Integrated cellular communications system

A cellular communications system comprising:

• at least one space node having a multiple beam antenna positioned so to establish a first set of cells, each space node including means for transmitting and receiving different predetermined sets of code division multiple access coded, spread spectrum waveforms digitally modulated and incorporating forward error correction coding with the waveforms being located in a predetermined frequency band common to all space nodes, wherein the antenna comprises a reflector with a multiple element feed disposed in the focal region of the reflector;
• at least one surface node positioned so to establish a second set of cells, each surface node including means for transmitting and receiving the predetermined sets of code division multiple access coded, spread spectrum waveforms in the predetermined frequency band;
• a plurality of user units within the cells, each unit including means for communicating with each satellite node and with each surface node and being operatively responsive to a predetermined one of the sets of code division multiple access coded waveforms to thereby establish selective communication with at least one of the nodes;
• and
• a network controller operationally connected with each space node and with each surface node to selectively allocate communications with said user units among said space and surface nodes.

A cellular communications system comprising:

• at least one space node having a multiple beam antenna positioned so to establish a first set of cells, each space node including means for transmitting and receiving different predetermined sets of code division multiple access coded, spread spectrum waveforms digitally modulated and incorporating forward error correction coding with the waveforms being located in a predetermined frequency band common to all space nodes;
• at least one surface node positioned so to establish a second set of cells, each surface node including means for transmitting and receiving the predetermined sets of code division multiple access coded, spread spectrum waveforms in the predetermined frequency band;
• a plurality of user units within the cells, each unit including means for communicating with each satellite node and with each surface node and being operatively responsive to a predetermined one of the sets of code division multiple access coded waveforms to thereby establish selective communication with at least one of the nodes;
• and
• a network controller operationally connected with each space node and with each surface node to selectively allocate communications with said user units among said space and surface nodes, said network controller controlling the system such that the user unit communicates with the space node of the cell it is within or with the surface node of the cell it is within based on selectively considering the quality of the signal received from the user unit at each node, the location of the party with which the user unit desires to communicate, and a predetermined allocation of communication resources.