Communications apparatus and method

Abstract

A method of reusing frequency bands between base stations of a terrestrial mobile communications network and a satellite communications network, comprising allocating the frequency bands using integrated resource management and other mitigation techniques in a such a way as to minimise interference between both the systems, thus making optimum usage of valuable frequency spectrum.

1 - 31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . A communications system, comprising: 
 a satellite communications network having a satellite communicating using a first air interface on satellite uplink and downlink bands;    a terrestrial communications network having base stations configured to communicate using a second air interface on terrestrial uplink and downlink bands; and    a plurality of user terminals capable of communicating with the satellite communications network and/or the terrestrial communications network.    
   
   
       33 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the satellite bands and the terrestrial bands do not overlap.  
   
   
       34 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the plurality of user terminals is a dual mode user terminal and is further configured to communicate with both the satellite communications network on the satellite uplink and downlink bands and the terrestrial communications network on the frequency uplink and downlink bands.  
   
   
       35 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands at least partly reuse the satellite uplink band.  
   
   
       36 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands at least partly reuse the satellite downlink band.  
   
   
       37 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the terrestrial uplink band at least partly reuses the satellite uplink band and the terrestrial downlink band at least partly reuses the satellite downlink band.  
   
   
       38 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the terrestrial downlink band at least partly reuses the satellite uplink band and the terrestrial uplink band at least partly reuses the satellite downlink band.  
   
   
       39 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands use channels that are divided by a code.  
   
   
       40 . The communications system of  claim 39 , wherein the channels use code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       41 . The communications system of  claim 40 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink band use time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       42 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       43 . The communications system of  claim 42 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands use code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       44 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands do not share or reuse satellite uplink and downlink bands.  
   
   
       45 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands contain relatively narrow frequency channels, and the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands contain relatively wide frequency channels.  
   
   
       46 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands contain relatively wide frequency channels, and the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands contain relatively narrow frequency channels.  
   
   
       47 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the terrestrial bands at least partly reuses at least one of the satellite bands.  
   
   
       48 . The communications system of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 an integrated frequency controller for allocating channels within the satellite uplink and downlink bands and the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands.    
   
   
       49 . The communications system of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 means for transmitting a control signal to a user terminal communicating with the satellite communications network using a channel that is non-interfering with the terrestrial communications network.    
   
   
       50 . The communications system of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 means for transmitting a control signal to a user terminal communicating with the terrestrial communications system using a channel that is non-interfering with the satellite communications network.    
   
   
       51 . The communications system of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a satellite controller configured to determine available channels to use in the satellite uplink and downlink bands for communications between at least one of the user terminals and the satellite.    
   
   
       52 . The communications system of  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 a terrestrial controller configured to determine available channels to use in the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands for communications between at least one of the user terminals and one of the base stations.    
   
   
       53 . The communications system of  claim 52 , wherein the satellite controller and the terrestrial controller operate substantially independently.  
   
   
       54 . The communications system of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a controller configured to determine available channels to use in the satellite bands for communications between at least one of the user terminals and the satellite, and available channels for use in the terrestrial bands between at least one of the user terminals and one of the base stations.    
   
   
       55 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first interface and the second interface use relatively wide frequency channels within the bands.  
   
   
       56 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first interface and the second interface use relatively narrow frequency channels within the bands.  
   
   
       57 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first air interface is a CDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof, and the second air interface is a CDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       58 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first air interface is a CDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof, and the second air interface is a TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       59 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first air interface is a TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof, and the second air interface is a CDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       60 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first air interface is a TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof, and the second air interface is a TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       61 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first air interface is a CDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof, and the second air interface is a FDMA/TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       62 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first air interface is a FDMA/TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof, and the second air interface is a CDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       63 . The communications system of  claim 32 , wherein the first air interface is a FDMA/TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof, and the second air interface is a FDMA/TDMA based air interface or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       64 . A dual mode user terminal for use in a communications system having a satellite portion and a terrestrial portion, comprising: 
 a satellite interface configured to communicate with a satellite in the satellite portion on satellite uplink and downlink bands using satellite channels; and    a terrestrial interface configured to communicate with a base station in the terrestrial portion of the communications system on terrestrial uplink and downlink bands using terrestrial channels.    
   
