Satellite/hands-free interlock systems and/or companion devices for radioterminals and related methods
View Patent ↗A radioterminal may include a transceiver, a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver, and an interlock coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver may be configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, and the transceiver may be further configured to transmit high power communications at a high maximum power and/or EIRP and to transmit low power communications at a low maximum power and/or EIRP. The interlock may be configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that exceeds a threshold when the hand-held interface is activated. Related methods are also discussed.
1. A radioterminal comprising:
a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold;
a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver; and
an interlock coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is configured to allow the transceiver to transmit low power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold and to prevent the transceiver from transmitting high power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated;
wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications for space-based communications and to transmit the low power communications for terrestrial communications.
2. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver includes at least one amplifier configured to amplify the low power communications and to amplify the high power communications, and wherein the interlock is configured to disable the high power communications responsive to the hand-held interface being activated.
3. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising: a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated.
4. A radioterminal according to claim 3 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or speaker.
5. A radioterminal according to claim 4 wherein the coupling for the remote earpiece and/or speaker comprises a tethered and/or an untethered coupling.
6. A radioterminal according to claim 4 wherein the coupling for the remote earpiece and/or speaker comprises an interface for a cradle configured to receive the radioterminal and to couple the radioterminal to a remote loudspeaker.
7. A radioterminal according to claim 3 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a speakerphone interface.
8. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:
an interface for a companion device, wherein the interface is configured to provide communications from the radioterminal to the companion device and/or to provide communications from the companion device to the radioterminal.
9. A radioterminal according to claim 8 wherein the interface comprises a wireless interface and/or a wired interface.
10. A radioterminal according to claim 8 further comprising:
a radioterminal antenna coupled to the transceiver, wherein the companion device includes a companion antenna, and wherein a gain of the companion antenna is greater than a gain of the radioterminal antenna.
11. A radioterminal according to claim 8 wherein the transceiver includes an amplifier inside the radioterminal, wherein the companion device includes an amplifier inside the companion device, and wherein a power output of the amplifier inside the companion device is greater than a power output of the amplifier inside the radioterminal.
12. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by a device that is wirelessly and/or non-wirelessly coupled to the radioterminal.
13. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:
a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock is configured to provide a user notification to activate the hands-free interface.
14. A radioterminal according to claim 13 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.
15. A radioterminal according to claim 14 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface.
16. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:
an interface for a companion device, wherein responsive to a request to transmit the high power communications, the interlock is configured to provide a user notification to activate the interface for the companion device.
17. A radioterminal according to claim 16 wherein the interlock is further configured to provide communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or to provide communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal responsive to activating the interface for the companion device.
18. A radioterminal according to claim 16 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion device.
19. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the interlock is further configured to allow the transceiver to transmit the low power communications when the hand-held interface is activated.
20. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold, and a hand-held interface, the method comprising:
allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated; and
preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated;
wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications and wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications for space-based communications and to transmit the low power communications for wireless terrestrial communications.
21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the transceiver includes at least one amplifier configured to amplify the low power communications and to amplify the high power communications, and wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications when the hand-held interface is activated comprises disabling and/or limiting at least one amplifier responsive to the hand-held interface being activated.
22. A method according to claim 20 wherein the radioterminal further includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated.
23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or speaker.
24. A method according to claim 22 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a speakerphone interface.
25. A method according to claim 20 wherein the radioterminal further includes an interface for a companion device, the method further comprising:
providing communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or providing communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal.
26. A method according to claim 20 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by a another device that is coupled to the radioterminal.
27. A method according to claim 20 wherein the radioterminal includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:
providing a user notification to activate the hands-free interface responsive to a request to transmit the high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
28. A method according to claim 27 further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.
29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising:
after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface, enabling the transceiver for a period of time to transmit the high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
30. A method according to claim 20 wherein the radioterminal includes an interface for a companion device, the method further comprising:
providing a user notification to activate the interface for the companion device responsive to a request to transmit the high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
31. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:
providing communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or providing communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal responsive to activating the interface for the companion device.
32. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time when the hand-held interface is activated after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion device.
33. A radioterminal comprising:
a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit high power communications greater than a power threshold and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold;
a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver; and
an interlock coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is configured to allow the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold and to prevent the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated;
wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications for space-based communications and to transmit the low power communications for terrestrial communications.
