Abstract: A digital mobile phone network infrastructure includes a plurality of radio base stations in communication with a plurality of mobile communications devices over a radio interface. In a method according to the invention packetized streamed media data is buffered within the network infrastructure and this data is then sent to a mobile communications device when traffic across the radio interface is low. The data may be transmitted at a lower than usual quality of service. Preferably the mobile communications device buffers the streamed data until reception is complete before the data stream is played to a user. Aspects of the invention also include a mobile communications device and a streamed media data controller for implementing the method. The method allows more efficient use of a network capacity and in particular allows the provision of high quality multimedia bulletins to mobile phone users at times of peak loading.

Abstract: A mobile satellite telecommunications system is disclosed comprising at least a user terminal and a satellite which is in earth orbit and at least a gateway bidirectionally coupled to a data communications network. The user terminal comprises a controller responsive to at least one criterion having been met for activating an indicator to inform a user of a potential for reduced user terminal performance.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to query availability, roaming history and/or modem statistics of a wireless device that can roam between at least two different wireless networks, without assistance from network service provider personnel.

Abstract: A satellite system provides geosynchronous satellites in tundra orbits in respective elliptical orbital planes separated by 120 degrees. The satellites traverse a common figure-eight ground track comprising northern and southern loops. The satellites are controllably switched to operate the satellite currently traversing the northern loop to deliver a selected signal (e.g., a selected frequency signal) to satellite receivers.

Abstract: Methods (200) and apparatus (700) for providing an access to a first communication network (102) through a second communication network (106) by a communication device (108) are disclosed. The communication device (108) having a first identification and supporting a cellular core network signaling protocol of the first communication network (102), upon entering the second communication network, is assigned a second identification by the second communication network (106). The communication device (108) communicates with the first communication network (102) through an alternative network controller (104) utilizing the second communication network (106). Method (500) for providing an access to a preferred communication network out of a plurality of communication networks based upon a predetermined condition is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mitigating communications interference between satellite communications systems in different orbits is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of evaluating a geometrical relationship between a second ground station and the satellites in the second satellite constellation, and directing communications between the second ground station and the second satellite according to the evaluated geometrical relationship. In one embodiment communications are handed over from a first satellite to another satellite when the first satellite is no longer at the highest elevation angle of visible satellites. In another embodiment, handover occurs when the first satellite drops below a minimum elevation angle.

Abstract: Access terminal identification management providing a minimum distance between subnets before reusing subnet identifiers. Mobility criteria evaluation determines when to reassign an access terminal identifier. In one embodiment, the mobility criteria is whether any member of the active set for the access terminal belongs to an originating subnet. In an alternate embodiment, the criteria is whether the access terminal has traveled more than a minimum distance from the originating subnet. When a mobility criteria is violated, the access network assigns a new identifier. In one embodiment, the access terminal identifier is a long code mask based on a subnet identifier. Identifier management applies when crossing sector boundaries in a cellular system, and serves to reduce the ambiguity of mapping CC values to full UATI values, and to avoid overlapping assignments.

Abstract: In a telecommunication network a plurality of transmitting and receiving stations are provided at randomly distributed locations. Routing elements are provided for routing of calls between stations in the network utilizing other stations in the network for relaying of such calls where necessary. Each station incorporates a call routing control unit acting to select a further station to which a call is to be transmitted for the purpose of relaying the call and comprising a memory for compiling, for a plurality of possible destination stations and from information received from further stations within the network within range of the transmitting station, information on possible further stations which may be suitable for relaying calls to the destination stations.

Abstract: A dual-band multiple beam antenna system for a communications satellite sharing a set of reflector antennas for the transmit and receive frequencies. One set of reflectors is common to both the downlink and uplink frequencies. The feed horns are diplexed and exhibit frequency-dependent radiation patterns that separate the phase centers over the downlink and uplink frequency bands to obtain dual-band performance. The focal point of the reflector is in close proximity to the phase center corresponding to the downlink frequency band. The phase center for the uplink frequency band is spaced a predetermined distance from the phase center of the downlink frequency band. According to the present invention, the uplink frequencies are defocused and the downlink frequencies are focused thereby creating identical radiation patterns at both frequency bands and over the coverage region of the communications satellite.

