Communications system
AssigneeCelsat America, Inc.
InventorAlbert J. Mallinckrodt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cellular communications system is provided have both satellite nodes and surface nodes for providing mobile cellular communications services for a plurality of mobile user units. The surface and satellite nodes are fully integrated by a network controller for providing service over large areas. In the alternative, each user unit includes link control means permitting the user unit to designate the mode of communications, either satellite node communications or ground node communications. In addition, multiple beam, relatively high gain antennas are disposed in the satellite nodes to establish satellite cells having enough gain in the satellite part of the system such that a user unit need only comprise a small, mobile handset with a non-directional antenna for communications with both ground nodes and satellite nodes.
Claims3
A cellular communications system comprising:
- at least one space node having a multiple beam antenna positioned so as to establish a first set of cells, each antenna including means for transmitting and receiving radio signals;
- at least one surface node positioned so as to establish a second set of cells, each surface node including means for transmitting and receiving radio signals;
- a plurality of user units positioned within the first or second set of cells, each user unit including means for transmitting and receiving radio signals for communicating with at least one space node and at least one surface node and response means for establishing selective communication with at least one of said nodes;
- and
- link control means connected to said response means for automatically designating the communications link between said user unit and said space nodes or said surface nodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.