BRPI0412901A

Systems and methods for modifying antenna radiation patterns of peripheral base stations of a terrestrial network to allow reduced interference

Abstract

"WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, METHOD OF PROVIDING RADIOTERMINAL COMMUNICATIONS, AUXILIARY TERRESTRIAL COMPONENT, AND, TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK". A wireless communications system may include a terrestrial network including a plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a terrestrial network coverage area. The plurality of base stations can include indoor base stations providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area and peripheral base stations providing communication service for radiotherapy terminals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area. At least one of the peripheral base stations provides transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. Correlated methods are also discussed.

BRPI0412901A, drawing sheet 1 — Sheet 1 of 8

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 13 July 2024, 2.2 years ago.

72 claims: 10 independent, 62 dependent

1
CLAIMS REIVINDICAÇÕES 1. Wireless communications system, characterized by the fact that it comprises:1. Sistema de comunicações sem fio, caracterizado pelo fato de que compreende: a terrestrial network including a plurality of base stations providing radiotherapy communications service over a terrestrial network coverage area, the plurality of base stations including indoor base stations providing radiotherapy communications service in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area and peripheral base stations providing communications service for radiothermals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area, at least one of the peripheral base stations provides transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. uma rede terrestre incluindo uma pluralidade de estações base provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais sobre uma área de cobertura de rede terrestre, a pluralidade de estações base incluindo estações base interiores provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção interior da área de cobertura de rede terrestre e estações base periféricas provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção periférica da área de cobertura de rede terrestre, sendo que pelo menos uma das estações base periféricas provê transmissões direcionadas para uma porção interior da área de cobertura de rede terrestre com maior potência do que transmissões dirigidas em afastamento às porções interiores da área de cobertura de rede terrestre.
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Wireless communications system, characterized by the fact 14. Sistema de comunicações sem fio, caracterizado pelo fato 20 that you understand:20 de que compreende: a terrestrial network including a plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals over a terrestrial network coverage area, the plurality of base stations including indoor base stations providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals in uma rede terrestre incluindo uma pluralidade de estações base provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais sobre uma área de cobertura de rede terrestre, a pluralidade de estações base incluindo estações base interiores provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em 25 an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area and peripheral base stations providing communications services for radiothermals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area, with at least one of the peripheral base stations being a receiving only base station that does not transmits. 25 uma porção interior da área de cobertura de rede terrestre e estações base periféricas provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção periférica da área de cobertura de rede terrestre, sendo que pelo menos uma das estações base periféricas é uma estação base apenas de recepção que não transmite.
23
Wireless communications system, characterized by the fact that it comprises:23. Sistema de comunicações sem fio, caracterizado pelo fato de que compreende: a terrestrial network including, a plurality of base stations providing radiotherapy communications service over a terrestrial network coverage area, the plurality of base stations including indoor base stations providing radiotherapy communications service in an interior portion of the network coverage area terrestrial and peripheral base stations providing communications services for radiothermals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area, at least one of the peripheral base stations is substantially disabled for remote transmission to the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. uma rede terrestre incluindo, uma pluralidade de estações base provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais sobre uma área de cobertura de rede terrestre, a pluralidade de estações base incluindo estações base interiores provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção interior da área de cobertura de rede terrestre e estações base periféricas provendo serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção periférica da área de cobertura de rede terrestre, sendo que pelo menos uma das estações base periféricas é substancialmente desabilitada para transmissão em afastamento às porções interiores da área de cobertura de rede terrestre.
32
Method of providing communications for radiotherapy terminals, characterized by the fact that it comprises:32. Método de prover comunicações para radioterminais, caracterizado pelo fato de que compreende: prover serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção interior da área de cobertura de rede terrestre usando estações base interiores;e prover serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção periférica da área de cobertura de rede terrestre usando estações base periféricas, sendo que pelo menos uma das estações base periféricas provê transmissões direcionadas para uma porção interior da área de cobertura de rede terrestre com maior potência do que transmissões dirigidas em afastamento às porções interiores da área de cobertura de rede terrestre. provide communications service for radiothermals in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area using indoor base stations;and provide communications service for radiothermals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area using peripheral base stations, with at least one of the peripheral base stations providing transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.
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Method of providing communications for radiotherapy terminals, characterized by the fact that the method comprises:41. Método de prover comunicações para radioterminais, caracterizado pelo fato de que o método compreende: prover serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção interior de uma área de cobertura de rede terrestre usando uma pluralidade de estações base interiores;e prover serviço de comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção periférica da área de cobertura de rede terrestre usando uma pluralidade de estações base periféricas sendo que pelo menos uma das estações base periféricas é uma estação base apenas de recepção que não transmite. providing communications service for radiothermals in an interior portion of a terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of indoor base stations;and providing communications service for radiothermals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of peripheral base stations with at least one of the peripheral base stations being a receiving only base station that does not transmit.
47
Method of providing communications for radiotherapy terminals, characterized by the fact that it comprises:47. Método de prover comunicações para radioterminais, caracterizado pelo fato de que compreende: prover comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção interior de uma área de cobertura de rede terrestre usando uma pluralidade de estações base interiores;e prover comunicações para radioterminais em uma porção periférica da área de cobertura de rede terrestre usando uma pluralidade de estações base periféricas sendo que pelo menos uma das estações base periféricas é substancialmente desabilitada para transmissão em afastamento às porções interiores da área de cobertura de rede terrestre. providing communications for radiothermals in an interior portion of a terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of indoor base stations;and providing radiotherapy communications in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of peripheral base stations with at least one of the peripheral base stations being substantially disabled for remote transmission to the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.
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Wireless communications system, characterized by the fact that it comprises:55. Sistema de comunicações sem fio, caracterizado pelo fato de que compreende: a plurality of indoor link transmitters uma pluralidade de transmissores interiores de ligação 10 descendant configured to transmit communications to radiothermals located in interior portions of a terrestrial network coverage area;10 descendente configurados transmitir comunicações para radioterminais localizados em porções interiores de uma área de cobertura de rede terrestre;a plurality of indoor uplink receivers configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies located in the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area;and uma pluralidade de receptores interiores de ligação ascendente configurados parra receber comunicações a partir de radioterminais localizados nas porções interiores da área de cobertura de rede terrestre;e 15 a plurality of uplink peripheral receivers configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies located in a peripheral region of the terrestrial network coverage area adjacent to the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area, with at least a portion of the peripheral region being outside an area 15 uma pluralidade de receptores periféricos de ligação ascendente configurados para receber comunicações a partir de radioterminais localizados em uma região periférica da área de cobertura de rede terrestre adjacente às porções interiores da área de cobertura de rede terrestre, sendo que pelo menos uma porção da região periférica está fora de uma área de 20 planned coverage of any communication system downlink transmitters. 20 cobertura planejada de quaisquer transmissores de ligação descendente do sistema de comunicação.
57
Auxiliary Terrestrial Component (ATC) that is configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of radiotelephones using at least one satellite radiotelephone frequency over an ATC service area, characterized by the fact that ATC comprises:57. Componente Terrestre Auxiliar (ATC) que é configurado para se comunicar sem fio com uma pluralidade de radiotelefones usando pelo menos uma freqüência de radiotelefone de satélite sobre uma área de serviço ATC, caracterizado pelo fato de que o ATC compreende: a plurality of base stations that are configured to communicate wirelessly with the plurality of radiotelephones using at least one satellite radiotelephone frequency, the plurality of base stations including at least one indoor base station that is located in an interior portion of the ATC service and at least one peripheral base station that is located on the periphery of the ATC service area, at least one peripheral base station having fewer transmission sectors, fewer transmit antenna elements, different transmit antenna elements and / or different transmit gain patterns than at least one indoor base station. uma pluralidade de estações base que são configuradas para se comunicar sem fio com a pluralidade de radiotelefones usando pelo menos uma freqüência de radiotelefone de satélite, a pluralidade de estações base incluindo pelo menos uma estação base interior que é localizada em uma porção interior da área de serviço ATC e pelo menos uma estação base periférica que é localizada na periferia da área de serviço ATC, pelo menos uma estação base periférica tendo menos setores de transmissão, menos elementos de antena de transmissão, diferentes elementos de antena de transmissão e/ou diferentes padrões de ganho de transmissão do que pelo menos uma estação base interior.
59
Terrestrial communications network that is configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of radio phones, characterized by the fact that the terrestrial communications network comprises:59. Rede de comunicações terrestre que é configurada para se comunicar sem fio com uma pluralidade de telefones a rádio, caracterizada pelo fato de que a rede de comunicações terrestre compreende: a plurality of base stations that are configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of radiotelephones, the plurality of base stations including at least one base station having a return link margin greater than a forward link margin over at least one portion of a coverage area. uma pluralidade de estações base que são configuradas para se comunicar sem fio com uma pluralidade de radiotelefones, a pluralidade de estações base incluindo pelo menos uma estação base tendo uma margem de ligação de retomo maior do que uma margem de ligação de ida sobre pelo menos uma porção de uma área de cobertura da mesma.
71
Terrestrial communications network that is configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of radiotelephones, characterized by the fact that the terrestrial communications network comprises:71. Rede de comunicações terrestre que é configurada para se comunicar sem fio com uma pluralidade de radiotelefones, caracterizada pelo fato de que a rede de comunicações terrestre compreende: a plurality of base stations that are configured to communicate wirelessly with the plurality of radiotelephones, the plurality of base stations including at least one base station having at least one antenna that transmits information to at least one radiotelephone using substantially Left Circular Polarization (LHCP ). uma pluralidade de estações base que são configuradas para se comunicar sem fio com a pluralidade de radiotelefones, a pluralidade de estações base incluindo pelo menos uma estação base tendo pelo menos uma antena que transmite informação para pelo menos um radiotelefone usando substancialmente Polarização Circular Esquerda (LHCP).

Independent claims10

117 paragraphs, as filed

(54) Title: WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, METHOD OF PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS FOR RADIOTERMINALS, AUXILIARY TERRESTRIAL COMPONENT, AND, TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (30) Unionist Priority: 28/07/2003 us 60/490638; 08/05/2003 US 60/492710; 06/28/2004 US Not yet known (71) Depositor (s): ATC Technologies, LLC (US) (72) Inventor (s): PeterD. Karabinis (74) Attorney: Momsen, Leonardos & Cia.

