Multiple satellite mobile communications method and apparatus for hand-held terminals

US6295440A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• HUGHES ELECTRONICS LIMITED · US

Inventors

• Donald C. D. Chang · Thousand Oaks, US
• John I. Novak, III · Calabasas, US
• Kar W. Yung · Torrance, US
• Frank A. Hagen · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• Ming U. Chang · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• William W. Mayfield · Torrance, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 2000
• Grant date: Sep 25, 2001
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B7/212
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A novel mobile satellite communications technique for hand-held terminals includes a satellite system having a plurality of individual satellites all in communication with a ground telecommunications hub. A signal processed by the ground telecommunications hub is radiated through multiple paths to a plurality of the individual satellites in the satellite constellation simultaneously. The radiated signal is then re-radiated by the plurality of individual satellites to a mobile satellite terminal that receives the re-radiated signal from the plurality of individual satellites simultaneously such that the same frequency spectrum may be re-used by another mobile user.