Abstract: Upon establishing a wireless speech connection with a host station, a cellular telephone automatically sends data for backup that includes at least control information stored in the telephone. The data transmitted from the cellular telephone are saved in a data backup device of the host office.

Abstract: A resource manager for a satellite telecommunication system including user terminals sending data to spots via a satellite, all data streams from a given terminal to the same given destination spot constituting a virtual path comprising a set of uplinks from the terminal to the satellite and a set of downlinks from the satellite to the spot, includes a central entity associated with each satellite for receiving requests sent by the user terminals and each expressing a requirement to use resources of the satellite corresponding to the virtual path. The central entity groups the requests into request groups each associated with a set of uplinks from the same spot to the destination spot, the set of uplinks constituting a virtual link, and determines authorized resources for each request group.

Abstract: A satellite constellation has a plurality of satellites. Each of the satellites has an RF ground link for communicating with a ground station and an optical link for communication with at least one of the plurality of satellites. Each of the satellites has a reconfigurable optical transmitter for sending and receiving data streams. Each reconfigurable optical transmitter has a first optical carrier associated therewith and a reconfigurable optical receiver. The plurality of satellites is arranged to have a first subset of satellites. The first subset of satellites is configured to communicate. The plurality of satellites is reconfigured to have a second subset of satellites having at least one different satellites than that of said first subset. The second subset supercedes the first subset. The second subset of satellites is configured to communicate. Various subset around the globe may form local area networks. The local area networks are preferably optically coupled to form a wide area network.

Abstract: A communication system has a communication infrastructure and a gateway station communicating a communication signal to the communication infrastructure. An airplane having an antenna coupled to a processing circuit for establishing a plurality of multiple communication links corresponding to the communication infrastructure is used. The gateway station generates multiple datagrams from the television signal and transmits the multiple datagrams through the multiple dynamic links. The antenna receives the datagrams from the infrastructure and the processing circuit and reassembles the datagrams into the communication signal.

Abstract: In a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), a method of switching from a current common channel to a dedicated channel for a UE. The method comprises estimating the round trip delay for data packets travelling between the UE and a peer node with which the UE is communicating. The product of the estimated round trip delay and the bandwidth of the common channel or the dedicated channel is determined and a threshold defined on the basis of that product. A switch from the common channel to a dedicated channel is initiated when the fill level of the RLC buffer(s) in the UTRAN for the UE reaches or exceeds said threshold.

Abstract: A method of performing primary service backups for a direct broadcast system is provided. The method includes establishing play-out of a plurality of primary events via a plurality of primary devices and establishing play-out of a plurality of backup events via at least one backup device. A controller switches from a primary device of the plurality of primary devices to a backup device of the at least one backup device in response to a malfunction signal from one of the plurality of primary devices. A direct server-based broadcast system and a direct port-based broadcast system are also provided which implement the above-stated method.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for formatting data for populating a wireline or wireless telephone switch with required data such as NPA-NXX data, routing information, and roaming information for roaming wireless telephone users. A switch script-building software program extracts formatted output data from an existing switch and converts the output data into input-formatted data that is acceptable for sending back to the switch or to a plurality of switches. A graphical user interface is launched by the script-building software program for providing user interaction with the software program and for displaying downloaded output-formatted data from the switch and input-formatted data after the data format conversion. After the data is converted from output format to input format, the input-formatted data is edited to include new information, or to edit or delete existing information.

Abstract: A method provides for trunk group satellite switching using a code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme. The method includes receiving inbound satellite beams carrying individually encoded user signals including a plurality of inbound trunk groups, processing and mapping the trunk group elements to a plurality of outbound trunk groups, routing the outbound trunk groups to appropriate outbound satellite beams and transmitting the outbound beams based on common destination parameters. The trunk group switching allows for a reduction of on-board switching complexity, volume, and costs.

Abstract: This invention provides a key distribution system for protecting route-update notifications which overcomes the problem of scalability in the processing of authentication information and achieves a shortening of the time required to verify legitimacy. Its context is a key distribution system for protecting route-update notifications, which distributes, to the routers in a mobile communication network, the authentication information established for mobile terminals, which is used by the routers to authenticate mobile terminal route-update notifications that are communicated from the mobile terminals after encryption. In this context, the invention comprises a top-level router for managing the authentication information of all mobile terminals and for distributing it in response to requests from the routers.