(86) International Order: pct US2004 / 022422 of 13/07/2004 (87) International Publication: wo 2005/018131 of 24/02/2005 (57) Summary: WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, METHOD OF PROVIDING RADIOTERMINAL COMMUNICATIONS, AUXILIARY TERRESTRIAL COMPONENT AND EARTHLY COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. A wireless communications system may include a terrestrial network including a plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a terrestrial network coverage area. The plurality of base stations can include indoor base stations providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area and peripheral base stations providing communication service for radiotherapy terminals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area. At least one of the peripheral base stations provides transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. Correlated methods are also discussed.

Ύ • 30

“COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITHOUT FLÓ, METÓDÒ DÊ 'PRO ^ ÍR COMMUNICATIONS FOR RADIOTERMINALS, AUXILIARY TERRESTRIAL COMPONENT, AND, TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK”

Related Orders

This request claims the benefit of: Provisional Application No. 60 / 490,638, filed on July 28, 2003, entitled “Systems and Methods for Modifying Antenna Radiation Pattems of Peripheral Base Stations of an Ancillary Terrestrial Component to Allow Reduced Interference”; and provisional application No. 60 / 492,710, filed on August 5, 2003, entitled “Additional Systems and Methods for Modifying Antenna Radiation Pattems of Peripheral Base Stations of an Ancillary Terrestrial Component to Allow Reduced Interference”. Both provisional patent applications referenced above are assigned to the assignee of the patent application, and descriptions of both referenced provisional patent applications are incorporated here by reference in their entirety as set out here entirely.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to wireless communication systems and methods, and more particularly to terrestrial cellular communication systems and methods.

Background

Satellite radio communications systems and methods are widely used for radio communications. Satellite radio telecommunications systems and methods generally employ at least one space-based component, such as one or more satellites that are configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of satellite radiotelephones.

A satellite radiotelephone system or method can use a single antenna beam covering an entire area served by the system. Alternatively, in cellular systems and methods of satellite radiotelephone communications, multiple beams are provided, each of which can serve different geographical areas in the total service region, to collectively serve a useful area of total satellite coverage. Thus, a cellular architecture, similar to that used in conventional terrestrial cellular radiotelephone systems and methods can be implemented in cellular systems and methods based on satellites. The satellite typically communicates with radiotelephones via a bidirectional communication path, with radiotelephone communication signals being communicated from the satellite to the radiotelephone via a downlink or one-way connection, and from the radiotelephone to the satellite via an uplink or return connection.

The general design of operating cellular satellite radio systems and methods are well known to those of skill in the art, and need not be described in greater detail here. In addition, as used herein, the term "radiotelephone" includes cellular and / or satellite radiotelephones, with or without a multiline display; Personal Communications System (PCS) terminals, which can combine a radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile and / or data communications capabilities; Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), which may include a radio frequency transceiver and a radiolocator, Internet access and / or Intranet; web browser, organizer, calendar and / or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and / or conventional laptop and / or palmtop computers and other devices that include a radio frequency transceiver. Radiotelephones can also be referred to here as “radiotherminals” or simply as “terminals”.

As is well known to those who are knowledgeable in the art, terrestrial networks can increase the availability, efficiency and / or economic viability of cellular satellite radiotelephone systems, through the terrestrial reuse of at least some of the frequency bands that are allocated to cellular radiotelephone satellite systems. In particular, it is known that it may be difficult for cellular satellite radio systems to reliably serve densely populated areas, because the satellite signal can be blocked by means of overhead structures and / or may not penetrate buildings. As a result, the satellite band spectrum can be underutilized or rendered unusable in such areas. The use of terrestrial retransmission of all or some of the satellite band frequencies can reduce or eliminate this problem.

In addition, the capacity of the total system can be increased significantly through the introduction of terrestrial retransmission, since the reuse of terrestrial frequency can be much more dense than that of a satellite-only system. In fact, capacity can be increased where it can be most needed, that is, in areas or close to densely populated urban, industrial, and / or commercial areas. As a result, the total system may be much more economically viable, as it may be able to provide services to a much larger subscriber base. Finally, satellite radiotelephones for a satellite radiotelephone system having a terrestrial component within the same satellite frequency band and using substantially the same air interface for both terrestrial and satellite communications can be cheaper and / or aesthetically attractive. Conventional dual-band and / or dual-mode alternatives, such as the well-known dual-mode terrestrial and / or satellite radiotelephone systems, Thraya, Iridium and / or Globalstars, can duplicate some components, which can lead to cost high size and / or weight of the radiotelephone.

United States patent No. 6,684,057, issued on January 27, 2004, by the present inventor Karabinis, and entitled 'Systems and

Methods for Terrestrial Reuse of Cellular Satellite Frequency Spectrum ', the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, as if fully exposed here, describes that a frequency of satellite radiotelephones can be reused terrestrially through an auxiliary terrestrial network within the same satellite cell, using interference suppression techniques. In particular, the satellite radiotelephone system according to some embodiments of US Patent No. 6,684,057 includes a space-based component, which is configured to receive wireless communications from a first radiotelephone in an area useful satellite coverage over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, and an auxiliary terrestrial network that is configured to receive wireless communications from a second radiotelephone in the useful satellite coverage area over the satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The space-based component also receives wireless communications from the second radiotelephone in the useful satellite coverage area via the satellite radiotelephone band, as interference, with the wireless communications that are received from the first radiotelephone in the useful area satellite coverage over the frequency band of satellite radiotelephone. An interference reducer is responsive to the space-based component and the auxiliary terrestrial network that is configured to reduce interference from the wireless communications that are received by the space-based component from the first radiotelephone in the useful satellite coverage area via the frequency band of satellite radiotelephone, using the wireless communications that are received by the auxiliary terrestrial network from the second radiotelephone in the useful satellite coverage area through the satellite radiotelephone frequency band.

United States patent application No. 2003/0054761 Al, published on March 20, 2003, by the present inventor Karabinis and entitled 'Space Guard Bands for Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies', the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully exposed here, it describes satellite radiotelephone systems that include a space-based component, which is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a useful satellite coverage area over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The useful area of satellite coverage is divided into a plurality of satellite cells, in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused. An auxiliary terrestrial network is configured for terrestrial reuse of at least one of the auxiliary radiotelephone frequencies, which is used in a satellite cell in the useful satellite coverage area, outside the cell and, in some embodiments, separated from it via of a space guard band. The space guard band can be large enough to reduce or prevent interference between at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the satellite cell in the useful satellite coverage area, and at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies. satellite that is terribly reused outside the satellite cell and separated from it via the space guard band. The space guard band can be about half a radius in length from a satellite cell.

United States patent application No. 2003/0054815 Al, published on March 20, 2003, by the present inventor Karabinis and entitled 'Methods and Systems for Modifying Cell and Satellite Antenna Patterns in Response to Land Frequency Reuse of Satellite ', the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully exposed here, describes that space-based wireless radiotelephone communications, they are provided in a useful area of satellite coverage through a frequency band of satellite radiotelephone. The useful area of satellite coverage is divided into satellite cells, in which frequencies of satellite radiotelephone of the frequency band of satellite radiotelephone are spatially reused. At least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies, which is designated with a given satellite cell in the useful satellite coverage area, is terribly reused outside the given satellite cell. A radiation pattern from at least the given satellite cell is modified to reduce interference with at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is terribly reused outside the given satellite cell.

summary

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a communications system can include a terrestrial network having a plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a terrestrial network coverage area. The plurality of base stations can include indoor base stations providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area and peripheral base stations providing communication service for radiotherapy terminals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, at least one of the peripheral base stations can provide transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.

Peripheral base stations and / or indoor base stations can define a portion of a perimeter of the terrestrial network coverage area so that indoor terrestrial base stations are located on one side of the perimeter and not on the other side of the perimeter. In addition, the perimeter can be closed off by involving interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, at least one of the indoor base stations can define a plurality of sectors involving the indoor base station (s), and transmissions can be directed from the indoor base station (s) ) for each of the sectors so that the transmissions are directed over a 360 degree pattern involving the indoor base station.

At least one of the peripheral base stations can define a plurality of sectors involving the peripheral base station (s), and the peripheral base station (s) can provide transmissions for at least one sector directed substantially to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than for another sector directed substantially away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. At least one of the peripheral base station (s) may include directional transmission antenna (s) for sector (s) directed substantially to interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area, but not to the sector (s) directed substantially away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, at least one peripheral base station (s) may include directional receiving antenna (s) directed to at least one of the sectors surrounding the peripheral base station (s) (s). In addition, at least one peripheral base station (s) may have fewer transmission sectors, fewer transmission antenna elements, different transmission antenna elements, and / or different transmission gain patterns than at least an indoor base station.

The communications system may also include a second terrestrial network having a second plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a second terrestrial network coverage area, and a non-service region may separate the first and second network coverage areas. terrestrial. Therefore, communications services may not be provided through the base stations of any of the first or second terrestrial networks in the region without service.

In addition, the communications system may include a space-based network including at least one satellite. The space-based network can provide communications service for radiotherapy in a first satellite coverage area using at least one first frequency in a satellite frequency band, and the space-based network can provide communications service for radiotherapy in a second satellite coverage area using at least a second frequency from the satellite frequency band. In addition, at least a portion of the terrestrial network coverage area may be within the first satellite coverage area, and a totality of the terrestrial network coverage area may be outside the second satellite coverage area. In addition, at least one of the base stations of the terrestrial network can provide communications service using the second frequency of the satellite frequency band, and at least one of the base stations may not provide communications to and / or from the radiofrequencies receiving communications from base stations, using the first frequency in the satellite frequency band.

