Interactive fixed and mobile satellite network

A communications system, comprising:

• at least one first satellite;
• at least one second satellite in a higher orbit than said at least one first satellite;
• and
• a ground segment comprising a plurality of user transceivers and at least one gateway coupled to a terrestrial communications system comprised of fiber optic infrastructure, said at least one gateway comprising a gateway transceiver for bidirectionally coupling said at least one gateway to said at least one first satellite;
• wherein
• a plurality of said user transceivers each comprising a data processor that is bidirectionally coupled to said fiber optic infrastructure through said first and second satellites and said at least one gateway, wherein communications between one of said user transceivers and said fiber optic infrastructure are switched on-board said first satellite and carried by inter-satellite links that are coupled to said second satellite;
• wherein said at least one first satellite comprises a first transceiver for communication with said at least one gateway, a second transceiver for communication with at least one user transceiver, and a third transceiver for communication with said at least one second satellite, said first, second and third transceivers being switchably coupled together on-board said first satellite for relaying a user communication between said at least one gateway and said at least one user transceiver via said at least one second satellite;
• wherein said at least one first satellite further comprises a first on-board processor that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver;
• a second on-board processor that is bidirectionally coupled to said second transceiver;
• and a switching network that is bidirectionally coupled to said first and second on-board processors and to said third transceiver for selectively establishing communication paths between said first and second on-board processors and said third transceiver.

A communications system, comprising:

• a constellation of first satellites in a non-geosynchronous orbit;
• at least one second satellite in a higher orbit than said first satellites;
• and
• a ground segment comprising a plurality of user transceivers and at least one gateway coupled to at least one terrestrial communications system, said gateway having an associated service area within which at least one of said user transceivers is located;
• wherein
• each of said first satellites comprises a first transceiver for communication with said gateway, a second transceiver for communication with a first type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, and a third transceiver for communication with said second satellite, said first, second and third transceivers being coupled to a switching matrix for selectively routing communications traffic between said gateway and said first type of user transceiver via said second satellite, wherein said communications traffic is comprised of a video communications;
• wherein each of said first satellites is further comprised of a fourth transceiver for communication with a second type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, said fourth transceiver also being coupled to said switching matrix.

A communications system, comprising:

• a constellation of first satellites in a non-geosynchronous orbit;
• at least one second satellite in a higher orbit than said first satellites;
• and
• a around segment comprising a plurality of user transceivers and at least one gateway coupled to at least one terrestrial communications system, said gateway having an associated service area within which at least one of said user transceivers is located;
• wherein
• each of said first satellites comprises a first transceiver for communication with said gateway, a second transceiver for communication with a first type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, and a third transceiver for communication with said second satellite, said first, second and third transceivers being coupled to a switching matrix for selectively routing communications traffic between said gateway and said first type of user transceiver via said second satellite, wherein said communications traffic is comprised of a packet switched communication,
• wherein each of said first satellites is further comprised of a fourth transceiver for communication with a second type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, said fourth transceiver also being coupled to said switching matrix.

A communications system, comprising:

• a constellation of first satellites in a non-geosynchronous orbit;
• at least one second satellite in a higher orbit than said first satellites;
• and
• a ground segment comprising a plurality of user transceivers and at least one gateway coupled to at least one terrestrial communications system, said gateway having an associated service area within which at least one of said user transceivers is located;
• wherein
• each of said first satellites comprises a first transceiver for communication with said gateway, a second transceiver for communication with a first type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, and a third transceiver for communication with said second satellite, said first, second and third transceivers being coupled to a switching matrix for selectively routing communications traffic between said gateway and said first type of user transceiver via said second satellite, wherein said communications traffic is comprised of a circuit switched communication,
• wherein each of said first satellites is further comprised of a fourth transceiver for communication with a second type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, said fourth transceiver also being coupled to said switching matrix.

A communications system, comprising:

• a constellation of first satellites in a non-geosynchronous orbit;
• at least one second satellite in a higher orbit than said first satellites;
• and
• a around segment comprising a plurality of user transceivers and at least one gateway coupled to at least one terrestrial communications system, said gateway having an associated service area within which at least one of said user transceivers is located;
• wherein
• each of said first satellites comprises a first transceiver for communication with said gateway, a second transceiver for communication with a first type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, and a third transceiver for communication with said second satellite, said first, second and third transceivers being coupled to a switching matrix for selectively routing communications traffic between said gateway and said first type of user transceiver via said second satellite, wherein said communications traffic is comprised of an Internet communication,
• wherein each of said first satellites is further comprised of a fourth transceiver for communication with a second type of user transceiver located within said gateway coverage area, said fourth transceiver also being coupled to said switching matrix.