Abstract: A land mobile-satellite communication system comprises: at least one communication satellite station; a plurality of portable communication terminals for communicating with each other through a communication link to be formed to include the at least one communication satellite station; and a plurality of mobile repeater stations mounted on mobiles located on the earth for repeating the communication in the communication link formed between the portable communication terminals and including the at least one communication satellite station. Preferably, the system includes a plurality of communication satellite stations, each mounted on a respective one of a plurality of low earth communication satellites, and each including a mechanism for communicating each other through inter-satellite links.

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: A message transmitting method using a short message service (SMS) that can successively transmit messages that a mobile terminal user intends to transmit. According to the long message transmitting method using the SMS, in case that the message to be transmitted exceeds a predetermined length, identifiers representing a boundary of each predetermined unit of the message and an identifier representing that the message is divided and transmitted are inserted into the units of the message, and the message is divided and transmitted according to the inserted identifiers.

Abstract: A communications system and method for transmitting data to a mobile platform is provided. The communications system comprises a forward link assignment manager in communication with a route server and a router, wherein the router selects from paths of forward link equipment chains to transmit data to the mobile platform. Generally, the forward link assignment manager assigns a cost to the path of each chain such that the more available the chain, the lower its cost, and the router always selects the lowest cost path. If a chain of forward link equipment fails, the forward link assignment manager increases its cost above that of a spare chain, which results in the router selecting the spare chain. Further systems are provided that inform the forward link assignment manager of a failed chain of forward link equipment, in addition to systems that remove a failed chain from the network topology.

Abstract: A downlink beam frame signal processing system (100) for a communication satellite includes a packet switch (608) that routes self addressed uplink data to a memory (804). The memory (804) stores queues for at least a first and a second downlink beam hop locations (302, 304). The processing system (100) also includes a power amplifier (108) that amplifies a waveform formed using the uplink data. A power gating circuit (1200) coupled to the power amplifier (108) includes a power gate input (1216) responsive to a power gating signal to remove RF power from at least a portion of the waveform before transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcasting a data stream is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of inverse multiplexing the data stream into a first component data stream and a second component data stream and providing the first component data stream to a first transponder and providing the second component data stream to a second transponder. The apparatus comprises an inverse multiplexer, communicatively coupled to the data stream, for separating the data stream into a first component data stream and a second component data stream; an uplink transmitter, for providing the first component data stream to a first transponder and providing the second component data stream to a second transponder.

Abstract: An interactive short message service (SMS) system, which can offer an interactive short message service even in a private wireless network, and a routing method therefor are disclosed.

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 state transition diagram is presented for a user's access terminal for a satellite telecommunication system, showing the state of the access terminal's mobility management software layer, in response to various stimuli and conditions as the user enters into and out of various modes of operations, including deactivation, activation and illumination of a dark beam of a spot beam that is a shared resource.

Abstract: A telecommunications network simplifies data flow and signaling by having a second control node (262) of a radio access network transmit cell information to a first control node (261) only when the cell information is not already known by the first control node. The invention is facilitated by a cell configuration generation index (CCGI). The cell configuration generation index (CCGI) represents a set of cell information parameters deemed current for a specified cell by a control node. In one example embodiment, the cell configuration generation index (CCGI)is a counter whose value is changed when configuration data of the specified cell is changed. In one example scenario, a cell identifier for the specified cell and the first control node's CCGI for the specified cell are included in a request message sent from the first control node to the second control node.

Abstract: A method and system for hitless wireless roaming in a mobile environment. The present invention describes a system for wireless connectivity in fast moving trains. The system comprises a router for routing Internet Protocol (IP) communication signals to and from a wireless network. The router is located on an object. A first antenna is also located on the object and is communicatively coupled to the router for transmitting the communication signals to and from a plurality of access points on the wireless network. A second antenna is also communicatively coupled to the router for transmitting the communication signals to and from the plurality of access points. The second antenna is positioned a distance from the first antenna on the object that allows the router continuous access to the wireless network as the first antenna and the second antenna roam through the wireless network while the object is moving.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing concurrent data transmissions in a wireless communication network. The invention comprises a register unit within a base transceiver station that prepares data packets to be transmitted to mobile stations within a plurality of cell sectors. The register unit identifies the cell sector destination of each data packet in a first data call and sends the data packet to a buffer associated with the cell sector destination. The buffers store their respective data packets for each cell sector in a first subframe of a data frame. The buffers send their respective data packets within the first subframe to their respective antennas. The data packets for each cell sector are then concurrently transmitted during the first subframe. Data packets of a second data call are transmitted during the second and third subframe so that two data calls are concurrently transmitted.