The space-based network can transmit communications to radiofrequencies in the first satellite coverage area using the first frequency, and the space-based network can transmit communications to radiothermals in the second satellite coverage area using the second frequency. In addition, at least one of the base stations on the terrestrial network can transmit communications using the second frequency. In addition, the space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in the first satellite coverage area using at least a third frequency. The space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in the second satellite coverage area using at least a fourth frequency, at least one of the base stations on the terrestrial network can receive communications using the fourth frequency, and at least one of the base stations of the terrestrial network may not receive communications from radiothermals receiving communications from the base stations of the terrestrial network, using the third frequency.

The terrestrial network can also include a plurality of receiving-only base stations, configured to receive communications from radiotherminals in the peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area. Therefore, the communications service for the radiotherminals can be provided by a receiving-only base station receiving communications from the radiotherminals and by another base station transmitting communications to the radiothermals.

According to additional embodiments of the present invention, a communication system can include a terrestrial network having a plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a terrestrial network coverage area. The plurality of base stations can include indoor base stations providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area and peripheral base stations providing communication service for radiotherapy terminals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, at least one of the peripheral base stations can be a receiving only base station that does not transmit.

Peripheral base stations and / or indoor base stations can define a portion of a perimeter of the terrestrial network coverage area so that indoor terrestrial base stations are located on one side of the perimeter and not on the other side of the perimeter. In addition, the perimeter can be closed off by involving interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, at least one indoor base station (s) can define a plurality of sectors involving the indoor base station (s), and broadcasts can be directed from at least one station indoor base (s) for each of the sectors so that transmissions are directed over a 360 degree pattern involving at least one indoor base station (s). At least one peripheral base station (s) can define a plurality of sectors involving the peripheral base station (s), and at least one peripheral base station (s) can include directional receiving antenna (s) for at least one of the sectors.

The communication system may also include a second terrestrial network having a second plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a second terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, a service-free region can separate the first and second terrestrial network coverage areas so that communications services are not provided by the base stations of any of the first or second terrestrial networks in the service-free region.

In addition, the communications system may also include a space-based network having at least one satellite. The space-based network can provide communications service for radiotherapy in a first satellite coverage area using at least one first frequency in a satellite frequency band, and the space-based network can provide communications service for radiotherapy in a second satellite coverage area using at least a second frequency from the satellite frequency band. In addition, at least a portion of the terrestrial network coverage area may be within the first satellite coverage area, and a totality of the terrestrial network coverage area may be outside the second satellite coverage area. In addition, at least one of the base stations can provide communications service using the second frequency of the satellite frequency band, and at least one of the base stations may not provide communications to and / or from the radiofrequencies that receive communications from the base stations, using the first frequency of the satellite frequency band.

The space-based network can transmit communications to radiofrequencies in the first satellite coverage area using the first frequency, and the space-based network can transmit communications to radiothermals in the second satellite coverage area using the second frequency. In addition, at least one of the base stations on the terrestrial network can transmit communications using the second frequency. The space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in the first satellite coverage area using at least a third frequency, and the space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in the second satellite coverage area using at least one fourth frequency. In addition, at least one of the base stations of the terrestrial network can receive communications using the fourth frequency, and at least one of the base stations of the terrestrial network can not receive communications, from the radiofrequencies receiving communications from the base stations, using the third frequency.

According to other additional embodiments of the present invention, a communication system can include a terrestrial network having a plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a terrestrial network coverage area. A plurality of base stations may include an indoor base according to the radiotherapy terminal service in an interior portion of the stations providing a terrestrial network coverage area of peripheral base stations providing radiotherapy communications service in a peripheral portion of the area. terrestrial network coverage. In addition, at least one of the peripheral base stations can be substantially disabled for remote transmission to the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.

Peripheral base stations and / or indoor base stations can define a portion of a perimeter of the terrestrial network coverage area so that the indoor base stations of the terrestrial network are located on one side of the perimeter and not on the other side of the perimeter. In addition, the perimeter can be closed involving interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.

At least one of the peripheral base stations may have fewer transmission sectors, fewer transmission antenna elements, different transmission antenna elements, and / or different transmission gain patterns than at least one of the indoor base stations. In addition, at least one of the indoor base stations can transmit and receive communications, and at least one of the peripheral base stations can be a receiving-only peripheral base station. The communication system may also include a second terrestrial network having a second plurality of base stations providing communications service for radiothermals over a second terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, a service-free region can separate the first and second terrestrial network coverage areas so that communications services may not be provided through base stations from either the first or second terrestrial networks in the service-free region.

The communication system can also include a space-based network with at least one satellite. The space-based network can provide communications service for radiotherapy in a first satellite coverage area using at least one first frequency in a satellite frequency band, and the space-based network can provide communications service for radiotherapy in a second satellite coverage area using at least a second frequency from the satellite frequency band. At least a portion of the terrestrial network coverage area may be within the first satellite coverage area, and an entire portion of the terrestrial network coverage area may be outside the second satellite coverage area. In addition, at least one of the base stations can provide communications service using the second frequency of the satellite frequency band, and at least one of the base stations may not provide communications to and / or from the radiofrequencies that receive communications from the base stations, using the first frequency of the satellite frequency band.

At least one of the peripheral base stations can provide transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. At least one of the peripheral base stations can be a receiving only base station that does not transmit.

In accordance with still further embodiments of the present invention, methods of providing communications for radiotherapy terminals may include providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals in an interior portion of a terrestrial network coverage area using indoor base stations. The communications service can be provided for radiotherapy in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area using peripheral base stations. More particularly, at least one of the peripheral base stations can provide transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.

In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, methods of providing communications for radiotherapy terminals may include providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals in an interior portion of a terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of indoor base stations. Communications service can be provided for radiothermals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of peripheral base stations, with at least one of the peripheral base stations being a receiving only base station, which does not transmit.

In accordance with still more embodiments of the present invention, methods of providing communications for radiotherminals may include providing communications for radiotherminals in an interior portion of a terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of interior base stations. Communications can be provided to radiotherminals in a peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area using a plurality of peripheral base stations, with at least one of the peripheral base stations being substantially disabled for remote transmission to the interior portions of the coverage area of terrestrial network.

In accordance with even more embodiments of the present invention, a communications system may include a plurality of indoor downlink transmitters, configured to transmit communications to radiofrequencies located in interior portions of a terrestrial network coverage area. A plurality of indoor uplink receivers can be configured to receive reception communications from radiofrequencies located in the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. In addition, a plurality of gondola peripheral uplink receivers be configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies located in a peripheral region of the terrestrial network coverage area, adjacent to the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area, at least a portion of the peripheral region is outside a planned coverage area of any downlink transmitters of the communication system.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an Auxiliary Terrestrial Component (ATC) that is configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of radiofrequencies using at least one satellite radiotelephone frequency over an ATC service area. ATC includes a plurality of base stations that are configured to communicate wirelessly with the plurality of radiofrequencies using at least one satellite radiotelephone frequency. The plurality of base stations includes at least one indoor base station which is located in an indoor portion of the ATC service area, and at least one peripheral base station which is located on the periphery of the ATC service area. In some embodiments, at least one peripheral base station has fewer transmit sectors, fewer transmit antenna elements, different transmit antenna elements and / or different transmit gain patterns than at least one indoor base station. In other embodiments, at least one indoor base station is at least one indoor transmit and receive base station, and the ATC also includes at least one peripheral receive-only base station. Thus, systems and methods are provided to modify antenna irradiation patterns of peripheral base stations of the Auxiliary Terrestrial Component, in comparison with indoor base stations, to allow reduced interference.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating portions of a terrestrial network in accordance with early embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating portions of a terrestrial network in accordance with second embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a terrestrial network in accordance with third embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating satellite and terrestrial communications networks sharing a satellite frequency band according to fourth embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a terrestrial network according to the fifth embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating satellite and terrestrial communications networks sharing a frequency band according to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention can, however, be incorporated in many different forms and should not be understood as limited to the embodiments set out herein. More suitably, these embodiments are provided so that this description will be complete and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The same numbers refer to the same elements from beginning to end.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc., are used here to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These badlands are only used to distinguish one element or embodiment from the other element or embodiment. Thus, a first element or embodiment below could be called a second element or embodiment, and similarly, a second element or embodiment can be called a first element or embodiment without departing from the teachings of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In addition, as used here, “substantially the same” band means that the bands substantially overlap, but that there may be some areas of non-overlap, for example at the ends of the band. In addition, “substantially the same (s)” air interface (s) means (s) that the air interfaces are similar, but need not be identical. Some changes can be made to one air interface (ie, a satellite air interface) in relation to the other (ie, a terrestrial air interface) to take into account different characteristics that may exist between terrestrial and by satellite. For example, a different rate of voice encoder can be used for satellite communications compared to the rate of voice encoder that can be used for terrestrial communications (ie, for terrestrial communications, voice can be compressed (“with encoded voice) ”) For approximately 9 to 13 kbps, while for satellite communications, a voice encoder rate of 2 to 4 kbps, for example, can be used). In addition or in alternatives, different call error correction encoding, different interleaving depth, and / or different spread spectrum codes can be used, for example, for satellite communications compared to encoding, interleaving depth, and / or scattered spectrum codes (ie, Walsh codes, long codes, and / or frequency hopping codes) that can be used for terrestrial communications.

In addition, as referred to here, a “substantially south” direction or a “substantially north” direction here means a direction that includes a component in a south or north direction, respectively. For example, a direction to the southwest may be a substantially south direction.

Satellite systems that can operate in co-frequency (also referred to as co-channel) with at least some frequencies of a satellite system containing an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) may receive cofference interference (co-channel) ) from the ATC co-frequency (co-channel) operations. To reduce the level of co-frequency (co-channel) interface that can be generated by an ATC, ATC base stations can be built with X dB (for example, 18 dB) of penetration signal margin in buildings, such as, for example, X dB of signal penetration return in buildings. This signal range can enable an ATC radiotherminal (ie, a radiotherm that is in communication with an ATC) to operate even when it is subjected to X dB of structural signal attenuation and can also facilitate a reduction in signal strength. output of the radiotherminal, when the radiotherminal is being subjected to less than X dB of structural signal attenuation. At the limit when the radiotherminal is not subject to any structural signal attenuation (the radiotherminal is entirely deactivated), the signal power that the radiotherminal can radiate in order to communicate with a base station can be reduced by as much as X dB ( for example, 18 dB) in relation to the maximum. This can reduce the level of interference that can be detected by a co-frequency satellite (co-channel) system.

