Abstract: A satellite communication system has at least one satellite (1) with an antenna that generates a moving beam pattern on the surface of the earth. The beam pattern (3) is comprised of a plurality of sub-beams (4). A method of this invention determines an attitude correction signal for the satellite by the steps of: (a) providing at least one reference transmitter (10) at a known location on the surface of the earth; (b) transmitting at least one signal from the at least reference transmitter into at least one of the sub-beams; (c) receiving the at least one signal with the satellite antenna and transponding the received at least one signal to a ground station (8).

Abstract: A method and system for accurately accounting for an amount of satellite communications system resources that are allotted to and utilized by a user terminal on a per call or connection basis. The method accumulates data at periodic intervals during a connection, the data indicating what portion of the overall system resources are utilized on both a forward link (gateway to satellite(s) to user terminal) and on a reverse link (user terminal to satellite(s) to gateway). The usage data can include power levels, data rates, user terminal location, and user terminal type. A Gateway (18) that is assigned to handling the call for the user terminal (13) accumulates the data and subsequently transfers the data over a terrestrial data network (39) to a Ground Operations Control Center (38). The center uses the data to determine an amount to be billed to a service provider associated with a service area that includes the gateway.

Abstract: A satellite telecommunications system that is operative in conjunction with an existing terrestrial telecommunications system. The satellite telecommunications system includes at least one satellite in earth orbit, at least one terrestrial communications gateway for coupling the at least one satellite to the terrestrial telecommunications system, a plurality of satellite telecommunications system subscriber transceivers operative for conducting communications through the at least one satellite with subscribers of the terrestrial telecommunications system, and a terrestrial network coordinating gateway (NCG) in communication with the at least one satellite. The NCG includes a satellite receiver for receiving access requests from individual ones of the plurality of subscriber transceivers and a controller for assigning satellite channels on behalf of the subscriber transceivers and for selecting terrestrial communications gateways to create call set-up links on behalf of the subscriber transceivers.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for bidirectionally coupling a first satellite communication system to a second satellite communication system, wherein the first and second systems operate with different protocols. In a presently preferred embodiment of this invention the first system uses a spread spectrum (SS), code division multiple access (CDMA) technique wherein the satellites serve as simple `bent pipe` repeaters for relaying communications between a user and a gateway. The second satellite communication system may be any other type of system having at least one characteristic that precludes direct communication between the first and the second systems. In an exemplary embodiment the second system uses a time division multiple access (TDMA) technique, and furthermore enables direct satellite-to-satellite communication links.

Abstract: This invention teaches the use of overlapping footprints in a LEO satellite communications system to increase the overall connectivity of the system, thus providing a wide service availability. In particular, this invention teaches the use of at least one terrestrial LEOS relay station (70) that is positioned within an overlap of at least two satellite coverage areas for relaying a communication from a gateway (18A) associated with a first coverage area to a gateway (18B) associated with a second coverage area. A plurality of LEOS relay stations can be so provided to enable a communication, such as a voice communication, to be routed through a plurality of coverage areas and gateways, thereby bypassing a substantial portion of an underlying terrestrial communication system.

Abstract: A satellite communication system (10) includes at least one satellite communication signal repeater (12); at least one ground station (18) for transmitting a feeder link comprised of a plurality of communication signals to the at least one satellite communication signal repeater; and a plurality of user terminals (13) each receiving one of the communication signals over a user link from the at least one satellite communication signal repeater. The satellite communication system further includes a closed loop power control system (80) having a plurality of inner loops (84), individual ones of which operate to compensate one of the user links for communication signal impairments occurring at least between the user terminal and the at least one satellite communication repeater, and an outer loop (82) which operates to compensate all of the user links for feeder link impairments occurring between the at least one ground station and the at least one satellite communication signal repeater.

Abstract: A wireless telephone system (10) capable of servicing a roaming wireless telephone user (30) includes a satellite (22) communications system consisting of at least one orbiting satellite (22); at least one terrestrial-based gateway (12, 14, 16, 18) having access to a database (20) of users, destination codes (telephone numbers); at least one network coordinating gateway (28) within at least one satellite service area (24); a single network control center (25); and a plurality of terrestrial communications links (e.g. 101). The system (10) operates by effecting communication between a terrestrial wireless telephone end user transceiver apparatus (e.g. 501) and a terrestrial communications link (e.g. 101) via a single relay through a single satellite (22) or a succession of single relay satellites (22) wherein the relay station may be in motion relative to the end user transceiver apparatus (501) and the terrestrial communications link (101).

Abstract: A communication system (10), and a method executed by same, for allocating communications traffic through a plurality of satellites (12) of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites. Each of the plurality of satellites is oriented, at any given time when in view of a ground station (18), at a particular elevation angle. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing each of the plurality of satellites with a receiver for receiving communication links from the ground station and a transmitter for transmitting communication links to user terminals; (b) in response to a request for service, determining if a highest elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; (c) if yes, assigning a new communication link to the highest elevation angle satellite; (d) if no, determining if a second highest elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; and (e) if yes, assigning a new communication link to the second highest elevation angle satellite.

Abstract: A wireless telephone system (10) capable of servicing a roaming wireless telephone user (30) includes a satellite (22) communications system consisting of at least one orbiting satellite (22); at least one terrestrial-based gateway (12, 14, 16, 18) having access to a database (20) of users, destination codes (telephone numbers); at least one network coordinating gateway (28) within at least one satellite service area (24); a single network control center (25); and a plurality of terrestrial communications links (e.g. 101). The system (10) operates by effecting communication between a terrestrial wireless telephone end user transceiver apparatus (e.g. 501) and a terrestrial communications link (e.g. 101) via a single relay through a single satellite (22) or a succession of single relay satellites (22) wherein the relay station may be in motion relative to the end user transceiver apparatus (501) and the terrestrial communications link (101).

Abstract: A wireless telephone system (10) capable of servicing a roaming wireless telephone user (30) includes a satellite (22) communications system consisting of at least one orbiting satellite (22); at least one terrestrial-based gateway (12, 14, 16, 18) having access to a database (20) of users, destination codes (telephone numbers); at least one network coordinating gateway (28) within at least one satellite service area (24); a single network control center (25); and a plurality of terrestrial communications links (e.g. 101). The system (10) operates by effecting communication between a terrestrial wireless telephone end user transceiver apparatus (e.g. 501) and a terrestrial communications link (e.g. 101) via a single relay through a single satellite (22) or a succession of single relay satellites (22) wherein the relay station may be in motion relative to the end user transceiver apparatus (501) and the terrestrial communications link (101).

Abstract: A wireless telephone system (10) capable of servicing a roaming wireless telephone user (30) includes a satellite (22) communications system consisting of at least one orbiting satellite (22); at least one terrestrial-based gateway (12, 14, 16, 18) having access to a database (20) of users, destination codes (telephone numbers); at least one network coordinating gateway (28) within at least one satellite service area (24); a single network control center (25); and a plurality of terrestrial communications links (e.g. 101). The system (10) operates by effecting communication between a terrestrial wireless telephone end user transceiver apparatus (e.g. 501) and a terrestrial communications link (e.g. 101) via a single relay through a single satellite (22) or a succession of single relay satellites (22) wherein the relay station may be in motion relative to the end user transceiver apparatus (501) and the terrestrial communications link (101).

Abstract: A wireless telephone system capable of servicing a roaming wireless telephone user includes a satellite communications system consisting of one or more orbiting satellites, each carrying a database of users, destination codes and call codes, within a satellite service area, a satellite control center, and a plurality of terrestrial communications links.