Geographic-area selective low-earth satellite-based paging brodcast system

(128, 130), allocating a call identification code and transmitting the signal to the data transmitting satellites (120 ... 126), and further comprising an element for selecting at least the first addressable area (106 ... 116) to the selected geographic area

Z

(.SGA) 'is within the addressable coverage area (106 ... 116), and further comprises an element that transmits a signal from the gateway (118) to the transmission satellite (120) having the selected addressable coverage area (106 ... 116). ... 126) ^ transmits, each data transmission satellite (120 ... 126) ^ comprising at least one data transmission switch transceiver receiving a signal from the gateway (118) and a signal to the selected addressable area (106). .. 116) '' correctly transmits, the data transmission satellite (120 .. · 126) ^ optionally being cross-linked with further data transmission satellites (120 ..126) to retransmit the signal according to the selected addressable area (106 ... 116 ^). to simplify signal transmission to the selected terminator unit (128, 13 0).

The invention further relates to a geographic area selective near-earth satellite-based paging broadcast method for a system comprising a first source unit (102, 104) / for at least one first source, a first terminator unit (128, 130).^x at least one first terminator, a first gateway (118) / and a plurality of transmitting satellites (120 ... 126) having a plurality of addressable areas (106 ... 116) to facilitate transmission of a message to the source transmitter at the gateway (118).

J via at least one data transmission satellite (120-126) to the preselected terminator unit (128f 130). The essence of the invention is that

A.) assigning an identification code (128, 130) to the terminator unit (118) using the gateway (118) and assigning at least one first long-range geographic area (LTPGA) and optionally a short-term geographic area (STPGA). source unit (to receive a call signal sent by 102 / 104f,

B.) transmitting the source unit (102, 104) ^ ζ message and, if applicable, the subscriber's geographical area,

C.) the gateway (118f defines addressable impact areas (106 ... 116) in accordance with selectable geographical areas (SGAs) <

D.) the gateway (118) - ^ including the call signal including addressable coverage areas (106 ... 116 ^) and the terminator unit identification code and message signal for at least one transmitting satellite (120 ... 126 ^). transmits, and the following

Step E) is performed, namely

El.) If the data transmission area (s) is outside the range of the data transmission satellite (120 ... 126), then the data transmission satellite (120 ... 126) * further transmits data links (120 ... 126) to the information signal. transmits to ^, each of which has a transceiver and is in a cross-link with the data transmission satellite (120 ... 126Y) and has a range of coverage and

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<img file="HUT73127A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="HUT73127A_D0003.tif" />

transmitting satellites (120 ... 126 ^ to addressable coverage areas (106 ... 126 ^) or

E2.) The addressable impact area is within the range of the given data transmission satellite (120 ... 126) ^, then the data transmission satellite (120 ... 126) ^ is the given addressable impact area (106. 116). ^Λ and then transmits the information to the terminator unit (128, 130).

(Figure 1) d

<img file="HUT73127A_D0004.tif" />

Representative:

DANUBIA PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE LTD.

Budapest

<img file="HUT73127A_D0005.tif" />

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA SELECTED, LAND-TO-LOWER SATELLITE BASED CALL ALERT SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE

MOTOROLA INC., Schaumburg, Illinois, US

inventors:

FRENZER Michael W., Palatine, Illinois, US

LOCASCIO Robert J., Crystal Lake, Illinois, US

ZOCHER Joan E., Algonquin, Illinois, US

WALTHER Dwight D., McHenry, Illinois, US

SEITZ Martin V., Fox River Grove, Illinois, US

KURBY Christopher N., Elmhurst, Illinois, US

Date of filing of the sex otkai: 24.08.1993.

Priority: 08.08.1992 (933,550) US

International Application Number: PCT / US93 / 07851

79172-6833 KK / tz

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a geographic area for a selective near-earth satellite-based call transfer system and method, preferably for data call signaling transmission systems associated with near-to-earth satellite data transmission networks.