As used here, the term Auxiliary Terrestrial Component (ATC) can refer to one or more terrestrial base stations in a terrestrial network of base stations that provide radiotherapy communications service through a terrestrial network coverage area (also referred to as a terrestrial network coverage area). ATC service area). For example, the term Auxiliary terrestrial component can refer to a single terrestrial base station, with a plurality of such terrestrial base stations that provide service to radiofrequencies through a terrestrial network coverage area (referred to as an Auxiliary Terrestrial Network (ATN )).

Cellular and PCS systems are routinely employed in urban areas with significant signal penetration margins in buildings, typically ranging from 15 to 20 dB. The planning of an ATC with X dB (for example, 18 dB) of structural attenuation signal margin can be accomplished through the use of one of a plurality of statistically established design methodologies, which are known to those skilled in the art . According to an example of such a project methodology and as an initial step, the link budget of a base station, and the corresponding radiotherapy equipment, can be calculated and balanced, bi-directionally, by taking into account some or all relevant parameters of base station, radiotherminal, and / or propagation environment, such as the Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of the base station and radiothermal equipment, the exponential propagation factor, suitable for the ATC environment, signal attenuation due to fading of multiple paths, base station receiver sensitivities and radiotherm gain, base station and / or radiotherm antenna and diversity reception gain factor, etc. ., including a loss of X dB signal (for example, 18 dB) due to structural attenuation. The bidirectionally balanced link budget can identify an estimate of a base station's service radius. In this radius of service, a radiotherminal can communicate with a base station, with a certain probability of success, subject to the considered values of link budget parameter and propagation failures, including the effect of one or more signal attenuation structures, the which can, as a whole, impose X dB (for example 18 dB) of additional signal attenuation in addition to that imposed by loss of propagation (as defined, for example, by the conventional model of Cost 231-Hata) and loss of fading of multiple paths. It follows that when a radiotherminal is not subject to any signal attenuation structures, it can, subject to closed loop power control, radiate at a reduced level of signal power, which averages X dB ( for example, 18 dB) less than its maximum.

An ATC service area can comprise a set of ATC base stations, which can be planned and deployed based on the design principles above. In such an environment, as an active radiotherminal migrates from one ATC base station service area to another, the system can continue to provide service to the radiotherminal through the ATC base station which can nominally provide maximum signal quality and / or signal strength for that radiotherminal. As such, a radiotherapy terminal that is transitioning from the service area of one ATC base station to another and is operating outside the influence of any signal attenuation structures can, on average, continue to radiate at a reduced level of signal power. X dB (for example, 18 dB) less than its maximum.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the vicinity of a perimeter of an ATC service area, the ATC can be configured to reduce, completely avoid and / or substantially minimize service radiominals that may be beyond the service area base station and can therefore radiate a higher level of power. This can be accomplished, according to some embodiments, by configuring and / or orienting the antenna elements of a base station to substantially illuminate only direction cards, which, according to a link budget, can satisfy the configuration design of X dB structural attenuation signal margin (for example, 18 dB) of an ATC. Thus, for example, at least one TC base station, close to a perimeter of an ATC service area, can be configured with a reduced (smaller) number of sectors, reduced (less) different antenna elements, and can, thus, not being able to provide service in at least one direction, for substantially the same radio as in another direction.

Thus, as shown in figure 1, an ATC includes a plurality of base stations that are configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of radiofrequencies using at least one satellite radiotelephone frequency. The plurality of base stations includes at least one indoor base station 10, which is located at a perimeter 30 of the ATC service area. As shown in figure 1, at least one base station 20 has fewer sectors, fewer antenna elements, different antenna elements and / or different gain patterns than at least one indoor base station 10. For example, as shown in figure 1 , at least some of the indoor base stations 10 have full 360 ° coverage, for example, three sectors, while one of the peripheral base stations 20 has a reduced number of sectors, such as one or two sectors.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that, while figure 1 represents a single row of peripheral base stations 20, adjacent to perimeter 30 of the ATC service area, more than one row of peripheral base stations can be provided. It will also be understood that, in some embodiments, only a single sector can be provided for peripheral base stations 20. In yet other embodiments, a complete set of sectors, such as three sectors, can be provided, with reduced numbers of antenna elements, reduced antenna gain, and / or reduced EIRP in one or more of the sectors, compared to indoor base stations 10. Combinations of these embodiments can also be provided. In addition, each peripheral base station does not need to include the same (reduced) number of sectors and / or antenna elements, and not all peripheral base stations 20 need to include fewer sectors, fewer antenna elements, different antenna elements, and / or different (reduced) EIRP. In some embodiments, peripheral base stations 20 can communicate with an ATC infrastructure.

In still other embodiments of the present invention, instead of, or in combination with, the ATC configuration of figure 1, at least one receiving-only base station can be provided close to a perimeter of a required ATC space, the which may have been according to a link budget, including X dB (for example, 18 dB) of structural signal attenuation, in order to maintain the emissions of a radiotherminal substantially according to a low power level criterion, as the radiotherminal continues to operate outside the designed service area of the ATC.

Thus, as shown in figure 2, at least one peripheral ATC base station can be a receiving only base station 40, which can include the same number of sectors and / or receiving antenna elements as the indoor ATC base stations 10 or, as shown in figure 2, it may include fewer sectors, fewer receiving antenna elements and / or different receiving antenna elements compared to the indoor CT base stations 10. It will also be understood that, as with the reduced sector and / or reduced antenna elements of the peripheral base stations 20 of Figure 1, the base-only receiving stations 40 of Figure 1 need not be identical in their number of sectors and / or antenna elements, and more than one row of reception-only base stations 40 can be provided. In addition, at least some of the receiving-only base stations 40 can communicate with an indoor ATC base station 10, adjacent or non-adjacent, or can communicate with the ATC infrastructure. In addition, combinations of peripheral base stations 20 and 40 of figures 1 and 2 can be provided according to other embodiments of the present invention.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide a plurality of base stations that are configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of radiofrequencies using at least one satellite radiotelephone frequency. The plurality of base stations includes at least one indoor base station which is located in an indoor portion of the ATC service area and at least one peripheral base station which is located in a periphery of the ATC service area. At least one peripheral base station has fewer sectors, fewer antenna elements, different antenna elements, different gain patterns, and / or different EIRP than at least one indoor base station. In other embodiments, at least one indoor base station is at least one indoor transmit and receive base station, and the ATC also includes at least one peripheral receive-only base station.

Other embodiments of the present invention may configure at least one peripheral base station 20 of an ATC, at the perimeter or fringes 30 of an ATC service area to reduce or avoid service radiotherapies that are beyond its useful service coverage area conceived. This can be done in a variety of ways, including directing some sectors of base stations to light areas that are within the useful coverage area of ATC service, while disabling other sectors that can light areas away from the useful coverage area of ATC. ATC service. Such disabled sectors can be configured as receiving only sectors. In some embodiments, signals that are received in the receiving-only sector can also be received by at least one other transmitting and receiving sector and can be combined using conventional techniques.

As such, a radiotherminal that can be diverted away from the core service coverage area of the core ATC, while continuing to communicate with a base station through reception in the side lobes of a hab sector inhabited , can transmit back to that base station via the main lobe (or substantially through the main lobe) of a receiving-only sector that is oriented towards it. In this configuration, the call link for the radiotherminal will generally be a much weaker link than the callback link, and the service for that radiotherminal will generally end due to the call link “disruption” before the radiotherminal is at a distance that may require it to radiate maximum or near maximum power. Thus, a sharp decrease in the base station's call link signal strength can be established at an edge of an ATC service area by carefully configuring the base station sectors 20 that are at or near the edge.

The front-to-back EIRP ratio of an ATC base station antenna can, by the ATC Rules, be approximately 25 dB (see 47 CFR 25.253 (e)). Thus, a base station that is located at or near the edge of a useful ATC service coverage area can have at least one of its (typically three) transmission sectors disabled. In other words, the sector (s) that would have been appointed in remoteness from the useful area of ATC service coverage may be disabled in their ability to transmit. For such a base station, a user who is in an unserved area (an area that would have been served by one of the sectors with transmission disabled) will generally experience significant call link signal attenuation (in the order of 25 dB) relative to to a user who is the same distance from the base station tower and within a sector with enabled transmission. With a call link disadvantage of approximately 25 dB, the base station's service radius towards a receiving-only sector can be reduced to less than two dozen that would otherwise have been. It follows that, in some embodiments, a radiotherminal that is within a reception-only sector and outside the influence of any signal attenuation structures can radiate, subject to closed loop power control, approximately 25 dB less than that it would radiate at the edge of a symmetrically planned ATC sector.

According to additional embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in figure 3, a terrestrial communications network 100 can include a plurality of indoor and peripheral base stations 1 10a-h and 120a-o, respectively, providing communications services for radiotherapy terminals 150 through a terrestrial network coverage area. Indoor base stations 110 provide communications services for radiotherapy terminals 150 in an inner portion of the terrestrial network coverage area, and peripheral base stations 120 provide communications services for radiotherms in the peripheral portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. More particularly, at least one of the peripheral base stations 120 can provide transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater EIRP (power) than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. For example, at least one of the peripheral base stations may have fewer transmit sectors, less transmit antenna elements, different transmit and / or receive antenna elements, and / or different transmit and / or receive gain patterns and / or parameters than at least one of the indoor base stations.

More particularly, at least one indoor base station (s) 110 can define a plurality of sectors involving the indoor base station, and at least one indoor base station (s) 110 can direct broadcasts to all sectors which involve the respective indoor base station (s), so that transmissions are oriented in a 360 degree pattern involving the respective indoor base station (s) ( es). For example, one of the indoor base stations may include directional transmission antennas, configured to provide transmissions over a 120 degree sector, and the base station may include at least three of such directional antennas, so that the transmissions are oriented over three sectors 120 degrees to cover a 360 degree pattern surrounding the base station. In addition or in an alternative, one or more indoor base stations 110 may include ominidirectional antennas and / or directional antennas. At least one of the indoor base stations can also be configured so that transmissions are oriented to a pattern of less than 360 degrees surrounding at least one indoor base station. Transmission patterns and / or sectors are not shown for the indoor base stations 110 of figure 3, for clarity.

