability and the communication system geometries, and upon the monitoring of broadcast channels contained within candidate handoff lists contained within one or more of the traffic channels of in-use transceivers, for the purpose of increasing the probability of receiving a ring alert.

Abstract: A multiple-user subscriber unit (MCU) (110) is used by subscribers (240) in a group of subscribers to obtain communications services from the communication system. MCU (110) is co-located with a mobile vehicle and a group of subscribers. The MCU (110) and procedure (300) enable the MCU to reduce impulsive loading of the communication system caused by simultaneously requests for service. MCU (110) determines a set of tasks which includes a number of call-processing tasks, a number of hand-off tasks, and a number of re-registration tasks. Priorities are established for the tasks which must be performed. A schedule is established based on the priorities and the amount of time required to perform the tasks and the total amount of time available to perform the tasks. Tasks are performed according to the schedule and this reduces impulsive loading of the communication system (100).

Abstract: A telephone includes a SIM card reader which receives SIM cards. The SIM card may contain two or more telephone numbers for which the phone is activated. One of the numbers may be a temporary number which is linked in use to, for example, a time period. By providing the capability of having two or more numbers on a SIM card, a single phone may respond to incoming calls for a different number of telephone numbers.

Abstract: A communication system (10), having dynamic nodes such as satellites (12) communicate information from a calling party to a called party or subscriber unit (26). When adjacent interfering structures (100) obstruct a communication path, information is unable to pass therebetween. A message control center (27) allows a caller to leave a message for subsequent delivery to a subscriber unit (26). Message control center (27) calculates an enhanced delivery region (105) about a last-know location of subscriber unit (26) and determines satellite orbits that pass over the enhanced delivery region. This enhanced delivery region is serviced by satellites passing at near overhead elevation angles. Message control center (27) prioritizes the ground-tracks contained within an enhanced delivery region (105) and selects one for use in message delivery. A delivery time is calculated corresponding to the selected ground-track and message control center (27) schedules delivery of that message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handing off communications between a primary satellite system (500) and an alternate satellite system (550) determines (602) when a hand-off condition for the primary satellite system (500) exists. An alternate satellite (552) is determined (604, 904) which has a coverage area (554) which is positioned such that the alternate satellite (552) can provide an alternate communication link (556). A hand-off between the primary satellite system (500) and the alternate satellite system (550) is then performed (606). When the hand-off condition is alleviated (610), a hand-off back to the primary satellite system (550) is performed and normal operations are resumed (600).

Abstract: A multiple subscriber unit (MSU) (600) is co-located with a mobile vehicle (110) and is coupled to multiple communication units (620) which can be used by MSU users to establish communication links between the MSU users and other terminals. The MSU (600) and a method for operating the MSU perform selective registration (200-210, 300-322) for the MSU users. In order to reduce unnecessary registration traffic, only after the MSU determines (202, 303) that a particular MSU user desires to receive incoming calls will the MSU register (208, 320) the particular MSU user with a communication system. If an MSU user does not desire to receive incoming calls, the MSU will not register (204, 304) the MSU user with the communication system.

Abstract: A method for a network in a multi-network system to obtain access information for a subscriber unit (104) (SU) involves requesting (1306) access information from an access server (110) which determines (1208) whether a group to which the SU belongs can access the network or another network from the SU location. The access server (110) can also send (1228) information to a network which describes which other networks the SU group can access from the SU location. An access server apparatus (1800) includes a processor (1802) for making access decisions in a multi-network system, a memory device (1804) for storing access information (1100) for various networks, and at least one network interface (1806). A gateway (GW) apparatus (2000) contacts an access server (110) to obtain access information. An SU apparatus (1900) includes a processor (1902) for using information from the access server (110) to access a network.

Abstract: An emergency handoff method (50) reroutes or redirects communications from one channel in a cell (105) to another channel in the same cell (105) or a different cell (107). Handoff is initiated by a subscriber unit (SU) (100) when the SU (100) determines that an emergency handoff is needed. Once a new channel is needed, the SU (100) chooses a new, available channel to transfer its communication. After selecting an available channel, the SU (100) acquires the available channel. The servicing satellite which is providing the available channel then makes the constellation of satellites reroute or redirect the call data or the communication packets across the new channel to the SU (100).

Abstract: A method for handing off calls between differing radio telecommunication networks recognizes (302) a desire for an inter-network hand-off. When a Subscriber Unit (120) (SU) identifies (304) a new network, a hand-off with the new network can be requested (320). When the SU (120) does not identify (304) a new network, the old network requests (314) location information relevant to an inter-network hand-off from a Location Inter-Working Server (200) (LIWS). The LIWS (200) provides information about other networks which provide service to the SU location and, when another network provides service to the SU location, a hand-off with the other network can be requested (320).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a call connection in a communication system (10) having multiple communication units (26) (CU), and at least one communication antenna (12) that moves with respect to the multiple CUs (26). The method involves determining (154) whether a first call attempt from a source CU (26) to a target CU (50) is successful. When the first call attempt is not successful, a control facility (24) predicts (186) when one of the communication antenna (12) will move within an optimal call initiation area (124), within which there is a high likelihood of being able to establish a communication link with the target CU (50). The time when the communication antenna (12) will move within the optimal call initiation area (124) is sent (160) to the source CU (26) so that the source CU (26) may make a second call attempt (162) at that time.

Abstract: A subscriber unit (26) communicates with a satellite communication system (10) that projects cells. The satellites (12) and cells move relative to the earth. During every other TDMA frame, a subscriber unit (26) measures the signal strength of all candidate hand-off beams. The signal strength of the current beam is compared to the signal strength of the candidate hand-off beams. When the signal strength of the current beam is not the strongest, a counter is incremented (108). A hand-off is requested to the beam with the greatest signal level when the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, only after the current antenna beam has not been the strongest beam for a certain period of time, is a hand-off requested. A different counter threshold is used for candidate hand-off beams from other satellites (12).