The various communication call relay systems are generally provided with data relay elements that cover the entire scope of the given communication system. Although these systems are somewhat adjustable, they are not really effective for terrestrial systems. In addition, these systems are not suited to fit into a selected sphere of influence, i.e., a sphere of supply. Satellite-based call transfer systems are capable of covering and covering a larger geographic area, but use very high power and / or capacity when transmitting a call message to areas where a call receiver is not otherwise located, and only for signal transmission purposes. make sure that the call recipient receives the message. This procedure results in an inefficient use of broadcasting sources.

Thus, there is a need to develop a call transfer system or to implement a process that is more efficient than before and also utilizes the energy and / or capacity of the system better.

Accordingly, the present invention is a geographic area selective near-terrestrial satellite-based paging system comprising:

- at least one initiating source unit arranged at a first signal source, including a first gateway associated with the source unit, and further comprising at least one terminator unit, including a plurality of data transmission satellites having a plurality of addressable areas of influence.

The essence of the invention is that the first source unit comprises

an element transmitting the call information to the gateway and from there to the data transmission satellites, wherein the final destination of the call information signal (call message and terminator unit identification code) is a particular terminator unit and the signal transmitted by the source unit includes a geographical location selected by the subscriber. area information signal, and each gateway includes a caller ID assignment code for the terminator unit , and an element for transmitting the signal to the data transmission satellites, further comprising an element for selecting at least the first addressable impact area such that the selected geographic area is within the addressable impact area (106 ... 116), further comprising an element, transmitting the signal from the gateway to the transmission satellite having a selectable addressable range, each transmission satellite comprising at least one transmission switch transceiver, which receives a signal from the gateway and transmits the signal according to the selected addressable coverage area, the data transmission satellite is optionally cross-linked with additional data transmission satellites to retransmit the signal according to the selected addressable coverage area to facilitate data transmission to the selected terminator unit.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of exemplary embodiments in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a geographic area selective near-earth satellite-based call transmission system according to the present invention; FIG. Figure 3 is a more detailed flowchart of one step of the invention, which is also a geo-area-selective near-earth satellite-based call transfer method; FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a method of the present invention for the management of a gateway for systems operating in a long-term selected geographical area and for a system selected in the short-term, which implements the method of the invention.

In order to favor the conversion and utilization of energy and / or capacity of the above data transmission systems, the method of the present invention employs a broadcasting system and method that enables efficient use of selected areas covered by the broadcasting system. The system of the present invention uses terminator units, i.e. terminating units, a radio communication call forwarding unit, the end user of which is a terminator, additional source units, information input elements used by the source unit, all of which operate in the system according to the invention.

In a terminator unit having a call receiver selected for receiving a call message, areas selected for long-term geographic areas, hereinafter abbreviated as LTPGA, and optionally selected short-term geographic areas, hereinafter referred to as STPGA. Optionally, a source unit transmitting a call signaling message may also select a subscriber geographic area, hereinafter referred to as "CPGA", to which the call signaling relay information including the call message signal and the terminator identification signal is transmitted. Thus, the area to which such a message signal can be transmitted is limited.

The present invention allows a source unit to freely utilize a geographic coverage area within which a call can be forwarded, and allows the terminator unit to easily change each transmission area, i.e., at least two broadcast areas. This will minimize satellite power • ·

- 6, while maximizing the use of frequency bands allocated to small geographic areas of influence.

In the present invention, as opposed to current regional call forwarding systems, it is possible for the terminator unit to change the selected geographical area. When a terminator unit periodically leaves a geographically designated and used geographic area, the terminator unit calls a gateway to connect to a short-term selected geographic area (STPGA). Thus, when a terminator unit wishes to transmit a signal intermittently or in an abnormal manner, the terminator unit is capable of adjusting the transmitting region to do so. When the terminator unit reaches an area where it is planned to remain there for a longer period, it transmits an information signal to the gateway unit and the gateway unit updates the location of the long-term designated geographical area.

