Motorola Corporation

Mototrola, Inc.

James William Bishop, Jr

Peter J Armbruster

Daniel Richard Tayloe

Dean Paul Vanden Heuvel

Johanna Alexandra Wild

Kenneth Lee Sowles

Nathan West Miller

William Neil Robinson

Steve Magee

Keith Andrew Olds

Scott David Blanchard

Thomas Peter Emmons, Jr

Bradley Robert Schaefer

Diana C Chen

William F Zancho

Michael W Frenzer

Robert Anthony Peters

Brent M McKay

Michael William Krutz

Norbert Kleiner

Stephen D Magee

Rhett Garrett Hayden

Jim E Helm

Jonathan David Stosz

Charles Joseph Ganucheau, Jr

Thomas Jake Hoppal

Aswath Rao

Larry Wuensch

Richard Ditch

An optical wireless communications system () comprises a server or transceiver hub () transmitting and/or receiving optical communications with geographically dispersed subscriber units () via optical beams. The transceiver hub () transmits a beam pattern that has an efficient, rectangular, flat-topped far field optical profile, thus permitting less complex and less expensive transceiver equipment to be employed in the transceiver hub () and in the subscriber units (). In one embodiment, the transceiver hub () comprises an optical source (, FIG.), an asymmetrical lens such as a cylindrical lens (, FIG.), and a diffraction element such as a diffractive phase plate (, FIG.). Various methods of shaping an optical transmission profile are also described.

Methods and apparatus for beam shaping in optical wireless communications system

A time division multiple access (TDMA) communications system ( ) includes a first TDMA platform ( ) for transmitting a call ( ) over a circuit switched communication link ( ) to a second TDMA platform ( ). The call ( ) exhibits a first signal type ( ) and second signal type ( ). A controller ( ) establishes a capacity allocation ( ) responsive to the first signal type ( ) for the communication link ( ). When the call ( ) exhibits the first signal type ( ), the first TDMA platform ( ) transmits first packets ( ) of the call ( ) in a first packet format ( ) using the capacity allocation ( ), and when the call ( ) exhibits the second signal type ( ), the first TDMA platform ( ) transmits second packets ( ) of the call ( ) in a second packet format ( ) using the capacity allocation ( ).

Call management in a TDMA system through variable packet formatting

A point-to-multipoint (PTM) radio communication system ( ) includes a cellular radio infrastructure ( ) having base stations ( ) implemented in satellites ( ) placed in low earth orbits ( ). PTM subscriber radios ( ) share common cellular radio infrastructure ( ) multipoint channels ( ) to engage in a common PTM communication session while the cellular radio infrastructure ( ) also conveys point-to-point communications. The shared multipoint channels ( ) are operated in according with different protocols to deliver system information to PTM subscriber radios ( ), to provide access to PTM subscriber radios ( ), to provide synchronization, to originate a PTM monolog and to be one of many targets of a PTM monolog.

Group radio communication system with shared bi-directional communication channel

Interoperability between terrestrial cellular systems and satellite based cellular systems allows handoffs between different cellular systems. A call in progress by a subscriber unit (101) over a terrestrial based cellular system (100) which includes a mobile switching center (MSC) (105a) and a plurality of base stations (103a-d) is handed off to a satellite based cellular system (1000) comprising a satellite network (100a, 1001b), a regional gateway (1007) and an interface gateway (1005). A call in progress by subscriber unit (101) over satellite based cellular system (1000) is also handed off to terrestrial based cellular system (100). A dual mode subscriber unit (400) provides switching functionality (409) to switch between transmit modes.

Terrestrial and satellite cellular network interoperability

A packet data communication system (10) where multiple users (87) can access the same channel (22) to maximize an efficiency of the communication system (10). Each channel (22) is divided into time slots. Each time slot is allocated to a user based on the user's request (303) for time slots and the availability of time slots. If time slots are available, then the system (10) will inform the user (87) and allocate the time slot to the user (87, 305). If there are no available time slots, then the system (10) will inform the user (87) that no time slots are available and access to the system's channel is denied. The user (87) will continue to request access (303) to the system (10) as long as the user has data packets to send.

System and method for packet data communication

An on-board aircraft telecommunication exchange (32) provides communication and authentication services for M subscriber identity modules (SIMs) using N transceivers (36), where M can be greater than N. Associations between SIMs (56) and transceivers (36) are established when needed. Accordingly, a pool of transceivers 36 is provided to serve the collective needs of many subscribers. A SIM based authentication process is performed (100) using a subscriber's original SIM (56). That authentication can be extended to a temporary SIM (106) that is substituted for the original SIM throughout the remainder of a flight. Alternatively, the original SIMs (56) may be locked in place and relinquished when a subscriber provides an appropriate PIN.