As discussed above, at least one of the peripheral base stations 120 can provide transmissions oriented towards an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater EIRP (power) than transmissions oriented away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. More particularly, at least one of the peripheral base stations can include one or more directional transmission antennas, each providing transmissions for a sector, such as a 120 degree sector. In addition, the transmission directional antenna (s) on a peripheral base station 120 can be oriented so that transmissions from peripheral base station 120 are oriented on a sector (or sectors) oriented substantially for the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater EIRP (power) than is oriented on a sector (or sectors) oriented substantially away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.

For example, peripheral base stations 120 may respectively include one or more directional transmission antennas, configured to provide transmissions for a respective 120 degree transmission sector 121a-o or 122c or 122n. in the example in figure 3, for base stations 120a-b, 120d-m, and 120o, one or more directional transmission antennas at each base station can be configured to provide transmissions for radiothermals in a single respective 120-degree sector 121a b, 121d-m, and 120o. furthermore, for base stations 120c and 120n, directional transmission antennas at each base station can be configured to provide transmissions for radiotherm terminals in two respective 120 degree sectors 121c, 122c, 121n and 122n. Therefore, the peripheral base stations 120a-o can define a perimeter 125 (illustrated by means of the dashed line in figure 3) of the terrestrial network coverage area, so that the indoor base stations 110 are located on one side of the perimeter 125 and not on the other side of perimeter 125. As illustrated by the dashed line in figure 3, perimeter 125 can substantially follow sector boundaries, to which peripheral base stations 120 transmit. The transmission sectors of the peripheral base stations can define the peripheral portions of the terrestrial network coverage area, and areas limited by the peripheral portions can define the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area.

In addition, peripheral base stations 120a-o may include directional receiving antennas that define reception coverage sectors, which cover a complete 360 degree pattern surrounding each of the peripheral base stations. For example, peripheral base stations 120a-b, 120d-m and 120o may include directional transmit antennas, which substantially transmit to a single respective 120-degree sector 121a-b, 121d-m, and 121o, without substantially transmitting to sectors covering the remaining 240 degrees surrounding the base station. Similarly, peripheral base stations 120c and 120n may include directional transmit antennas that substantially transmit to two 120 degree sectors, without substantially transmitting to the remaining 120 degree sector surrounding the base station. Peripheral base stations, however, can include directional receiving antennas, configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies in sectors 120a-o and 122c and 122n, to which peripheral base stations transmit, as well as directional receiving antennas, configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies in sectors to which peripheral base stations do not substantially transmit. In an alternative or in addition, one or more of the peripheral base stations may include one or more omnidirectional receiving antenna (s) (wind power installations).

Consequently, indoor and outdoor base stations 110 and 120 can provide communications services for radiofrequencies in a coverage area and / or sector thereof using, for example, air interface protocols and / or architectures, such as FDM / FDMA ( multiplexed / multiple access by frequency division), TDM / TDMA (multiplexed / multiple access by time division), CDM / CDMA (multiplexed / multiple access by code division), and / or OFDM / OFDMA (multiplexed / multiple access by orthogonal frequency division). In addition, the base stations of the terrestrial communications network 100 may employ a frequency reuse and / or scatter code reuse pattern to increase frequency and / or capacity usage efficiency and / or reduce interference. For example, each base station may have a relatively small coverage area and / or sector and adjacent base stations and / or sectors may use different frequencies and / or scatter codes to reduce interference between them.

Communications to a radiotherminal 150a in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area can be provided by means of an indoor base station 110c, as illustrated in figure 3. When radiotherminal 150a changes position within the terrestrial network coverage area during a communication, such as a radiotelephone conversation, communications services for radiotherminal 150a can be transferred from one sector of base station 110c to another sector of base station 110c, and / or for sectors of other indoor or peripheral base stations.

Communications for a 150b radiotherminal in the peripheral portion of the terrestrial network coverage area can be provided through a 120g peripheral base station. when radiotherminal 150b is in sector 12 lg, to which the transmit and receive antennas of base station 120 are directed, communications can be provided for radiotherminal 150b within sector 121 g. in addition, communications services for the radiotherminal 150b can be transferred from base station 120g to an indoor or peripheral base station adjacent if the radiotherminal 150b moves from sector 121g to a sector of another base station.

As shown in figure 3, the peripheral base station sectors may appear to have fixed limits defined by the transmission sectors of the respective transmission antennas. As will be understood, however, the lateral lobes of the irradiation patterns generated by the directional transmission antennas of the peripheral base stations may have sufficient energy to support acceptable link transmissions to a 150c radiotherm outside the perimeter 125 of the terrestrial network coverage area and outside of sector 121 fixer of peripheral base station 120f. As discussed above, peripheral base station 120f may include receiving antennas, which may, for example, be directional, supporting robust communications link reception from the sector outside the mobile terminal 121f.

Therefore, communications service for the radiotherminal 150c can initially be provided by the base station 120f within sector 121 f, but the radiotherminal 150c can then move out of sector 121 f and away from the terrestrial network coverage area. According to embodiments of the present invention, downlink transmissions from the base station 120f to the radiotherminal 150c can continue to be provided via the directional antenna (s) (wind power installations) that provide service to the sector 12 lf, and the quality of the downlink communications received by the radiotherminal 150c can quickly deteriorate. A relatively high quality of uplink communications received by the base station 120f from the radiotherminal 150c, however, can be maintained when the radiotherminal 150c moves out of sector 12lf, because the base station 120f includes receiving antennas covering a full 360 degree pattern surrounding the 120f base station. therefore, the communications service for the radiotherminal 150c will most likely be terminated due to deterioration in the downlink from the peripheral base station 120f to the radiotherminal before significant deterioration in the uplink from the radiotherminal 150c to the base station 120f occur, which can cause the radiotherminal to radiate at, close to, maximum power.

Through the provision of sectors outside perimeter 125, where a peripheral base station can receive uplink communications from a radiotherm via operational antennas in these sectors without transmitting communications to the radiotherm via operational antennas in these sectors. Communications with the radiotherminal can be terminated, without causing the radiotherminal to increase its transmission power to a maximum, or close to a maximum, before termination. More particularly, in a closed loop power control system, the base station may request that the radiotherminal increase in its transmission power, when the signal strength and / or the quality of communications received by the base station decreases, and, similarly, the radiotherminal may request that the base station increase its transmission power when the signal strength and / or quality of communications received by the radiotherminal decreases. Once the radiotherminal 150c is moved outside sector 12lf, a measure of the intensity and / or quality of base station transmissions outside sector 121f may decrease due to the directional nature of the radio transmission antenna (s) base station and because of the limited maximum EIRP (power) capacity of the base station. The base station, however, may not request any, or any significant, increase in power from the radiotherminal, because at least one receiving antenna from the base station is directed outside the perimeter 125. To further increase the available backlink margin between a radiotherm and a base station and thus also reduce the transmission power of a radiotherminal, at least one antenna subsystem of a peripheral and / or indoor base station can be configured to receive in more than one spatial orientation, such as vertical and horizontal orientation (polarization diversity reception) and, in addition or in an alternative, it can also be configured with more than one spatially distinct element (reception of space diversity).

In accordance with additional embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the peripheral base stations 120a-o may be located near an airport, a navigable waterway, or another region likely to include satellite communications terminals, which may be located communicating with a satellite. For example, one or more peripheral base stations 120The-o can be located near an airport boundary with at least one transmission sector from the peripheral base station (s) close to the airport boundary being driven away or substantially away from the airport and / or having a low EIPR compared to other sectors. An area close to an airport can also be served by configuring at least one base station having at least one transmission sector whose antenna is oriented to point and / or radiate substantially in a southern direction. Providing communications service to an area close to an airport with at least one base station sector that is oriented to point and / or radiate in a substantially south direction can increase and / or maximize antenna discrimination between a satellite terminal (which it can also be operational with its antenna oriented in a substantially south direction due to the location of an orbital interval of a geostationary satellite) and the base station sector. (It will be understood that a base station sector that may be providing communications services to an area close to an airport, which is located below the Earth's equator, may be oriented to point and / or radiate substantially in a northerly direction, once that, in relation to a satellite terminal that is located at the next to the airport (below the Earth's equator), an orbital geostationary satellite location can be in a north or substantially north direction.)

The at least one transmission sector of the peripheral base station (s), close to the airport being driven away or substantially away from the airport / or configured to radiate substantially in a south direction may also have a low EIRP value compared to other base station sectors on the same or other base stations. At least one transmission sector of the peripheral base station (s) and / or interior (s), near and / or far from the airport, can also be configured with a Left Circularly Polarized antenna (LHCP) to also maximize discrimination between the antenna systems of at least one transmission sector and a satellite terminal that is configured with a Right Circularly Polarized receiving antenna (RHCP). Therefore, interference with satellite communications terminals (aeronautical or other) that may be operating at or near the airport, resulting from base station transmissions, can be reduced or eliminated. The indoor base stations can thus be located on a first side of perimeter 125, and peripheral base stations 120a-o can be located so that the airport is on a second side of perimeter 125.

In another example, one or more peripheral base stations 120The-o they can be located next to a navigable waterway with at least one transmission sector of the peripheral base station (s), close to the navigable waterway, being driven away or substantially away from the waterway navigable and / or pointing south or substantially south. The provision of communications service to an area close to a navigable waterway (in the northern hemisphere) with at least one base station sector that is oriented in a south or substantially south direction and / or is configured to radiate in a south or substantially direction south can increase and / or maximize antenna discrimination between the satellite terminal (which can also be operational with its antenna oriented in a substantially south direction, by virtue of a geostationary satellite orbital range location) and the base station sector. (It will be understood that a base station sector, which may be providing communications services for an area close to a waterway, which is located below the Earth's equator (in the southern hemisphere), may be oriented to point and / or radiate substantially in a northerly direction, since in relation to a satellite terminal that is allocated to or near the waterway (below the Earth's equator), an orbital geostationary satellite location can be in a northerly or substantially northerly direction.)

