Abstract: A method and apparatus determines attitude of a satellite (52) or other communications device traveling in a determinable path. The method comprises determining orientation data describing directions of one or more narrow-beam RF or laser communications channels (223, 225, 231, 233, 241, 251, 253, and 261; FIG. 2) and using the orientation data and known position of the satellite to determine the attitude of the satellite. The apparatus comprises one or more directional transmitters and receivers (310, 312, 314, 316, 318, and 320; FIG. 3) coupled to controller (330), where controller (330) accepts orientation controller data from the one or more directional transmitters and receivers and determines the satellite's attitude based on the orientation controller data and the known positions of the transmitters and receivers.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a communication link, wherein the system includes a communications unit (60, FIG. 3) having a vocoder (62) for providing user-specific voice data in the form of a unique set of speech characteristic model parameters for each authorized user. The method (200, FIG. 8) includes the steps of providing user-specific voice data via a connection training method (FIGS. 5, 6, or 7), collecting a sample of speech characteristics from a user desiring to access the communication unit (206, FIG. 8), comparing the sample with the user-specific voice data (212), granting the user access to the communication unit to establish a communication link with another communication unit if the sample is comparable with the user-specific voice data (215), and denying the user access to the communication unit if the sample is incomparable with the user-specific voice data (220).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the quality and transmission rates of speech is presented. Upon connection of a call with a receiving terminal, a communication unit (12, 26, 28, 42, 57, 54, 60) reads a dynamic user-specific speech characteristics model (SCM) table and user-specific input stimulus table and sends them to an appropriate point in the connection path with the receiving terminal. As normal voice conversation begins, the user's speech is collected into speech frames. The speech frames are compared to input stimuli entries in the user-specific input stimulus table, and are used to calculate SCMs which are compared to dynamic user-specific SCM table entries in the dynamic user-specific SCM table to generate an encoded bit stream. Simultaneously, speech characteristics statistics are collected and analyzed in view of multiple available generic SCMs to update and improve the dynamic user-specific SCM table during the progress of the call to closely track changes in the user's voice.

Abstract: A method (400, FIG. 4) for beam management in a satellite communication system (10) which simplifies cell-to-cell hand-offs within a footprint (90) of a satellite (20) and between two or more satellites (20) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing multiple beam stripes (130, FIG. 2) extending across the footprint (90) in a direction corresponding to the direction of flight (60) of the satellite, grouping the beam stripes (130) into one or more beam groups (150, FIG. 3), and selectively associating hardware groups (300) comprised of hardware resources to support beam groups (150). Method (400) also can include steps (450-470) for determining and compensating for undesirable system effects arising as a result of the relative motion of the Earth (50, FIG. 1) with respect to satellites (20) of system (10). A satellite (20, FIGS. 10 and 11) designed and configured to execute method (400) also is disclosed.

Abstract: A method (100) for providing continuous communication service from a partially populated satellite constellation includes deploying one or more phases of satellites to populate one or more sets of orbital planes (210), and providing continuous communication service from the one or more sets of orbital planes. Satellites (320) in each phase of satellites can be positioned to reside substantially the same as a position in which they will reside in a fully populated satellite constellation thereby eliminating the need to relocate satellites in the fully populated satellite constellation. Also, a communication unit (600) and a method (700) for the communication unit to communicate in a satellite communication system having a satellite constellation capable of being deployed in a plurality of phases is provided. The communication unit is capable of communicating with the satellite communication system at various minimum elevation angles during various phases of deployment.

Abstract: A voice encoding method ?and apparatus initialize! initializes (160) transmit and receive vocoders operated within communication units (12, 42) with a user-unique speech characteristic model (SCM) table (320) and an input stimulus table (340). The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) are created during a training task (120) and stored (144) in a user information card (360), within a communication unit (60), or at a control facility (90). During call setup, the tables are exchanged (180) between the transmit and receive vocoders and the user's speech is encoded (200) using the SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340). During encoding (200), either compressed table entries that most closely match the input speech, or indexes that identify the closest table entries are sent (220) in a bitstream to the receive vocoder. The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) can be updated (240) during or after the call.