By selecting two areas, one long-term selected geographical area (LTPGA) and one short-term selected geographical area (STPGA), the amount of information to be transmitted to the terminator unit at the gateway is minimized. returns from a periodically selected range.

When a source unit contacts a gateway, typically through a public switched telephone network (PSTN), to generate a call, it generates a signal identifying the terminator unit. Then, the · ·

<img file="HUT73127A_D0006.tif" />

7 terminator units have the ability to select whether to forward the call signal to a designated area for that terminator unit, i.e. to a short or long term designated geometric area associated with that terminator unit, or You can forward a call message to a source unit located in a subscriber geographic area.

If the source unit chooses to send paging information to the booked and marked area, the gateway checks to see if the short-term geographic area has stored data in its memory unit for that selected terminator unit. If the short-term geographic area data is stored in the memory unit for that terminator unit, the gateway uses STPGA to determine an addressable impact area (ACA) that receives the call information. If the short term selected geographical area (STPGA) for the selected terminator unit is not stored, the gateway unit uses the long term selected geographical area that the terminator unit has previously indicated to the gateway. If the source unit has previously transmitted a call signal to the terminator unit and the message remains unanswered, or the source unit detects that the terminator unit is located in an area other than the indicated short-term or long-term geographic area-

<img file="HUT73127A_D0007.tif" />

let, the source unit responds.

a subscriber geographic area

When a specific geographic area is selected, the gateway generates a list of minimally addressable impact areas (ACAs). Each ACA can be considered as a cell that is either fixed in relation to the base, i.e., the surface of the satellite facing the earth in that satellite, or in a fixed position relative to the ground.

When the cell is in a fixed position relative to the base of a near-earth satellite, the ACA travels through the earth's surface at the speed of the satellite. In this case, the selected geographic area for data transfer is updated frequently, for example every few seconds, according to the list of stored ACAs, and this data update is performed by the gateway. In the case of cells in a fixed position relative to earth, for example, in the case of near-earth satellites, for example, fast-moving satellites may continuously modify the satellite antenna beam assignment.

The source unit generates the terminator unit identification code and a call message. And the gateway selects a message number for that message.

The gateway transmits an information signal, such as a data signal packet, which includes a list of ACAs including selected geographic areas, as well as a terminator unit identification code, a call signal, and, if applicable, a message number. Typically, the gateway is the information signal • ·

- 9 transmits to the nearest satellite. The satellite then examines whether the information signal includes data on all the ACAs that belong to that satellite. If the addressable impact areas (ACAs) that belong to that satellite are included in this signal, the satellite will radiate the call signal, and preferably even the message number, to those addressable impact areas (ACAs). If there are addressable effects between addressable areas that belong to another satellite, then the satellite outputs its addressable effects and transmits a signal (RIM SIGNAL) containing the remaining information and uses a crossover to transmit. Cross-linking is essentially a communication link between satellites. Optionally, the signal may be decomposed into packet signals and transmitted over the cross link. When the signal is reassembled into data signal packets, the call message, and optionally the message number, is doubled and subdivided into addressable sub-lists and creates a series of cross-transmitted data signals. This step is repeated for each satellite transmitting unit until the call message signal and, if applicable, the message number reach each selected addressable impact area. Of course, the cross-linking path for the respective satellites can be configured to eliminate data transmission errors.

The terminator units can also be configured so that the call message number is the most recently received call message.

<img file="HUT73127A_D0008.tif" />

and ignore messages that have the appropriate ID number. In addition, the terminator unit also includes an element that indicates a call to the terminator unit.

FIG. 1 illustrates a geographic area of ​​a selective near-earth satellite-based call system 100, constructed in accordance with the present invention. Near-Earth Satellite is a satellite with a minimum flight altitude lower than the height of geostationary satellites.