The at least one transmission sector of the peripheral base station (s), close to the navigable waterway, being directed to radiate and spacing or substantially and spacing to the navigable waterway and / or being directed to radiate in a south or substantially south direction it may also have a low EIRP value in relation to other sectors of the same base station or other base stations. At least one transmission sector of the peripheral base station (s), near and / or far (sO from the navigable waterway, can also be configured with a Circular Left Polarized antenna (LHCP) for also maximize discrimination between the antenna systems of at least one transmission sector and a satellite terminal that is configured with a right circularly Polarized antenna (RHCP). Therefore, interference with satellite communications terminals on or near the navigable waterway, which may be operational, for example, on boats and / or ships on the navigable waterway, resulting from peripheral and / or inland base station transmissions may be reduced or eliminated. The indoor base stations can thus be located on a first side of perimeter 125, and peripheral base stations 120a-o can be located so that the navigable waterway is on a second side of perimeter 125.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the terrestrial network 100 can assist a space-based communications network by providing telephone-to-radio communications using a telephone to radio frequency band. In addition, the base stations of the terrestrial network 100 can reuse at least one frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based communications network can provide communications for radiothermals when outside the terrestrial network coverage area. Therefore, when the radiotherminal 150c moves away from perimeter 125, communications with the radiotherminal 150c can be transferred to the space-based network and / or to an alternative terrestrial communications network, such as a cellular communications network and / or terrestrial PCS.

The sharing of frequencies of a satellite frequency band between a space-based communications network and a terrestrial communications network is discussed, for example, in the following US patents and US patent publications. Satellite radioterminal communications systems and methods, which can employ terrestrial reuse of satellite frequencies, are described, for example, in US Patent 6,684,057 to Karabinis, entitled “Systems And Methods For Terrestrial Reuse Of Cellular Satellite Frequency Spectrum ”, And US Patent Application published no. US 203/0054760 by Karabinis, entitled 'Systems And Methods For Terrestrial Reuse Of Cellular Satellite Frequency Spectrumf US 203/00547751 by Karabinis, entitled “Spatial Guardbands for Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies”', US 2003/0054814 by Karabinis et al., Systems And Methods For Monitoring Terrestrially Reused Satellite frequencies To Reduce Potential Interference ', US 203/0073436 by Karabinis et al., titled Additional Systems And Methods For Monitoring Terrestrially Reused Satellite frequencies To Reduce Potential Interference ',

US 2003/0054762 by Karabinis, entitled Multi-band / Multi-mold Satellite Radiotelephone Communications Systems And Methods', US 2003/0153267 by Karabinis, entitled Wireless Communications Systems And Methods Using Satellite-Linked Remote Terminal Interface Subsystems; ·, US 2003 / 0224785 by Karabinis, entitled Systems And Methods for Reducing Satellite Feeder Link Bandwidth / Carriers In Cellular Satellite Systems', US 2002/0041575 by Karabinis et al., entitled Coordinated Satellite-Terrestrial Frequency Reuse; US 2002/0090942 by Karabinis et al., Entitled Integrated or Autonomous System and Method of Satellite-Terrestrial Frequency Reuse Using Signal Attenuation System and / or Blockage, Dynamic Assignment of Frequencies and / or Hysteresis', US 2003/0068978 by Karabinis et al ., entitled SpaceBased NetWork Architectures for Satellite Radiotelephone Systems ', US 2003/0143949 by Karabinis, entitled Filters for Combined Radiotelephone / GPS Terminals', US 2003/0153308 by Karabinis, entitled Staggered Sectorization for Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies', and US 2003/0054815 by Karabinis, entitled Methods and Systems for Modifying Satellite Antenna Cell Patterns In Response to Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies. All of the aforementioned patent and patent publications are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and descriptions of all of these patent and patent publications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if fully disclosed herein.

As shown in figure 4, a plurality of terrestrial communications networks 100a-d (for example, as discussed above with respect to figure 3) can be separated by regions without services, so that communication services are not provided by base stations. any of the terrestrial communications networks 100a-d in regions without service. In addition, a space-based network including at least one satellite 210 can provide communications services for radiothermals outside the coverage areas of terrestrial communication networks lOOa-d and within satellite coverage areas 212a-e (such as radiothermals 150i-m) using frequencies in a satellite frequency band.

Frequencies of the satellite frequency band can be reused within satellite coverage areas 212a-e, so that, for example, the same frequencies of the satellite frequency band may not be reused to provide communications service in overlapping areas satellite coverage. In addition, the frequencies of the satellite frequency band can be reused within terrestrial networks 1 OOa-d, so that, for example, the same frequencies may not be reused in a satellite coverage area and in a terrestrial network located in the satellite coverage area. For example, the space-based network can provide communications services for radiothermals in satellite coverage area 212a (such as the radiotherapy terminal 150i) using at least one first frequency in the satellite frequency band, and the space-based network can provide communications for radiofrequencies in the 212b satellite coverage area (such as the 150m radiotherminal) using a second frequency from the satellite frequency band. In addition, the terrestrial network 100d (or at least a portion of it) is within the first satellite coverage area 212a, and the terrestrial network 1OOd is outside the satellite coverage area 212b. Consequently, at least one base station of the terrestrial network lOOd can provide communications service for radiothermals in a coverage area (such as the 150h radiotherminal) using the second frequency of the satellite frequency band, and none of the base stations of the terrestrial network lOOd can provide communications service using the first frequency of the satellite frequency band.

Similarly, the base stations of terrestrial networks lOOa-b can provide communications services for radiotherapy terminals in a coverage area (such as 150e-fixator radiofrequencies) using frequencies in the satellite frequency band different from the frequencies used by the network based on the space to provide communications service through satellite coverage area 212b. In addition, terrestrial network base stations 100c can provide communications services for radiothermals in a coverage area (such as the terminal

150g) using frequencies of the satellite frequency band different from the frequencies used by the space-based network to provide communications service through the 212e satellite coverage area.

More particularly, the satellite frequency band can include downlink frequencies and uplink frequencies. Downlink frequencies can be used by the base stations of the terrestrial network (s) and the satellite (s) of the space-based network to transmit communications to the radiothermals. Uplink frequencies can be used by the base stations of the terrestrial network (s) and by the satellite (s) of the space-based network to receive communications from radiofrequencies. Therefore, the base stations of the terrestrial network (s) may share a satellite frequency band with the space-based network, but the base stations of the terrestrial network (s) may not transmit at all. frequencies that are received by the space-based network. Therefore, base stations on terrestrial networks that share frequencies in the satellite frequency band may not interfere with frequencies received by the space-based network. For example, the space-based network can transmit communications to radio terminals in the satellite coverage area 212The using a first frequency of the satellite frequency band, the space-based network can transmit to radiofrequencies in the satellite coverage area 212b using a second frequency of the satellite frequency band, and at least one base station of the terrestrial network lOOd can transmit communications using the second frequency of the satellite frequency band.

Similarly, the space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in the first satellite coverage area 212The using a third frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in satellite coverage area 212b using a fourth frequency of the satellite frequency band. In addition, at least one base station of the terrestrial network lOOd can receive communications from radiofrequencies using the fourth frequency of the satellite frequency band, and none of the base stations of the terrestrial network lOOd can receive communications from radiothermals that are communicating. between them, using the third frequency of the satellite frequency band (at least some of the base stations of the terrestrial network lOOd can also be configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies in the first satellite coverage area 212a using the third frequency of the satellite frequency band to communicate with the space-based network).

A first radiotherminal can thus transmit communications to a peripheral base station of the terrestrial network 1 OOd using the fourth frequency and a second radiotherminal in the satellite coverage area 212b can transmit to the space-based network using the fourth frequency. As discussed above with respect to figure 3, communications between the first radiotherm and the terrestrial network can be terminated without increasing the transmission power of the first radiotherm to a maximum level, or close to the maximum, because the peripheral base station provides transmissions directed or oriented towards an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with higher EIRP (power) than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area lOOd. Therefore, interference from the first radiotherm with transmissions from the second radiotherm in the satellite coverage area 212b to the space-based network can be reduced.

In accordance with further additional embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 5, a terrestrial communications network 500 may include a plurality of indoor and peripheral base stations 510a-ie 520a-o providing communications service for radiotherapy terminals 550 over a terrestrial network coverage area. The indoor base stations 510 provide communications service (both transmitting downlink communications to radiothermals and receiving uplink communications from radiotherminals) to radiothermals 550 in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area. In contrast, peripheral base stations 520 can only receive uplink communications from radiofrequencies. In other words, at least one of the peripheral base stations 520 can be a receiving only base station.

More particularly, at least one of the indoor base stations 510 can define a plurality of sectors involving at least one indoor base station, and at least one indoor base station (s) 510 can transmit directly to all sectors involving the indoor base station, so that transmissions are directed over a 360 degree pattern involving the respective indoor base station. For example, one of the indoor base stations may include directional transmission antennas, configured to provide transmissions over a 120 degree sector, and the base station (s) may include at least such directional antennas, so that transmissions are directed over three 120-degree sectors to cover a 360-degree pattern involving the base station. In addition or in an alternative, one or more indoor base stations 510 may include omnidirectional antennas and / or directional antennas. At least one of the indoor base stations can also be configured so that transmissions are directed to a pattern of less than 360 degrees involving at least one indoor base station. The complete transmission patterns and / or sectors are not shown for the indoor base stations 510 in figure 5, for clarity.

As discussed above, at least one of the peripheral base stations 520 can be a receiving-only base station (s). More particularly, peripheral base stations can include one or more receiving antennas that provide reception capacity for at least one sector, such as a 120 degree sector. In addition, the receiving antenna (s) at a peripheral base station 520 can be oriented so that the reception of peripheral base station 520 is directed over a sector oriented substantially towards the inner portions of the coverage area terrestrial network with greater sensitivity than is directed on a sector oriented substantially away from the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area. In an alternative, a peripheral base station 520 may include receiving antennas directed over two or more sectors oriented substantially towards the interior portions of the terrestrial network coverage area, and / or a peripheral base station 520 may include receiving antennas directed over a plurality of sectors covering a 360 degree pattern involving peripheral base station 520.