Abstract: Based on a radio communications system (KN) having at least one radio subsystem (RSS) for access by the radio subscribers in an associated radio area (RRA) and having at least one switching center (MSC) for switching through connections, the method and the radio communications system according to the invention provide for the connections between the radio subsystem and the switching center to be routed via a radio transmission unit (UE) in such a way, that, in the case of a call within a radio area between radio subscribers within the same radio area (RRA), or in the case of a call between radio subscribers in different radio areas (RRA, RRA*), only signaling connections (si) are switched through from the radio transmission unit to the switching center, and that traffic channel connections (ni) are switched by the radio transmission unit between a first radio subsystem (RSS) and a second radio subsystem (RSS*) in the case of a call within a radio area from the radio subsystem (RSS) itself or in the case of a

Abstract: A system, mobile station and method are provided for delivering services such as voice messages, voice clips, video clips and/or multimedia clips. The system includes a network entity, such as a calling entity, a Base Station/MSC/Interworking function (BMI) or any portions thereof. In addition, the system includes a mobile station. The network entity is capable of initiating a call to the mobile station by transmitting an alert message over a traffic channel. The mobile station can receive the alert message, and thereafter transmit a connect message over the traffic channel in response to the alert message. Advantageously, the mobile station is capable of transmitting the connect message without the call initiated by the network entity first being answered. The network entity can then establish a communication link with the mobile station over the traffic channel such that the service can be delivered to the mobile station over the communication link.

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: An HLR register for maintaining data relating to mobile users of a network for use by the network, the register being arranged to be coupled to a mate register at a remote location for back up of the data, the register being divided into segments and arranged to carry out a partial handover to the mate register by handing over maintenance of data of one or some of the segments to the mate register temporarily. By allowing a partial handover rather than requiring a complete handover, the handover can be simpler and quicker. This can reduce the risk of loss of data or reduce an amount of down time and consequential losses of revenue. This is particularly important for larger registers. The handover can be triggered by a fault in the segment or for the purpose of planned maintenance for example. It can be triggered manually or automatically.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling a packet data service in a mobile communication network, in which, when a packet data service active terminal moves from an area of an old radio network controller to an area of a new radio network controller in either a suspended state or a dormant state, the same medium access control state information and the same radio resource control information are applied between the new radio network controller and the active terminal. Therefore, the packet data service can rapidly be resumed on the basis of an initially established point-to-point protocol link. If the active terminal moves from the old radio network controller to the new radio network controller under the condition that only a point-to-point protocol state is maintained between the active terminal and a packet data node, the active terminal detects a received pilot signal and checks a system overhead message.

Abstract: Call data associated with one call is correlated from separate call records associated with the calling and called parties in which at least one of the parties is a wireless user. Statistical information is gathered based on whether one of the parties to the call subscribes to one call feature/service and the other party to the call subscribes to a predetermined call feature/service. This information is typically utilized by telecommunication service providers.

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 method and apparatus for switching signals through a switch matrix are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an input module and an output module. The input module has a plurality of inputs typically equal to a number of cells in a reuse pattern, and the inputs receiving at least one uplink beam. The input module also has a plurality of outputs, the plurality of outputs is typically equal to the number of subbands in the uplink beam. The output module is coupled to the input module and selectively couples the outputs from the input module to an output of the output module. The method comprises the steps of grouping the uplink signals into a plurality of groups, the number of groups typically equal to a number of cells in the cell-based transmission matrix, where each group comprises a signal from each frequency used in the frequency reuse pattern. Each group of uplink signals is then separated into subband signals, which are then grouped together into groups of similar subband signals.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to query availability, roaming history and/or modem statistics of a wireless device that can roam between at least two different wireless networks, without assistance from network service provider personnel.