The system itself includes a source unit 102, 104, at least one gateway unit 118, and a plurality of 120,

122, 124, 126 data transmissions of which the 106, 108, 110 are the coverage areas (ACA1-1, ACA1-2, satellites (COM SAT),

112, 114, 116 can be addressed

ACA1-3, ACA2-1, ACA2-2,

ACA2-3 ...) and the system also includes at least one first 128, 130 terminator units. In the exemplary embodiment, in Fig. 1, only terminator units 128 and 130 are indicated in the addressable areas 106 and 116, respectively. Of course, in the arrangement according to the invention, there are significantly more 128 or more than two. The system operates with 130 terminator units. Similarly, in the exemplary embodiment, only two data transmitting satellites 120 and 124 are designated as transmitting a call information signal, and only to three of the addressable areas 106, 108, 110, and 112, 114, 116 respectively. Obviously, each of the 120, 122, 124, 126 transmission satellites is any ·&gt; »» V

- Transmit a predetermined number of information to 11 predetermined number of addressable areas 106 to 116. The shape and size of each addressable impact area 106 to 116 depends on the parameters of the particular system and can be varied. For example, each addressable impact area 106 to 116 can be configured to have a range of 150 miles. Each of the addressable effect areas 106 to 116 are arranged slightly overlapping each other so that the call message is provided over the entire 1. can be transmitted in the area shown in FIG. As the data satellites 120, 122, 124, 126 approach the polar regions of the earth, their orbits are closer to each other, so that each of the addressable impact areas 106 to 116 may overlap and be so large, that some addressable effect areas (ACA or ACAs) may be inactivated. This is essentially an energy-saving step, since other overlaps provide the appropriate spheres of action, while at the same time interfering can be prevented by deactivating a particular ACA.

Figure 1 shows that the first source unit 102, as initiator, is coupled to a first gateway 118 to which the information signal is transmitted. The first source unit 102 may be, for example, a telephone connected to the first gateway 118, for example, via a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Information forwarding indicates at least one selected call alert information and also indicates where the call occurred * · &lt;»· * · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ··

- 12 selections, including CPGA information and selected terminator unit information.

Each source unit 102, 104 includes an element which transmits a signal to the gateway 118 and from there to the data transmitting satellites 120 ... 126, whereupon the signal is transmitted via these as a destination to a selected terminator unit 128, e.g. a call indicator element that receives the relevant signal, the signal itself, as transmitted from the source unit 102, 104, includes at least one call information signal, and optionally include information signals indicating a selected subscriber geographic area (CPGA). A typical call signaling information signal includes a call identification code for a given and selected terminator unit 128, for example, and a message transmitted by said source unit 102 or 104.

Each gateway 118 is configured to include a unit that provides a call identification code for a given terminator unit 128, such as the terminal code 128 and the paging ID. The gateway 118 further includes a unit that includes, for a particular terminator unit 128, selecting a long-term geographic area (s) (LTPGA) and optionally a short-term geographic area (s) (STPGA). In addition, a gateway 118 further includes a unit which, for example, allows the source unit 102 to select the CPGA. Gateway 118 stores at least the terminator unit identification number, LPGA or its corresponding ACA or ACAs, STPGA or its corresponding ACA or ACAs, STPGA or its corresponding ACA, and an optional call indicator service provider information sign as well. Typically, the data is stored on disk or optical storage. The gateway 118 processes the selected geographical areas (SGAs) as a list of one or more addressable impact areas (ACAs) such that said SGAs are within the ACAs. One or more Subscriber Geographic Areas (CPGA) or Territories, Long Term Selected Geographical Area or Territories (LTPGA), and Short Term Selected Geographical Areas or Territories (STPGA) form an optional geographic area (SGA). The gateway 118 transmits the call information signal transmitted by the source unit 102 or 104, the ACA (s) signal, and preferably the call message number to at least the first data transmission satellite 120, 122, 124 or 126 (COM SAT) according to a preselected mode of service.

Each data transmission satellite 120, 122, 124, 126 includes at least one data transmission switch transceiver configured to receive at least one signal from the gateway 118, and this transceiver transmits the signal to selected ACAs, i.e. addressable areas 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 or 116, and e.g.