A planned boundary of coverage areas for indoor base stations 510 can define a perimeter 525 (illustrated by the dashed line in figure 5) of the terrestrial network coverage area, so that indoor base stations 510 are located on one side of perimeter 525 and not on the other side of perimeter 525. In an alternative or in addition, one or more of the peripheral base stations may include one or more omnidirectional receiving antennas and / or one or more directional receiving antennas.

As a result, indoor and outdoor base stations 510 and 520 can provide communications services for radiofrequencies in a coverage area and / or sector thereof, using, for example,

FDM / FDMA multiplexed / multiple access by frequency division), TDM / TDMA (multiplexed / multiple access by time division), CDM / CDMA (multiplexed / multiple access by code division), and / or OFDM / OFDMA 9multiplexed access / multiple by orthogonal frequency division). In addition, the base stations of the terrestrial communications network 500 may employ a frequency reuse and / or dispersion code reuse pattern to increase frequency and / or capacity usage efficiency and / or reduce interference. For example, each base station may have a relatively small coverage area and / or sector and adjacent base stations and / or sectors may use different frequencies and / or scatter codes to reduce interference in the interim.

The communications service for a radiotherminal 550a in an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area can be provided by means of an indoor base station 510c, as illustrated in figure 5. When the radiotherminal 550a moves within the terrestrial network coverage area during a communication, such as a radio telephone conversation, the communications services for the radiotherminal 550a can be transferred from one sector of the base station 510c to another base station sector 510c, and / or for sectors of other indoor and / or peripheral base stations. More particularly, a downlink for transmissions to the radiotherminal 510a and an uplink for transmissions from the radiotherminal may be provided by one or more indoor base stations while the radiotherm is within a coverage area of one of the indoor base stations.

As shown in figure 5, the planned coverage areas of indoor base stations 510 may appear to have fixed limits, defined by means of the transmission sectors of the respective transmission antennas. As will be understood, however, the radiation patterns generated by the transmission antennas, such as through the transmission antennas of the 510g indoor base station, may have enough energy to support transmissions to a 550b radiotherminal outside the perimeter 525 of the planned coverage area terrestrial network. As discussed above, peripheral base station 520g can include receiving antennas that support robust communications link reception from mobile terminal 550b, outside perimeter 525.

Therefore, the communications service for the radiotherminal 550b can initially be provided via the indoor base station 510g, but the radiotherminal 550b can then move out of the planned coverage area of the indoor base station 510g, outside the perimeter 525, and away from the planned coverage area of the terrestrial network. According to embodiments of the present invention, transmissions from the base station 510g to the radiotherminal 550b can continue to be provided via the transmission antenna (s) of the indoor base station 510, and the quality of the communications received radiotherminal 550b may deteriorate. A relatively high quality of communications received by the peripheral base station 520g from the radiotherminal 550b, however, can be maintained when the radiotherminal 550b moves out of the planned coverage area of the indoor base station 510g. Therefore, the communications service for the radiotherminal 550b will at most be likely to be terminated due to the deterioration in the downlink from the indoor base station 510g to the radiotherminal 550b, before a significant deterioration in the uplink from the radiotherminal 550b to the 520g base station. (alternatively, the 520g base station and the base station

510g can be configured to combine their corresponding receptions from a radiotherminal, such as their receptions from the radiotherminal 550b. Therefore, downlink communications for radiotherminal 550b and uplink communications from radiotherminal can be provided using different base stations when radiotherminal 550b is outside the planned service perimeter and terrestrial network 525.

By providing peripheral base stations and receiving only, outside perimeter 525, which can receive communications from a radiotherminal, communications with the radiotherminal can be terminated without causing the radiotherminal to amplify its transmission power to a level maximum, or a level close to the maximum, before the end. More particularly, in a closed loop power control system, a terrestrial network infrastructure, such as, for example, a base station (or base stations), can request that the radiotherminal increase its transmission power when the quality of communications received by the infrastructure (base station or base stations) decreases, and, similarly, the radiotherminal may request that an infrastructure, such as, for example, a base station that provides communication information for the radiotherminal, increases its transmission power when the quality of communications received by the radiotherminal decreases. When once the radiotherminal 550 moves substantially outside the planned coverage area of the indoor base station 510g, and because the EIRP (power) from the base station 510 can be limited to a predetermined maximum, an intensity and / or measure of quality of base station broadcasts outside of its planned coverage area may decrease. A terrestrial communications network infrastructure, however, such as the 510g base station, may not request any, or any significant increase in power for transmissions from the radiotherminal 550b, which is outside the planned network limit (s) , because the receiving antennas of the base station 520g (and / or 510g) can be configured to cover areas outside the perimeter 525, not covered by the transmit and / or reception antennas of the base station 10 g, according to the planned limits and / or parameters of the system. That is, for at least some areas outside the perimeter 525, the base station 510g itself, without the aid of a peripheral base station 520g, may not provide X dB (ie 18 dB) of structural linkage attenuation margin. .

According to additional embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the peripheral base stations 520a-o can be located close to an airport, a navigable waterway, or another region liable to include satellite communications terminals. For example, one or more peripheral base stations 520a-o may be located near an airport boundary, with the peripheral base station (s) being located between one or more of the indoor base stations 5 10a -i and the airport. Consequently, interference with satellite communications terminals on aircraft at the airport, which result from base station transmissions from the terrestrial network 500, can be reduced. Indoor base stations 510a-i can therefore be located on a first side of perimeter 525, and peripheral base stations 520a-o can be located so that the airport is on a second side of perimeter 525. In addition, a or more of the peripheral base stations may be between perimeter 525 and the airport. In another example, one or more peripheral base stations 520a-o may be located next to a navigable waterway, with one or more of the peripheral base stations 520a being located between one or more of the indoor base stations 1010a-i and the waterway. Therefore, interference with satellite communications terminals on boats and / or ships on the navigable waterway, which result from base station transmissions from the terrestrial network 500, can be reduced. The indoor base stations can thus be located on a first side of perimeter 525 and peripheral base stations 520a-o can be located so that the navigable waterway is on a second side of perimeter 525. In addition, one or more stations 520 peripheral baseThe-o can be between the perimeter 525 and the waterway.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the terrestrial network 500 can assist a space-based communications network by providing telephone-to-radio communications using a satellite radio frequency band. In addition, the base stations of the terrestrial network 500 can reuse at least one frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based communications network can provide communications for radiothermals when outside the terrestrial network coverage area. Therefore, when radiotherminal 550b moves away from perimeter 525, communications with radiotherminal 550b may be transferred to the space-based network and / or to an alternative terrestrial communications network, such as a terrestrial cellular communications network and / or PCS.

Cellular Satellite Frequency Spectrum ', and US Patent Applications published in. US 2003/0054760 by Karabinis, entitled Systems and Methods for Terrestrial Reuse of Cellular Satellite Frequency Spectrum ', US 2003/0054761 by Karabinis, entitled Spatial Guardbands for Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies', US 2003/0054814 by Karabinis et al., Titled Systems and Methods for Monitoring Terrestrially Reused Satellite Frequencies to Reduce Potential Interference ', US 2003/0073436 by Karabinis et al., entitled Additional Systems and Methods for monitoring terrestrially reused satellite frequencies to Reduce Potential Interference ', US 2003/0054762 by Karabinis, entitled Multi-Band / Multi-Mode Satellite

Radiotelephone Communications Systems and Methods ', US 2003/0153267 by Karabinis, entitled Wireless Communications Systems and Methods Using Satellite-Linked Remote Terminal Interface Subsystems', US 2003/0224785 by Karabinis, entitled Systems and Methods for Reducing Satellite Feeder Link Bandwidth / Carriers In Cellular Satellite Systems ', US 2002/0041575 by Karabinis, entitled Coordinated Satellite-Terrestrial Frequency Reuse', US 2002/0090942 by Karabinis et al., titled Integrated or Autonomous System and Method of Satellite-Terrestrial Frequency Reuse Using Signal Attenuation and / or Blockage, Dynamic Assignment of Frequencies and / or Hysteresis', US 2003/0068978 by Karabinis et al., entitled space-based network architectures for satellite radiotelephone systems; US 2003/0143949 by Karabinis, entitled Filters for Combined radiotelephone / GPS Terminals ', US 2003/0153308 by Karabinis, entitled Staggered Sectorization for Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies', and US 2003/0054815 by Karabinis, entitled Method and Systems for Modifying Satellite Antenna Cell Pattems In response to Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies. All patent and patent publications referred to are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and the disclosures of all these patent and patent publications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if fully disclosed herein.

As shown in figure 6, a plurality of terrestrial communications networks 500a-d (as discussed above with respect to figure 5) is represented, which can be separated by regions without service, so that communication services are not provided by the base stations of any of the 500a-d terrestrial communications networks in regions without service. In addition, a space-based network, including at least one satellite 610, can provide communications services for radiothermals outside the coverage areas of terrestrial communications networks 50a-within 612a-e satellite coverage areas (such as radiotherapy 550i-m) using frequencies in a satellite frequency band.

The frequencies of the satellite frequency band can be reused within the 612a-e satellite coverage areas, so that, for example, the same frequencies of the satellite frequency band are not reused to provide communications service in coverage areas overlapping satellite channels. In addition, the frequencies of the satellite frequency band can be reused within terrestrial networks 500The-d, so that, for example, the same frequencies are not reused in a satellite coverage area and in a terrestrial network located in the satellite coverage area. For example, the space-based network can provide communications service for radiotherapy terminals in the satellite coverage area 612a (such as radiotherapy 5 5 Oi) using at least a first frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based network it can provide communications for radiofrequencies in the 612b satellite coverage area (such as the 550m radiotherminal) using a second frequency of the satellite frequency band. In addition, the 500d terrestrial network (or at least a portion of it) is within the 612 satellite coverage areaThe, and the terrestrial network 500d is outside the 612b satellite coverage area. Consequently, at least one base station of the terrestrial network 500d can provide communications service for radiofrequencies in a coverage area of the same (such as the radiotherapy terminal 550h) using the second frequency of the satellite frequency band, and none of the base stations of the terrestrial network 500d can provide communications service using the first frequency of the satellite frequency band.

