Providing satellite communication capabilities to existing communication devices, including a common smart phone
A system and apparatus which permits an existing communication device, such as a common smart phone, to have satellite communication capabilities. The apparatus can include a transmitter/receiver which can relay communications and data, between the existing communications device and a satellite network. Optionally, the data can be encrypted before being sent over the satellite network. Optionally, the transmitter/receiver can have a distress activation input which can automatically emit an SOS signal along with the transmitter/receiver's current GPS coordinates when a user activates the input.
1. A communications system comprising:
a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising:
Bluetooth communications electronics;
a GPS receiver;
a satellite communications modem; and
said GPS receiver and said satellite communications modem sharing a single high gain helix antenna; and
a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus which is not said transmitter/receiver apparatus and said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to cause a Bluetooth antenna of the communications apparatus to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus.
2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus further comprises a distress activation input.
3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the communications apparatus comprises a smart phone.
4. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus further comprises a USB port.
5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus comprises software that encrypts data before sending it to said satellite communications modem for transmission.
6. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus comprises a rechargeable battery.
7. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said rechargeable battery is electrically connected such that it can be charged through a USB port.
8. A communications system comprising:
a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising:
Bluetooth communications electronics;
a GPS receiver; and
a satellite communications modem;
a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a cellular telephone, said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the cellular telephone to cause a Bluetooth antenna to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus; and
said transmitter/receiver apparatus not comprising a cellular telephone.
9. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said GPS receiver and said satellite communications modem share a single antenna.
10. The communications system of claim 9 wherein said single antenna comprises a high gain helix antenna.
11. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus further comprises a USB port.
12. The communications system of claim 8 wherein said transmitter/receiver apparatus comprises software stored on tangible non-transitive memory-storage and said software containing instructions which cause a microprocessor or microcontroller to encrypt data before it is sent to said satellite communications modem for transmission.
13. A communications system comprising:
a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising:
a GPS receiver;
a satellite communications modem;
a USB port; and
said GPS receiver and said satellite communications modem sharing a single antenna; and
a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to communicate with said transmitter/receiver apparatus via said USB port.
14. The communications system of claim 13 wherein said single antenna comprises a high gain helix antenna.
15. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the communications apparatus comprises a cellular telephone.
16. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the communications apparatus does not comprise said transmitter/receiver apparatus.
17. A communications system comprising:
a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising:
Bluetooth communications electronics; and
a satellite communications modem; and
a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus which is not said transmitter/receiver apparatus and said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to cause a Bluetooth antenna of the communications apparatus to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus.
18. A communications system comprising:
a transmitter/receiver apparatus comprising:
Bluetooth communications electronics;
a satellite communications modem; and
a high gain helix antenna; and
a software application, stored on a tangible non-transitive memory-storage device of a communications apparatus which is not said transmitter/receiver apparatus and said software application containing instructions for detecting when a cellular network is unavailable and which software application then causes a microprocessor or microcontroller of the communications apparatus to cause a Bluetooth antenna of the communications apparatus to emit electromagnetic radiation and thereby communicate wirelessly with said Bluetooth communications electronics of said transmitter/receiver apparatus.
19. The communications system of claim 18 further comprising a USB port.
20. The communications system of claim 18 further comprising a distress activation input.