The satellites 14 may use additional data transmitting satellites 120 and 126, for example, for cross-linking the data, for re-transmitting the signal to the selected addressable area 106.116. For example, the last data transmission satellite 124, for example, completes the transmission of a given signal over a selected selectable coverage area 106-116 such that the data transmission to the selected terminator 130 is optimally transmitted.

The Long Term Selected Geographic Area (LTPGA) for gateway 118 is when the terminator reaches its own unit of, for example, 130 terminals, typically the paging receiver, i.e., the call indicator. In general, the system works by terminating a terminator in a selected long-term geographic area, an area where call reporting is likely to occur when the terminator leases, leases or researches the first 128, 130 ... terminator unit. Of course, the terminator itself can change the long-term selected geographic area by updating the relevant data for the first 118 gateways. In addition, the terminator can select at least a short-term geographic area (STPGA), so that the flexibility of the entire system will be favorable at any given time, since it can map this short-term geographic area (STPGA) to the first gateway 118. Thus, the source unit 102 or 104 may operate to access either one or more LTPGAs and / or STPGAs. For example, if the terminator • knows that it will be located elsewhere in its own long-term selected geographic area for a short period of time, such as the short-term selected geographic area, it may use source unit 102 or 104 such that connects a short-term geographic area to Gateway 118.

Gateway 118 assigns a terminator unit identifier number to a given terminator unit 128, for example, and stores this terminator unit number, typically in a subset of a memory unit, which is configured and arranged so that the long-term geographic area or corresponding addressable create impact areas, and wherein, when the short-term selected geographical area (STPGA) or the corresponding addressable impact area (s) (ACA) is selected, it is associated with the terminator unit identification number.

Of course, the memory component may also include a list of call alerting services predefined by the terminator. In other words, if the terminator unit wishes to contact a call alert, the terminator can select the desired call alert service, such as a message priority call, or doubling or reducing the call identifier. etc The gateway 118 selects each usable geographic impact area into a geographic area (LTPGA), a geographic area (STPGA) long term, a short term selected, or a subscriber geographic area (CPGA) at least one of the first 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, or 116 is assigned to an addressable impact area (ACA1-1, ACA1-2, ACA1-3, ACA2-1, ACA2-2, ACA2-3 ...), thus ensuring that at least one target ACA will be suitable for the initiator . or receive, for example, a call alert message from the source unit 102 which it transmits. Gateway 118 transmits an information signal containing at least a call message from the information source, i.e., source unit 102 or 104, and a list of selected ACAs, and, for example, the identification code of the terminator unit 130. Optionally, if this is selected, gateway 118 may further include message number information.

The system includes at least one call gateway 118. Of course, more than twenty such gateways 118 operating in the system may be used, of course, and these gateways 118 are arranged to have a globally distributed addressable effect area.

Each data transmission satellite (COM SAT) 120, 122, 124, 126 ... typically includes at least one data transmission switch transceiver capable of receiving at least a signal from the gateway or other data transmission satellites 118 and a selected signal 106. .116 to the addressable impact area. When the

120 to 126 data transmission satellites (COM SATs) receive signals from the gateway 118, and may use additional 120 to 126 data transmission satellites to re-enter the crossover mode in accordance with the selected addressable area (ACA) 106 to 116 transmits the signal. If the selected ACA is within the broadcast range of a particular COM SAT, the COM SAT transmits the call alert information to the ACAs to simplify and ensure that the signal of the selected COM SAT is selected 128, 130 ... get a terminator unit. In the event that the COM SAT transmits the signal in cross-link mode to the ACAs signaled by the signal, the information identifying the ACAs to which the signal has already been transmitted is removed from the signal, in that case , if additional ACAs are denoted in the remaining signal, the signal containing this residual information, together with additional information about the remaining ACAs in the signal, is transmitted to further COM SATs.

Terminator units 128, 130 ... are typically radio data units which, as paging units, are in radio communication with COM SAT and include elements which may be visual display or acoustic elements that detect call signaling messages.