Similarly, the base stations of terrestrial networks 500a-b can, for example, provide communications services for radiofrequencies in a coverage area (such as radiofrequencies 550e-f) using frequencies of the different satellite frequency band than those frequencies used by the space-based network to provide communications service over the 612b satellite coverage area. In addition, the base stations of the terrestrial network 500c can, for example, provide communications services for radiotherapy terminals in a coverage area (such as terminal 550g) using frequencies in the satellite frequency band different from the frequencies used by the network based space to provide communications service over the 612e satellite coverage area.

More particularly, the satellite frequency band can include downlink frequencies and uplink frequencies. Downlink frequencies can be used by the base stations of the terrestrial network (s) and the satellite (s) of the space-based network to transmit communications to the radiothermals. Uplink frequencies can be used by the base stations of terrestrial networks and by the satellite (s) of the space-based network to receive communications from radiofrequencies. Therefore, base stations on terrestrial networks can share a satellite frequency band with the space-based network, but base stations on terrestrial networks cannot, for example, transmit on frequencies that are received by the space-based network. Therefore, base stations on terrestrial networks that share frequencies in the satellite frequency band cannot interfere with frequencies received by the space-based network. For example, the space-based network can transmit communications to radiofrequencies in the satellite coverage area 612a using a first frequency in the satellite frequency band, the space-based network can transmit to radiothermals in the satellite coverage area 612b using a second frequency of the satellite frequency band, and at least one base station of the terrestrial network 500d can transmit communications using the second frequency of the satellite frequency band.

Similarly, the space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in the first satellite coverage area 612a using a third frequency in the satellite frequency band, and the space-based network can receive communications from radiofrequencies in the coverage area 612b using a fourth frequency of the satellite frequency band. In addition, at least one base station of the terrestrial network 500d can receive communications from radiofrequencies, which is transmitting communications to use the fourth frequency of the satellite frequency band, and none of the base stations of the terrestrial network 500d can receive communications from from radiofrequencies that are communicating with it using the third frequency of the satellite frequency band. (At least some of the base stations on the 500d terrestrial network can also be configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies in the first 612a satellite coverage area using the third frequency in the satellite frequency band to communicate with the space-based network. )

A first radiotherminal can thus transmit communications to a peripheral base station of the terrestrial network 500d using the fourth frequency and a second radiotherminal in the satellite coverage area 612b can transmit to the space-based network using the fourth frequency. As discussed above with respect to figure 5, communications between the first radiotherminal and the terrestrial network can be terminated without increasing a transmission power from the first radiotherminal to a maximum level, or close to the maximum, because the peripheral reception-only base station , provides at least one receiving antenna directed to an interior portion of the 500d terrestrial network coverage area, in order to provide a high quality return connection for the first radiotherminal. Therefore, interference from the first radiotherm with transmission from the second radiotherm in the satellite coverage area 612b to the space-based network can be reduced.

In addition, the elements of the embodiments discussed above with respect to figures 3-6 can be combined. For example, terrestrial communications networks 100 of figures 3 and / or 4 may include one or more receiving only stations, configured to receive communications from radiofrequencies outside perimeter 125 (as discussed above with respect to peripheral base stations 520 of the figure 5, thereby also increasing the quality of the uplink compared to the quality of the downlink outside the perimeter 125. In addition or in an alternative, a receiving-only base station can be replaced by one or more of the peripheral base stations 120 of figures 3 and / or 4.

Similarly, the terrestrial terrestrial communications networks of figures 5 and 6 may include one or more base stations providing transmissions directed to an interior portion of the terrestrial network coverage area with greater power than transmissions directed away from the interior portions of the coverage area terrestrial network (as discussed above with respect to peripheral base stations 120 of figure 3). For example, a peripheral base station 120, as discussed above with respect to figure 3, gondola will be replaced by one or more of the peripheral base stations 520 of figure 5.

In the drawings and description, typical embodiments of the invention have been described and, although specific terms are used, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set out in the claims that follow. In addition, although particular systems are discussed above with respect to the figures, analogous methods are also included in the present invention.

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93 members in 14 offices

This recordMember, by publication datePriority claim4 more offices are in the list below

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Priority claims
Document	Office	Kind	Date
49063803	United States of America	P	2003-07-28
49271003	United States of America	P	2003-08-05
88002304	United States of America	A	2004-06-28
2004022422	United States of America	W	2004-07-13

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Document	Office	Kind
CA2325150A1	Canada	A1	2002-02-02
CA2328003A1	Canada	A1	2002-02-02
CA2328013A1	Canada	A1	2002-02-02
CA2381811A1	Canada	A1	2002-02-07
WO0211302A2	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A2	2002-02-07
AU8468801A	Australia	A	2002-02-13
US2002041575A1	United States of America	A1	2002-04-11
WO0211302A3	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A3	2002-04-25
CA2334447A1	Canada	A1	2002-05-03
CA2428702A1	Canada	A1	2002-06-13
WO0247357A2	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A2	2002-06-13
AU2580102A	Australia	A	2002-06-18
WO0211302B1	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	B1	2002-07-04
US2002090942A1	United States of America	A1	2002-07-11
WO0247357A3	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A3	2002-10-17
EP1316233A2	European Patent Office (EPO)	A2	2003-06-04
MXPA02001964A	Mexico	A	2003-07-21
MXPA03004903A	Mexico	A	2003-09-25
WO0247357A9	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A9	2003-09-25
EP1350344A2	European Patent Office (EPO)	A2	2003-10-08
US2004023658A1	United States of America	A1	2004-02-05
EP1316233A4	European Patent Office (EPO)	A4	2004-03-03
EP1350344A4	European Patent Office (EPO)	A4	2004-06-23
US2005026606A1	United States of America	A1	2005-02-03
US6859652B2	United States of America	B2	2005-02-22
AU2004300986A1	Australia	A1	2005-02-24
CA2534269A1	Canada	A1	2005-02-24
WO2005018131A2	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A2	2005-02-24
US2005079816A1	United States of America	A1	2005-04-14
US6892068B2	United States of America	B2	2005-05-10
US2005164701A1	United States of America	A1	2005-07-28
US2005181786A1	United States of America	A1	2005-08-18
EP1350344B1	European Patent Office (EPO)	B1	2005-10-19
AT307432T	Austria	T	2005-11-15
ATE307432T1	Austria	T1	2005-11-15
DE60114236D1	Germany	D1	2005-11-24
US2005265273A1	United States of America	A1	2005-12-01
US2005272369A1	United States of America	A1	2005-12-08
EP1608086A2	European Patent Office (EPO)	A2	2005-12-21
EP1619810A2	European Patent Office (EPO)	A2	2006-01-25
IL172721D0	Israel	D0	2006-04-10
ES2251526T3	Spain	T3	2006-05-01
EP1656776A2	European Patent Office (EPO)	A2	2006-05-17
AU2002225801B2	Australia	B2	2006-05-18
KR20060073925A	Republic of Korea	A	2006-06-29
AU2001284688B2	Australia	B2	2006-07-06
DE60114236T2	Germany	T2	2006-07-27
US2006194576A1	United States of America	A1	2006-08-31
EP1608086A3	European Patent Office (EPO)	A3	2006-09-06
EP1619810A3	European Patent Office (EPO)	A3	2006-09-20
US2006211371A1	United States of America	A1	2006-09-21
BRPI0412901AThis record	Brazil	A	2006-09-26
US7149526B2	United States of America	B2	2006-12-12
US2007021060A1	United States of America	A1	2007-01-25
CA2381811C	Canada	C	2007-01-30
JP2007511108A	Japan	A	2007-04-26
CA2428702C	Canada	C	2007-07-24
AU2004300986B2	Australia	B2	2008-11-20
AU2009200660A1	Australia	A1	2009-03-12
US2009075645A1	United States of America	A1	2009-03-19
WO2005018131A3	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	A3	2009-03-19
CN101411220A	China	A	2009-04-15
US2009131046A1	United States of America	A1	2009-05-21
US7558568B2	United States of America	B2	2009-07-07
US2009186622A1	United States of America	A1	2009-07-23
US7577400B2	United States of America	B2	2009-08-18
US7593726B2	United States of America	B2	2009-09-22
US2009305697A1	United States of America	A1	2009-12-10
US7636567B2	United States of America	B2	2009-12-22
US2010009677A1	United States of America	A1	2010-01-14
US7706746B2	United States of America	B2	2010-04-27
EP1656776A4	European Patent Office (EPO)	A4	2010-08-25
US7792488B2	United States of America	B2	2010-09-07
AU2009200660B2	Australia	B2	2010-10-07
US7831251B2	United States of America	B2	2010-11-09
EP2256958A2	European Patent Office (EPO)	A2	2010-12-01
IL172721A	Israel	A	2010-12-30
US2011034166A1	United States of America	A1	2011-02-10
US7907893B2	United States of America	B2	2011-03-15
CA2334447C	Canada	C	2011-05-10
EP2256958A3	European Patent Office (EPO)	A3	2011-05-11
EP1608086B1	European Patent Office (EPO)	B1	2011-08-24
AT522032T	Austria	T	2011-09-15
ATE522032T1	Austria	T1	2011-09-15
CA2328003C	Canada	C	2011-09-20
EP1316233B1	European Patent Office (EPO)	B1	2011-10-05
AT527764T	Austria	T	2011-10-15
ATE527764T1	Austria	T1	2011-10-15
CN101411220B	China	B	2012-08-15
US8265637B2	United States of America	B2	2012-09-11
EP1656776B1	European Patent Office (EPO)	B1	2013-01-30
US8369775B2	United States of America	B2	2013-02-05
CA2534269C	Canada	C	2014-09-30

4 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC

Over the term

Point at a mark for the event

Events

Legal events, newest first
	Event	Code
2018-06-12	Decision: refusalB09B	B09B
2018-03-27	Decision: refusalB09B	B09B
2017-12-12	Technical examination (opinion): publication of technical examination (opinion)B07A	B07A
2017-05-16	Others concerning applications: alteration of classificationB15K	B15K