Exchange which controls M SIMs and N transceivers and method therefor

An on-board aircraft telecommunication exchange (32) provides communication and authentication services for M subscriber identity modules (SIMs) using N transceivers (36), where M can be greater than N. Associations between SIMs (56) and transceivers (36) are established when needed. Accordingly, a pool of transceivers 36 is provided to serve the collective needs of many subscribers. A SIM-based authentication process is performed (100) using a subscriber's original SIM (56). That authentication can be extended to a temporary SIM (106) that is substituted for the original SIM throughout the remainder of a flight. Alternatively, the original SIMs (56) may be locked in place and relinquished when a subscriber provides an appropriate PIN.

Exchange which extends SIM based authentication and method therefor

Private Global Networks (PGNs) between communication terminals (110, 114, 116, 118) are established within a satellite communication system (100). Each PGN provides to its users a network of dedicated communication paths which have durations that exceed the duration of a particular call. A dedicated communication path is established by determining (416, 424) hand-off schedules for satellite-to-terminal links for both a source and destination terminal, and also by determining (428) satellite cross-link schedules necessary to maintain the dedicated path for a duration which exceeds the duration of a particular call.

Method and apparatus for providing private global networks in a

A method and apparatus for a communication system (100) to register groups of co-located users in a mobile vehicle (110) involves collecting (200) registration information for multiple users by a Vehicle Communications Control Unit (500) (VCCU) on board the mobile vehicle (110), creating (202) at least one group registration request message by the VCCU (500), and sending the at least one group registration request message to an Earth Terminal (102) (ET) of the communication system (100). After the communication system (100) registers each user whose registration information is contained within the at least one group registration request message, the ET (102) sends (312) at least one group registration response message to the VCCU (500), where the message includes information describing whether each registration attempt was successful. The VCCU (500) can then inform (210) each user as to the status of the registration attempt.

Method and apparatus for registering mobile user groups with a radio

In satellite based communication systems (30), real time monitoring of communication links (23-25) and the subsequent adaptations to overcome problems with certain links (23,25) provides the communication system (30) with the ability to adapt to changing conditions. A satellite-based communication system (30) can be adapted to provide an improved method for establishing communication links (23,25) between ground stations (14) and space-based satellite switches (11). Common earth-based termination nodes are replaced by intelligent switches (14). Alternate links are established using links (20,21) between intelligent space-based switches (11), links (24) between intelligent earth-based switches (14), and links (23,25) between intelligent space-based switches (11) and intelligent earth-based switches (14). The controller (54) in the intelligent earth-based switch (14) allows the system to automatically adapt to failure, overload, and other conditions.

Method and apparatus for adaptive routing in a satellite-based

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.

Method and apparatus for managing service accessibility between

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).

Method and apparatus for handing off calls between differing radio

A radio telecommunication network (10) includes satellites (12) which project cells (30) on the surface of the earth. Mobile units (16) are alerted to incoming calls when they receive ring signals. Ring signal coverage parameter values are selected in response to differentiating data (46) which cause different ring signals to be activated for mobile units (16) which appear to be proximately located. An illumination area ring signal coverage parameter may have a value selected in response to differentiating data (46) so that larger illumination areas are used for higher speed mobile units (16'). A transmission power ring signal coverage parameter may have a value selected in response to differentiating data (46) so that higher power ring signals are used in specific situations identified by the differentiating data (46).

Radio telecommunication network with selectable ring signal coverage

A digital telecommunication network (10) provides an audio processor (56) for each call in each external node (14). The audio processor (56) includes a vocoder and additional functions. At a source external node (14), the audio processor (56) detects DTMF events and encodes the events in a call-related signalling packet (26) which conveys a history of all DTMF activity at the source node over the past several seconds. In addition, the source node detects silence and configures a call-related signalling packet (26) to instruct a destination node (14) how to synthesize comfort noise. Speech is encoded as vocoded voice packets rather than call-related signalling packets. At a destination external node, the node's audio processor (56) distinguishes call-related signalling from vocoded voice. The audio processor (56) synthesizes voice, comfort noise, DTMF signals, and other signals in response to the call-related signalling packets and vocoded voice packets.

Method and apparatus for conveying audio signals using digital packets

In a communication system (10) which includes a communication unit (56) (CU), a Mobile-Switch Interface (50) (MSI), and a Mobile services Switching Center (40) (MSC), a method for location registration and call continuation involves the MSI (50) determining (174) whether the CU (56) intends to utilize a system service after the CU (56) completes a location updating process without releasing a channel between the CU (56) and the MSC (40). When the CU (56) does intend to utilize the system service directly after the location updating process, the MSI (50) allows the CU (56) to utilize the system service regardless of whether the MSC (40) indicated that the CU (56) cannot utilize the system service without first releasing the channel.

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Chandler, AZ, United States of America

James William Bishop, Jr