The signal transmitted by the gateway 118 to the COM SAT includes at least one identifier code suitable for identifying, for example, a terminator unit 130, at least one targeted and selected addressable impact area (ACA) 106 to 116, and further comprising a selected call indicator. The signal may also contain other information, such as the message number.

Thus, a source unit 102 or 104, for example, can communicate with the gateway 118 over the telephone and, once selected, select a CPGA. You're 102, 104 ... the source unit transmits the selected call signal to be transmitted to the first terminator via a COM SAT and, if necessary, by cross-linking multiple COM SATs, such that at least the first COM SAT transmits a signal containing a call signal consistent with the selected information, which applies to the first ACA and the selected geographic area.

The call service can also be configured to indicate that the signal has been received by the selected 128, 130, or other terminator unit. In this case, for example, the terminator unit 13 0, after receiving a signal from the COM SAT, outputs a signal in response, that is, it includes a response generator such as a visual display or an acoustic signal indicating that the terminator has received the message, and optionally generating an identifiable audio and / or video signal or vibration which clearly indicates in each case that the call signal has been received.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a flow chart of a geographic area selected in accordance with the present invention, a selective near-earth satellite paging data transmission method. The data transmission method of the present invention is applicable to systems comprising at least one 128, 130 ... A first terminator comprising a terminator unit, the system includes a plurality of addressable impact areas (ACAs) 106 to 116 and also a plurality of data transmission satellites 120 to 126 (COM SATs), to facilitate the transmission of data to the user by From 104 source units, the message signal is preselected 128,

130 ... can be forwarded to a terminator unit using COM SATs to forward messages to each

106 .. .116 addressable areas of influence. The procedure consists of the following steps:

A. Gateway 118 assigns an identifier code for the respective terminator, and the terminator selects at least one LTPGA and optionally a STPGA through which, in step 202, 204, the transmitted message can be received from the source,

B. in step 200, the message from the source unit 102, 104 is transmitted,

C. Gateway 118 determines which ACAs to use in accordance with the designated SGA, this is step 208,

D. in step 210, the gateway 118 transmits a message signal containing at least one ACA information, a terminator unit identification code, and a call signal, and transmitting this signal to a COM SAT which has at least one data transfer switch to the COM SAT. have a transceiver and:

That is, where the ACAs are out of range of a particular COM SAT, the COM SAT also transmits the information to other COM SATs, each of which has at least one transceiver that is cross-linked to the other SATs.

With COM SATs having a broadcast range containing ACAs, the COM SATs transmit signals to the ACAs in step 214, and:

E2. where the ACAs are within the range of a given COM SAT, the COM SAT transmits the information signal to that ACA in step 212, and thus, for example, the terminator 130 receives the message signal.

Thus, in step 212, the given ACA is in broadcast communication with that particular COM SAT, but in step 214 additional COM SATs need to be enabled.

The geographical area of ​​the present invention is a further part of the system for implementing a selective terrestrial satellite based paging call signaling method, SGA, i.e. an optional geographic area.

Figure 3 is a flowchart 300, which is a flowchart of a further embodiment of the geographic area of ​​the present invention, which is a selective ground near-satellite paging broadcast transmission. This call transfer method, as previously mentioned, includes at least a first source unit 102, 104 located at least one first source, further comprising a first gateway 118, a first terminator, and a plurality of data transmission satellites 120-126. The system implementing the method also includes a plurality of addressable impact areas (ACAs) 106 to 116, which, for the user using, for example, source unit 102, facilitates the transmission of the message to the selected terminator by using Impact Areas (ACA). Call forwarding consists of the following steps:

First in step 3 02, gateway 118 determines whether a call forwarding request has been received or, if no such forwarding request has been received, switches back to the previous step when it monitors whether a call signal request is received;

Second if a call message transfer request is received, for example, source unit 102 provides gateway 118 with the selected terminator unit identifier code, e.g., terminator unit 130, in step 304, and then in step 306, gateway 118 determines that the source unit subscriber geographic area (CPGA) You have selected whether you want the call information to be forwarded. If the CPGA is not selected to receive the call information signal, the next step 308 is to determine if the STPGA is selected, if not, then in step 310 the gateway 118 uses the predefined long-term geographic area (LTPGA). , if so, in step 312, gateway 118 utilizes the designated STPGA network, and then gateway 118 utilizes the selected SGA geographic areas

