Communication method and network with multiple dynamic intraswitching
US5509004A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/1856
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication network (10) includes a constellation of satellites (12) in orbit around the earth. Gateways (14) communicate with the satellites (12), reside on the surface of the earth, and interface the network (10) to the local PSTN (18). User units (16) communicate with satellites (12) and provide communication services to users. A gateway (14) includes a mobile switching center (22), which connects half-calls, and an earth terminal controller (20), which occasionally overrides connections defined in the mobile switching center (22). When possible, communication paths connected at the mobile switching center (22) are intraswitched at one or more satellites (12) rather than being routed through the mobile switching center. However, when supplementary services are requested, the communication path is reconfigured back to the mobile switching center (22) so that additional signals may be inserted into the communication path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.