34. A radioterminal according to claim 33 further comprising:
a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated.
35. A radioterminal according to claim 33 further comprising:
an interface for a companion device, wherein the interface is configured to provide communications from the radioterminal to the companion device and/or to provide communications from the companion device to the radioterminal.
36. A radioterminal according to claim 33 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by a device that is wirelessly and/or non-wirelessly coupled to the radioterminal.
37. A radioterminal according to claim 33 further comprising:
a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock is configured to provide a user notification to activate the hands-free interface.
38. A radioterminal according to claim 37 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.
39. A radioterminal according to claim 38 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface.
40. A radioterminal according to claim 33 wherein the interlock is further configured to allow the transceiver to transmit low power communications when the hand-held interface is activated.
41. A radioterminal according to claim 33 wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications at an Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) greater than the power threshold, and to transmit the low power communications at an Equivalent Radiated Power (EIRP) less than the power threshold.
42. A radioterminal according to claim 33 wherein the power threshold includes a low power threshold and a high power threshold, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications greater than the high power threshold and to transmit the low power communications less than the low power threshold, and wherein the interlock is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.
43. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to provide space-based communications by transmitting high power communications greater than a power threshold and to provide wireless terrestrial communications by transmitting low power communications less than the power threshold, a hand-held interface, and a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method comprising:
allowing wireless terrestrial communications by allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated wherein the wireless terrestrial communications are provided over a wireless link between the radioterminal and a terrestrial base station without transmitting through a space-based component between the radioterminal and the terrestrial base station;
preventing space-based communications by preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
allowing space-based communications by allowing the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated wherein the space-based communications are provided over a wireless link between the radioterminal and a space-based component without transmitting though a terrestrial base station between the radioterminal and the space-based component.
44. A method according to claim 43 wherein the radioterminal further includes an interface for a companion device, the method further comprising:
providing communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or providing communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal.
45. A method according to claim 43 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by another device coupled to the transceiver.
46. A method according to claim 43 wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications at an Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) greater than the power threshold, and to transmit the low power communications at an Equivalent Radiated Power (EIRP) less than the power threshold.
47. A method according to claim 43 wherein the power threshold includes a low power threshold and a high power threshold, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications greater than the high power threshold and to transmit the low power communications less than the low power threshold, and wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications comprises preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.
48. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to transmit high power communications greater than a power threshold and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold, and a hand-held interface, wherein the radioterminal includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method comprising:
allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated;
preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
providing a user notification to activate the hands-free interface responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
49. A method according to claim 48 further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.
50. A method according to claim 49 further comprising:
after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface, enabling the transceiver for a period of time to transmit the high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
51. A method according to claim 48 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications and wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications for space-based communications and to transmit low power communications for wireless terrestrial communications.
52. A method according to claim 48 wherein the radioterminal further includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated.
53. A method according to claim 48 wherein the radioterminal further includes an interface for a companion device, the method further comprising:
providing communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or providing communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal.
54. A method according to claim 48 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by another device coupled to the transceiver.
55. A method according to claim 48 wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications at an Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) greater than the power threshold, and to transmit the low power communications at an Equivalent Radiated Power (EIRP) less than the power threshold.
56. A method according to claim 48 wherein the power threshold includes a low power threshold and a high power threshold, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications greater than the high power threshold and to transmit the low power communications less than the low power threshold, and wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications comprises preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.
57. A method according to claim 48 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications by transmitting the high power communications greater than a power threshold and to provide wireless terrestrial communications by transmitting the low power communications less than the power threshold, wherein the radioterminal includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver,
wherein allowing the transceiver to transmit low power communications comprises providing wireless terrestrial communications by allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated wherein the wireless terrestrial communications are provided over a wireless link between the radioterminal and a terrestrial base station without transmitting through a space-based component between the radioterminal and the terrestrial base station, and
wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications comprises preventing space-based communications by preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated, the method further comprising
providing space-based communications by allowing the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated wherein the space-based communications are provided over a wireless link between the radioterminal and a space-based component without transmitting though a terrestrial base station between the radioterminal and the space-based component.
58. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to transmit high power communications greater than a power threshold and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold, and a hand-held interface, wherein the radioterminal includes an interface for a companion device, the method comprising:
allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated;
preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
providing user notification to activate the interface for the companion device responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
59. A method according to claim 58 further comprising:
providing the high power communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or providing communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal responsive to activating the interface for the companion device.
60. A method according to claim 58 further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time when the hand-held interface is activated after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion device.
61. A method according to claim 58 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications and wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications for space-based communications and to transmit low power communications for wireless terrestrial communications.
62. A method according to claim 58 wherein the radioterminal further includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated.
63. A method according to claim 58 wherein the radioterminal further includes an interface for a companion device, the method further comprising:
providing communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or providing communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal.
64. A method according to claim 58 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver and/or by another device coupled to the transceiver.
65. A method according to claim 58 wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications at an Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) greater than the power threshold, and to transmit the low power communications at an Equivalent Radiated Power (EIRP) less than the power threshold.
66. A method according to claim 58 wherein the power threshold includes a low power threshold and a high power threshold, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the high power communications greater than the high power threshold and to transmit the low power communications less than the low power threshold, and wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications comprises preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.
67. A method according to claim 58 wherein the transceiver is configured to provide space-based communications by transmitting the high power communications greater than a power threshold and to provide wireless terrestrial communications by transmitting the low power communications less than the power threshold, wherein the radioterminal includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver,
wherein allowing the transceiver to transmit low power communications comprises providing wireless terrestrial communications by allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated wherein the wireless terrestrial communications are provided over a wireless link between the radioterminal and a terrestrial base station without transmitting through a space-based component between the radioterminal and the terrestrial base station, and
wherein preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications comprises preventing space-based communications by preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated, the method further comprising
providing space-based communications by allowing the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to the hands-free interface being activated wherein the space-based communications are provided over a wireless link between the radioterminal and a space-based component without transmitting though a terrestrial base station between the radioterminal and the space-based component.
68. A radioterminal comprising:
a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold;
a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver;
an interlock coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is configured to allow the transceiver to transmit low power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold and to prevent the transceiver from transmitting high power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock is configured to provide a user notification to activate the hands-free interface.
69. A radioterminal according to claim 68 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.
70. A radioterminal according to claim 69 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface.
71. A radioterminal comprising:
a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold;
a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver;
an interlock coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is configured to allow the transceiver to transmit low power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold and to prevent the transceiver from transmitting high power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
an interface for a companion device, wherein responsive to a request to transmit the high power communications, the interlock is configured to provide a user notification to activate the interface for the companion device.
72. A radioterminal according to claim 71 wherein the interlock is further configured to provide communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or to provide communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal responsive to activating the interface for the companion device.
73. A radioterminal according to claim 71 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion device.
74. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold, and a hand-held interface, wherein the radioterminal includes a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, the method comprising:
allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated;
preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications at a the power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
providing a user notification to activate the hands-free interface responsive to a request to transmit the high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
75. A method according to claim 74 further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-free interface.
76. A method according to claim 75 further comprising:
after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface, enabling the transceiver for a period of time to transmit the high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
77. A method of operating a radioterminal including a transceiver configured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low power threshold, and a hand-held interface, wherein the radioterminal includes an interface for a companion device, the method comprising:
allowing the transceiver to transmit the low power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated;
preventing the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications at the power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
providing a user notification to activate the interface for the companion device responsive to a request to transmit the high power communications when the hand-held interface is active.
78. A method according to claim 77 further comprising:
providing communications from the radioterminal through the interface to the companion device and/or providing communications from the companion device through the interface to the radioterminal responsive to activating the interface for the companion device.
79. A method according to claim 77 further comprising:
enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time when the hand-held interface is activated after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the interface for the companion device.
80. A radioterminal comprising:
a transceiver that is configured to transmit and receive wireless communications, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit high power communications greater than a power threshold and to transmit low power communications less than the power threshold;
a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver;
an interlock coupled to the transceiver, wherein the interlock is configured to allow the transceiver to transmit the low power communications less than the power threshold and to prevent the transceiver from transmitting the high power communications greater than the power threshold responsive to the hand-held interface being activated; and
a hands-free interface coupled to the transceiver, wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock is configured to provide a user notification to activate the hands-free interface;
wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-free interface; and
wherein the interlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period of time after the request to transmit the high power communications and before activation of the hands-free interface.