Ericsson Gmbh

Other

Javor Kolev

Carsten Hoirup

Brett Pantalone

Hakan Lindvall

Gregory A Dunko

Ramanathan Asokan

Torbjorn Wilson Solve

Larry William Massingill

Jonathan Charles Lohr

Edward V Jolley

Richard Edward Weiss

Anthony Swanchara

Mara A Frank

Anthony Swanchara, Iii

Aaron Cubbage

Anthony J Swanchara, Iii

Jon Lohr

A method of interpreting location area information data in a satellite/terrestrial dual mode mobile terminal is provided, with the mobile terminal in the satellite mode and communicating with a satellite system. The method includes the steps of determining if a most recent registration of the mobile terminal was accomplished in the satellite or terrestrial mode and, if it is determined that the most recent registration of the mobile terminal was accomplished in the terrestrial mode, then determining if (1) a satellite operator ID broadcast by the satellite system matches a satellite operator ID from a most recent satellite location update of the mobile terminal, and (2) a satellite beam pair in a satellite spotbeam pair list broadcast by the satellite system matches a satellite beam pair in a satellite spotbeam ID from a most recent satellite location update of the mobile terminal. If matches are found at both steps (1) and (2) above, then the mobile terminal initiates a location update with the satellite system in the matching satellite beam pair determined at step (2). If matches are not found at either steps (1) and/or (2) above, then the mobile terminal initiates a location update with the satellite system in the satellite spotbeam ID broadcast by the satellite system.

Method of storing and interpreting LOCI data in dual mode satellite/terrestrial mobile terminals

A wireless communications system supports affinity groups of like minded individuals who wish to know locations of other members of the affinity group. The system supports members of the affinity group querying, through a mobile terminal for the location of a remote member of the affinity group as sensed by the remote member's mobile terminal. Rather than report raw geocoordinates, location place-name descriptions are defined by the members of the affinity group and shared amongst one another. Additionally, situational alarms may be generated in the event certain user defined criteria are met, such as two remote members of the affinity group being in close proximity to one another.

On demand location function for mobile terminal

Methods of registering a user terminal at a satellite communications system including a plurality of satellite spot beam transceivers, wherein each of the satellite spot beam transceivers defines a respective spot beam. The current spot beam registration information is transmitted from the user terminal to the satellite communications system. Updated spot beam registration information is determined for the user terminal at the satellite communications system based on the current spot beam registration information received from the user terminal. Updated spot beam registration information is transmitted from the satellite communications system to the user terminal. The user terminal updates the current spot beam registration information for the user terminal using the updated spot beam registration information received from the satellite communications system. Related systems and user terminals are also discussed.

Methods for determining registration at a satellite communications system and related user terminals and systems

A user terminal is operable to acquire service in a satellite mobile communication network in which plural service providers each communicate via satellite with users on one or more spotbeams each having a select frequency. The user terminal comprises a communication system including a transmitter and a receiver for communicating via a spotbeam. A memory stores frequency information. The frequency information identifies carrier frequencies associated with the spotbeams in the network. The memory further stores identification information identifying a service provider associated with each carrier frequency. A communication controller is operatively associated with the communication system and the memory for selecting a spotbeam carrier frequency to communicate on, the communication controller utilizing identification information to select the spotbeam carrier frequency.

Management of spotbeam selection information in satellite mobile communication systems

A method and apparatus employing an improved user interface for satellite communications user terminals in satellite communications systems provides call routing information, in particular gateway selection information, during channel request portion of call initiation. In one approach, a symbol, for example a key on a keypad, is associated with gateway selection information, such as a country code and national destination code. When a user thereafter initiates a call by selecting the symbol and causing a subscriber number for a desired destination to be entered, the satellite communications user terminal automatically transmits the gateway selection information associated with the symbol during the channel request portion of call initiation. In another approach, some gateway selection information is selected as a default. Thereafter, the satellite communications user terminal automatically transmits the default gateway selection information, when appropriate, during the channel request portion of subsequent call initiations until the default is changed. User satisfaction with satellite communications user terminals is thereby improved.

Call routing interface for satellite communications user terminals

Calls in the satellite radiotelephone system are conducted as single or dual hop calls under the control of a satellite radiotelephone that initiates the call. In particular, a first satellite radiotelephone calling a second satellite radiotelephone can configure the call as a dual hop call by transmitting a suspension code to a switching center, thereby possibly avoiding a default action by the switching center to conduct the call a single hop call. The switching center recognizes the suspension code and conducts the call in the active state to the second satellite radiotelephone as a dual hop call. In other words, the suspension code transmitted by the first satellite radiotelephone instructs the switching center to avoid conducting the call as a single hop call which may be the default action performed by the switching center.