106 to 116, which includes the target ACA, and in step 318 the call message is transmitted to gateway 118, and then in step 320, gateway 118 formulates an information signal containing at least one ACA , a terminator ID and includes a call alert. In the next step 322, the gateway 118 transmits the signal to one of the data transmission satellites 120 ... 126. In the next step 324, the transmission satellite 120-126 determines whether the given ACA or ACAs fall within the broadcast range of this transmission satellite. If the signal includes an ACA within the broadcast range of a given COM SAT, the COM SAT outputs data from its information signal to its domain and transmits the signal to the destination ACA or transmits the information signal to its own ACA domain. in step 328. If all the ACAs in the signal are outside the broadcast range of the given COM SAT, then a cross-linking is made to additional COM SATs for the remaining ACAs, this is done in step 332. After the data transfer satellite has forwarded the call to addressable areas 106 to 116 within its area of ​​competence, for example, the data transmission satellite 124 also determines whether the target ACA is included in the information signal, step. If an ACA designated as an additional destination remains and only one crossover is required, it switches the remaining signal, but where more than one crossover is required, converts the signal into packet signals, and thus transmits the signal through the crosslink. Essentially, re-packetization is doubling the call signal, that is, splitting the ACAs into lists and creating a common crosslink packet based on one of the remaining target areas 106 to 116 addressable. If all target addressable areas 106 to 116 are removed from the information signal, the process step is completed.

The signal transmitted from the gateway 118 to the data transmission satellite 106 to 116 includes at least the identifier code of the selected terminator unit, at least one selected coverage area 106 to 116, and the selected call message. In addition, even in the transmitted information signal, the message number may be included as information.

Figure 4 is a flowchart 400 of a further embodiment of the present invention showing how the gateway 118 manages long-selected geographic areas in a selective terrestrial satellite call transfer system according to the present invention; selected geographical areas for the short term. The steps that the call sender must take from the terminator's point of view are:

A. gateway 118 assigns and stores the identification code of, for example, the terminator unit 128 associated with that calling subscriber or user, this step 402;

B. gateway 118 stores the services associated with that terminator ID and user-selected services in its memory, in step 404,

C. the gateway 118 stores the long-term selected geographical area (LTPGA) selected by the subscriber in its storage unit and the respective terminator unit identification number, this step 406, then;

D. determining whether the subscriber has selected a short-term geographic area (STPGA), this step 408, and determining if the short-term geographic area has not been previously selected;

H. In step 416, the system determines whether an updated long-term selected geographic area has been selected, once the updated long-term selected geographic area has been selected, gateway 118 returns to the preceding step 406 when the LTPGA unchanged, returning to the step of determining whether the user has selected a short-term geographic area selectable in step 408;

E. if yes to step 408, in step 410, gateway 118 stores STPGA data for that terminator ID in its storage unit, and

F. Step 412 determines whether to return to the long-term selected geographical areas, if not to return,

In step H, it determines whether a new LTPGA has been selected, this is done in step 416, when the LTPGA remains unchanged, ie it returns to step 408 repeatedly to determine whether a short-term geographic area has been selected, and yes yes, the existing STPGA is selected, in step 414 it deletes the existing STPGA and the already updated long term geographic area is selected

- 25 truly selectable, the system may use a single memory unit or plurality of memory units for storing terminator identifiers, subscriber-selected services, LTPGA values, and STPGA values.

Thus, for example, the source unit 102 and the selected terminator unit 130, for example, may be interconnected according to the invention as described above.

It should also be noted that some of the gateways 118 are preferably connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), which further facilitates, for example, the transmission of the call signal of the source unit 102 to the preselected terminator unit 130.

The invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, but the method of the invention may be embodied in a form other than that described.