Systems and methods for terrestrial reuse of cellular satellite frequency spectrum in a time-division duplex mode
View Patent ↗A space-based component, such as a satellite, is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency, and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink radiotelephone frequency. An ancillary terrestrial network, that may include one or more ancillary terrestrial components, is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode. By terrestrially transmitting and receiving wireless communications over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode, interference at the space-based component and/or at the gateway, by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the radiotelephones due to terrestrial reuse of cellular satellite frequency spectrum, may be reduced or eliminated.
1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency; and
an ancillary terrestrial network that is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
2. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
3. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.
4. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.
5. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
6. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using EDGE modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using GPRS modulation and/or protocol.
7. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.
8. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to obtain the wireless communications that are transmitted to, and to provide the wireless communications that are received from, the radiotelephones over a wired terrestrial link.
9. A satellite radiotelephone system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is not configured to directly communicate wirelessly with the space-based component.
10. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, the ancillary terrestrial component comprising:
an electronics system that is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
11. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the electronics system also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
12. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.
13. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the electronics system is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.
14. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
15. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using EDGE modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using GPRS modulation and/or protocol.
16. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.
17. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the electronics system is further configured to obtain the wireless communications that are transmitted to, and to provide the wireless communications that are received from, the radiotelephones over a wired terrestrial link.
18. An ancillary terrestrial component according to claim 10 wherein the electronics system is not configured to directly communicate wirelessly with the space-based component.
19. A radiotelephone comprising:
an electronics system that is configured to transmit wireless communications to a space-based component over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency and to receive wireless communications from the space-based component over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency;
the electronics system further configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, an ancillary terrestrial component over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
20. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the electronics system also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the ancillary terrestrial component over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
21. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications to the ancillary terrestrial component over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.
22. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the electronics system also is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the ancillary terrestrial component over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.
23. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephone over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications by the radiotelephone over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
24. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephone over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using EDGE modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications by the radiotelephone over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using GPRS modulation and/or protocol.
25. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephone over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications by the radiotelephone over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.
26. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the electronics system is further configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the ancillary terrestrial component that itself is configured to obtain the wireless communications that are transmitted to the radiotelephone, and to provide the wireless communications that are received from the radiotelephone over a wired terrestrial link.
27. A radiotelephone according to claim 19 wherein the electronics system is not configured to communicate wirelessly with the space-based component via the ancillary terrestrial component.
28. A satellite radiotelephone communication method comprising:
receiving wireless communications at a space-based component from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency;
transmitting wireless communications from the space-based component to the radiotelephones over a downlink radiotelephone frequency; and
transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising:
transmitting wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
30. A method according to claim 28 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.
31. A method according to claim 28 wherein the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the method further comprises transmitting wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.
32. A method according to claim 28 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
33. A method according to claim 28 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using EDGE modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using GPRS modulation and/or protocol.
34. A method according to claim 28 wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.
35. A method according to claim 28 further comprising obtaining the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and providing the wireless communications that are transmitted from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network, over a wired terrestrial link.
36. A method according to claim 28 further comprising refraining from directly communicating wirelessly between the space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component.
37. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network to radiotelephones and receiving wireless communications from the radiotelephones at the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the radiotelephones at the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.
38. A method according to claim 37 further comprising:
transmitting wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and receiving wireless communications from the radiotelephones at the ancillary terrestrial network over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
39. A method according to claim 37 wherein the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and receiving wireless communications from the radiotelephones at the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.
40. A method according to claim 37 further comprising obtaining the wireless communications that are transmitted from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones and providing the wireless communications that are transmitted from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network, over a wired terrestrial link.
41. A method according to claim 37 further comprising refraining from directly communicating wirelessly between a space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component.
42. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network to radiotelephones and receiving wireless communications from the radiotelephones at the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the ancillary terrestrial network from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
43. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network to radiotelephones and receiving wireless communications from the radiotelephones at the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using EDGE modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the ancillary terrestrial network from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using GPRS modulation and/or protocol.
44. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
transmitting wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network to radiotelephones and receiving wireless communications from the radiotelephones at the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network to the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the ancillary terrestrial network from the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.
45. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
receiving wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network at radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network at the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency.
46. A method according to claim 45 further comprising:
receiving wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network at the radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode.
47. A method according to claim 45 wherein the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency comprises a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band and wherein the receiving comprises receiving wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial network at the radiotelephone, and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency band in a time-division duplex mode.
48. A method according to claim 45 further comprising the following that is performed by the ancillary terrestrial network:
obtaining wireless communications that are transmitted to radiotelephones and providing the wireless communications that are received from the radiotelephones, over a wired terrestrial link.
49. A method according to claim 45 further comprising refraining from directly communicating wirelessly between a space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial network.
50. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
receiving wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network at radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein a first number of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephones from the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency and wherein a second number of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency, wherein the first number is greater than the second number.
51. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
receiving wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network at radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephones from the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using EDGE modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using GPRS modulation and/or protocol.
52. A radiotelephone communication method comprising:
receiving wireless communications from an ancillary terrestrial network at radiotelephones and transmitting wireless communications from the radiotelephones to the ancillary terrestrial network over a downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode,
wherein the time-division duplex mode includes a frame including a plurality of slots, wherein at least a first one of the slots is used to receive wireless communications at the radiotelephone from the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a first modulation and/or protocol and wherein at least a second one of the slots is used to transmit wireless communications from the radiotelephone to the ancillary terrestrial network over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency using a second modulation and/or protocol, wherein the first modulation and/or protocol is more spectrally efficient than the second modulation and/or protocol.