Methods, satellite user terminals, switching centers and systems for selectively conducting calls in a satellite radiotelephone system as dual HOP calls

A method of processing an incoming call page from a radiotelephone communications system at a mobile user terminal includes receiving the incoming call page from the radiotelephone communications system at the mobile user terminal, and determining a period of time within which the mobile user terminal can respond to the incoming call. An indication of the period of time within which the user terminal can respond to the incoming call is then provided to a user of the mobile user terminal. In addition, the incoming call page can be one of a predetermined number of incoming call pages addressed to the mobile user terminal in a sequence wherein each of the incoming call pages in the sequence includes information identifying the respective incoming call page within the sequence. Accordingly, the step of determining the period of time within which the mobile user terminal can respond to the incoming call can include determining the number of incoming call pages in the sequence to follow.

Methods of processing and transmitting incoming call pages including information allowing a determination of the time allowed for response and related user terminals and communications systems

The present invention provides methods and devices for controlling the authentication and ciphering procedures in digital communication devices. In the invention, a means for transmitting and receiving radio signals is connected with a processing unit. A. SIM is provided that contains authentication and ciphering information and is also connected with the processing unit. A memory module is provided that has a first memory location reserved for a authentication flag and a second memory location reserved for a ciphering flag. During operation, an authentication indicator is activated only when the communication device is authenticated during a system access. In addition, a ciphering indicator is activated when the communication device is encrypting data being sent and received from the digital wireless network.

Management of authentication and encryption user information in digital user terminals

A user terminal provides communications to and from a radiotelephone communications system. This radiotelephone communications system supports communications with the user terminal at a first power level and paging to the user terminal at a second power level greater than the first power level. In addition, a page includes an indication when voice mail has been received at the radiotelephone communications system. In particular, the user terminal includes a transceiver, a processor, and a user interface. The transceiver receives communications from the radiotelephone communications system at the first power level, transmits communications to the radiotelephone communications system, and receives pages from the radiotelephone communications system at the second power level. The processor processes the pages to determine when voice mail for the radiotelephone has been received at the radiotelephone communications system, and the user interface provides an indication to a user when voice mail for the user terminal has been received at the radiotelephone communications system. Related methods and communications systems are also discussed.

Communications systems for transmitting high power voice mail notifications and related methods and user terminals

A user terminal is registered with a satellite communications system including a plurality of satellite spot beam transmitters; wherein each of the satellite spot beam transmitters defines a respective spot beam. A periodic oscillation of two adjacent satellite spot beam transmitters results in a change of geographic coverage for the respective adjacent spot beams so that the user terminal can be alternatingly covered by the first and second spot beams when the user terminal is stationary. Upon determining that the user terminal is alternatingly covered by the first and second spot beams, the user terminal is registered with a spot beam pair for both the first and second adjacent spot beams and the spot beam pair registration is stored in the user terminal memory. Communications operations between the user terminal and the satellite communications system may be terminated and later re-established, whereupon the user terminal reregisters with the spot beam pair registration stored in memory. Related user terminals are also discussed.

Methods and systems for reducing location update procedures in satellite communications systems

Methods and systems for acquiring service for a user terminal with a satellite communications system are provided wherein geographic information is received via an electromagnetic transmission at the user terminal defining a location of the user terminal. A control channel is selected corresponding to one of the spot beams covering the location of the user terminal using the geographic information. The user terminal acquires service from the satellite communications system over the control channel. The geographic information enables the user terminal to shorten the search time by searching those channels which correspond to the geographic region determined from the geographic information.

Methods and systems for acquiring service within a satellite

A multi-mode mobile terminal having a subscriber identity is provided which uses knowledge of communications network supported service levels to navigate to a communication mode allowing the greatest possible service availability when the subscriber identity in at least one of the network modes is invalid. The mobile terminal may not only provide the ability to switch communication service from a current mode to an alternative mode to process emergency calls but may also restrict user operations on a communications network based on the services available without a valid subscriber identity. Operations of the mobile terminal invention may be supported by service level information on various communication service providers contained in memory within the mobile terminal or be obtained by the mobile terminal from the networks. Based on services availability information for each communications network available to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal selects an appropriate network to utilize for a call initiated while the mobile terminal has no valid subscriber identification. An example of such a call would be an emergency call such as a 911 call.

Multi-mode mobile terminal and methods for operating the same

A system and method for improving communication between two user terminals in a telecommunication system is disclosed. When two user terminals, such as in a satellite-based system with a terrestrial network interface, switch from a double-hop connection with the network to a single-hop connection with each other, communication is established according to the present invention by synchronizing the protocol parameters between the two user terminals, which in the double-hop connection were separately synchronized with the network.

System and method for data link synchronization

A multi-mode mobile station receives a subscriber identity module (SIM) card storing at least certain communications standard required subscription information that is common to a plurality of types of cellular telecommunications systems. The mobile station also includes an internal memory for storing communications standard required subscription information unique to each type of cellular telecommunications systems for which mobile station operations are supported. If a certain type of cellular telecommunications system is selected for mobile station operation, and the inserted SIM card fails to include the necessary communications standard required subscription information for that type of system, the common information is extracted from the SIM card and used in combination with the internal memory stored unique information specific to the selected type of system in effectuating mobile station operation.

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Cary, NC, United States of America

Javor Kolev