Abstract: A mobile device is used to effect task-related communication with a remote entity via the communications infrastructure of a wireless hotspot through which the mobile device is moving. The device includes a first estimation arrangement for estimating the time remaining before the mobile device leaves the coverage zone of the hotspot having regard to the predicted movement of the device. The device further includes a second estimation arrangement for estimating the time needed to complete the task-related communication. These two time estimates are compared with each other by a monitor unit of the device to determine whether there is sufficient time to complete the task-related communication.

Abstract: A broadband system wherein a mobile user terminal determines a cell set connection with a communications platform using location information provided by a navigation device on said mobile user terminal and a stored database containing a current cell topology for the communications platform.

Abstract: The process for creating, administering and operating distribution maps of the radiocommunications traffic is executed by means of an information system storing data representative of geographical maps cut up into pixels according to the way the network is cut up, and data representative of the traffic in the network. A geographical zone is selected by interactive means between the user and the system and the traffic data corresponding to the zone are recovered and utilized to form at least one distribution map of the circuit traffic. The system calculates the traffic to flow at any point on the map by taking into account progress coefficients as a function of geomarketing data. The system also calculates the capacity of the network for traffic flow at any point. The sub-zones either under-sized or over-sized relative to the traffic can thus be defined.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a method to generate large numbers of spot beams for multiple-beam satellite systems using smaller apertures. This is done by dividing the basic spot beam that has 3 to 4 dB of gain drop within the beam into a number of smaller 1-dB sub-beams. This has the effect of reducing the required peak gain for the antenna by 2–3 dB, thus reducing its size by as much as 50%. The frequency band allocated to the basic beam will be divided among the sub-beams. However, the frequency re-use among the basic beams can be maintained. Frequency allocations have to be coordinated among all beams. This concept is especially applicable to phased arrays using digital beam formers. The DBF complexity is a function of the number of array elements, and is less dependent on the number of beams. Reducing the array size, and consequently reducing the number of elements helps in reducing the complexity, power and mass of the DBF.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for hand-off of a communication session utilizing ISDN multiway capabilities, in which the communication session of a mobile unit on a first call path is transferred from a serving base station to a target base station. The preferred system includes a switch coupled to a serving base station and a target base station, wherein the serving base station includes instructions to request a second call path to the target base station and to request a multiway feature. The switch then establishes the second call path from the serving base station to the target base station via the switch, and combines the communication session of the first call path with the second call path to form a multiway communication session.

Abstract: A home satellite receiving system employs a transmodulating outdoor unit (ODU) that tunes to multiple signals, demodulates those signals into streams of data packets, and filters the streams of data packets to select data packets pertaining to viewer-specified programs. The ODU then constructs an integrated bitstream from the selected data packets and modulates that bitstream for transmission to an indoor IRD. This allows transfer of multiple programs from different satellite sources to the indoor IRD over a single coaxial cable. The indoor IRD reconstructs the packet stream timing for the viewer-specified programs from the integrated bitstream.

Abstract: A method of routing a telephone call includes receiving the call from a mobile unit in signal communication with a cellular telephone system, and routing the call based at least partially on the geographical location and independent of the number plan area code of the mobile unit.

Abstract: In a satellite communication system, an address adding portion 22 adds communication data with Next Hop address read out from a routing table portion 21. A line controller 31 judges whether a satellite communication line to the Next Hop address of the IP packet is set or not. If no satellite communication line is set, a call-originating request message is transmitted to a DAMA call-originating table portion 32. The DAMA call-originating table portion 32 has static DAMA call-originating information, and transmits to a DAMA call-originating portion 33 a DAMA call-originating request to the destination IP address of the call-originating request message. The DAMA call-originating portion 33 sets the satellite communication line to the Next Hop address by the DAMA call-originating request, and informs the line controller 31 of the setting of the satellite communication line.

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 repeater is disclosed which is usable to permit a satellite phone, normally requiring a direct line of sight link to an orbiting satellite, to communicate with the satellite when the satellite phone is otherwise obstructed from communicating with the satellite. The repeater is usable in any situation in which the satellite phone is blocked from a direct line of site to the satellite, such as inside a building, aircraft, or natural formation (e.g., cave).