Motorola Corporation

Iridium IP LLC

Kenneth Lee Sowles

Daniel Richard Tayloe

Peter J Armbruster

Nathan West Miller

Robert Thomas Frederick

James William Bishop, Jr

James P Redden

David Terris

Baldev Kaur Sangha

Keith Andrew Olds

Raymond Joseph Leopold

Ralph C Gregg, Jr

Edward John Neyens

Lawrence Walter White

Peter Joseph Armbruster

A satellite-based cellular communication system (100) is used to provide emergency services to subscriber units located anywhere on the earth. The surface of the earth is divided into defined areas and emergency codes are assigned to each one of the defined areas. As subscriber units (150) move relative to the surface of the earth, the satellite-based cellular communication system (100) updates the emergency codes stored in the subscriber units (150) as required based on the subscriber unit's current location. The subscriber unit (150) uses the stored emergency codes to determine when a user is requesting emergency services and prioritizes the call accordingly.

Cell-based emergency call systems and methods

A system facilitates global cellular communication by utilizing a gateway satellite (1000) which communicates with low-earth orbiting satellites (10, 20) via signalling links (1001, 1002). Switching is performed in each of the satellites (10, 20) and switching interconnections as well as voice path communications are switched via the gateway satellite (1000). With switching performed in a gateway satellite (1000), the use of a ground-based gateway network (74) is minimized and, in some cases, eliminated.

Satellite communication system and method thereof

A method and apparatus used by a communication system (100) to register communication system users which use service provider equipment. Multiple-user and special purpose single-user communication units (110) are provided and/or operated by service providers. MCUs (110) can be located on mobile vehicles or in fixed locations. The system along with MCUs (110) collect registration information and usage information for individual users (440) and individual MCUs (110). Service providers receive billing information concerning the usage of their MCUs (110) by communication system users. After communication system (100) registers each user whose registration information is contained within the at least one combined request message, communication system (100) provides communication services to each user and billing information services to the service provider for the communications service and the service provider furnishing the communications equipment.

Method and apparatus for providing billing services for a mobile group

A communication system including a constellation of satellites and a multi-channel unit having a plurality of co-located transceivers operative for exchanging communication information with users, and for monitoring a plurality of spot beams transmitted from one or more of the satellites for ring alert data contained within broadcast channels, and for monitoring and prioritizing the strongest of 'n' broadcast channels for ring alerts based upon signal strength, upon a continuous sampling of ring alert channels contained within one or more broadcast channels, upon broadcast signal strength in relation to idle transceiver availability and the communication system geometries, and upon the monitoring of broadcast channels contained within candidate handoff lists contained within one or more of the traffic channels of in-use transceivers, for the purpose of increasing the probability of receiving a ring alert.

System and method for enhancing ring alert terminations

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

A method and apparatus for handing off communications between a primary satellite system (500) and an alternate satellite system (550) determines (602) when a hand-off condition for the primary satellite system (500) exists. An alternate satellite (552) is determined (604, 904) which has a coverage area (554) which is positioned such that the alternate satellite (552) can provide an alternate communication link (556). A hand-off between the primary satellite system (500) and the alternate satellite system (550) is then performed (606). When the hand-off condition is alleviated (610), a hand-off back to the primary satellite system (550) is performed and normal operations are resumed (600).

Method and apparatus for communications hand-off between multiple

A multiple subscriber unit (MSU) (600) is co-located with a mobile vehicle (110) and is coupled to multiple communication units (620) which can be used by MSU users to establish communication links between the MSU users and other terminals. The MSU (600) and a method for operating the MSU perform selective registration (200-210, 300-322) for the MSU users. In order to reduce unnecessary registration traffic, only after the MSU determines (202, 303) that a particular MSU user desires to receive incoming calls will the MSU register (208, 320) the particular MSU user with a communication system. If an MSU user does not desire to receive incoming calls, the MSU will not register (204, 304) the MSU user with the communication system.

Method and apparatus for registering mobile user groups

A plurality of subscriber units (16) operate in a communication system (10) having dynamic nodes such as satellites (12). A communication management center (14) controls interface parameters and protocol employed by subscriber units (16). A system and method is employed to dynamically alter interface protocol used by subscriber units (16). Communication management center (14) calculates a balance between a first portion of subscriber units (16) assigned to perform attach-detach registration and a second portion of subscriber units (16) assigned to abstain from performing attach-detach registration when associating and disassociation from communication system (10). As available communication bandwidth varies according to present of future communication patterns, subscriber units (16) may be dynamically reassigned perform or abstain from performing attach-detach registration.

Method and system for dynamically balancing ring alert and attach-detach

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.

Combined registration and call continuation method and apparatus for a

To obtain service from a satellite communication system, a mobile subscriber unit must acquire a TDMA communication channel. Because the satellites move with respect to the surface of the earth, propagation delays and Doppler shift affect the timing and frequency of received signals. A mobile subscriber unit synchronizes to the frequency and timing windows of a satellite communication station by receiving frequency and timing corrections during channel acquisition. The satellite initially estimates correction factors during initial acquisition requests and further estimates correction factors from synchronization bursts from the subscriber unit.

Apparatus for mobile unit acquisition in a satellite communication

A communication system qualifies access to the services it provides to subscriber units based upon the locations of the subscriber units. Subscriber unit location data are routed through a satellite to a gateway where a home subscriber information manager for the subscriber unit resides. This home gateway selects a service control area and corresponding serving gateway to use in establishing calls to and from the subscriber unit. When an area of uncertainty for the subscriber unit's location overlies a boundary between service control areas, additional location data may be obtained to shrink the area of uncertainty. If the area still overlies a boundary, a serving gateway is selected based upon the current serving gateway, the home gateway, and the service control area where the center of the area of uncertainty resides.

Method and apparatus for qualifying access to communication system

In a method and system for performing location determination using multi-beam satellites each beam of a multi-beam satellite transmits identification information which is received by a user terminal. This identification information either identifies the unique beam by enumeration or by geometrics. A user terminal processes multiple received signals from orbiting satellites. The user terminal maps the projected beam patterns of multiple received samples to determine an approximate self-location. The user terminal passively monitors its location and compares its current location with its previously reported location. When the user terminal has sufficiently roamed from its previously registered location, the user terminal performs an auto-registration to the system allowing for efficient routing of information.

Location determination method and system using multi-beam satellites

A network includes a system and a population of subscriber units. System satellites move in low earth orbits and form moving cells on the surface of the earth. A pattern of static areas that covers the service area of the system is defined in a map. The system discovers the static areas for the subscriber units. When an incoming call needs to be directed to a subscriber unit, the subscriber unit's static area is converted into identities of beams that form the cells that coincide with the static area. A ring signal is transmitted in only these cells. Subscriber units monitor area identification signals that identify the static areas coincident with the cells where the signals are transmitted. When the static area known by the system is not among the identified static areas, a subscriber unit engages in re-registration communications.

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Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Kenneth Lee Sowles