   
       65 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the terrestrial uplink or downlink bands share or reuse frequencies with at least one of the satellite uplink or downlink bands.  
   
   
       66 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands do not share or reuse frequencies with satellite uplink and downlink bands.  
   
   
       67 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 65 , further comprising: 
 a detector for detecting interference, and when such interference is above a predetermined threshold, ceasing use of any shared at least one of the satellite uplink or downlink bands.    
   
   
       68 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands at least partly reuse the satellite uplink band.  
   
   
       69 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands at least partly reuse the satellite downlink band.  
   
   
       70 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial uplink band at least partly reuses the satellite uplink band and the terrestrial downlink band at least partly reuses the satellite downlink band.  
   
   
       71 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial downlink band at least partly reuses the satellite uplink band and the terrestrial uplink band at least partly reuses the satellite downlink band.  
   
   
       72 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands use channels that are divided by a code.  
   
   
       73 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 72 , wherein the channels use code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       74 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 72 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink band use time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       75 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands use time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       76 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 75 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands use code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       77 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands do not share or reuse satellite uplink and downlink bands.  
   
   
       78 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands contain relatively narrow frequency channels, and the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands contain relatively wide frequency channels.  
   
   
       79 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite uplink and downlink bands contain relatively wide frequency channels, and the terrestrial uplink and downlink bands contain relatively narrow frequency channels.  
   
   
       80 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein at least one of the terrestrial bands at least partly reuses at least one of the satellite bands.  
   
   
       81 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , further comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving a control signal to use a channel that is non-interfering with the terrestrial communications network.    
   
   
       82 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , further comprising: 
 a receiver, for receiving a control signal to use a channel that is non-interfering with the satellite communications network.    
   
   
       83 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial interface and satellite interface comprise at least one common element consisting of a microphone, display, codec, control circuit, modem, RF interface, or antenna.  
   
   
       84 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the satellite interface comprises: 
 a digital coder/decoder;    a control circuit;    a modem; and    an RF interface.    
   
   
       85 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 64 , wherein the terrestrial interface uses at least one of the digital coder/decoder, the control circuit, and the modem.  
   
   
       86 . The dual mode user terminal of  claim 85 , wherein the terrestrial interface comprises: 
 a second digital coder/decoder;    a second control circuit;    a second modem; and    a second RF interface.    
   
   
       87 . A communications system, comprising: 
 a satellite portion having a satellite configured to receive communications from user terminals over an uplink satellite frequencies and to transmit communications to the user terminals over a downlink satellite frequencies; and    an ancillary terrestrial portion configured to transmit communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the plurality of user terminals over the satellite uplink frequencies.    
   
   
       88 . The communications system of  claim 87 , wherein at least one of the plurality of user terminals is a dual mode user terminal and is further configured to communicate with both the satellite communications network on the satellite uplink and downlink frequencies and the terrestrial communications network over the satellite uplink frequencies.  
   
   
       89 . The communications system of  claim 87 , wherein the satellite portion uses channels in the satellite that are divided by a code.  
   
   
       90 . The communications system of  claim 89 , wherein the channels use code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       91 . The communications system of  claim 90 , wherein the terrestrial uplink portion uses time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       92 . The communications system of  claim 87 , wherein the satellite portion uses use time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       93 . The communications system of  claim 92 , wherein the terrestrial portion uses code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       94 . The communications system of  claim 87 , wherein the satellite portion contains relatively narrow frequency channels, and the terrestrial portion contains relatively wide frequency channels.  
   
   
       95 . The communications system of  claim 87 , wherein the satellite portion contains relatively wide frequency channels, and the terrestrial uplink portion contain relatively narrow frequency channels.  
   
   
       96 . The communications system of  claim 87 , further comprising: 
 an integrated frequency controller for allocating channels within the satellite portion and the terrestrial portion.    
   
   
       97 . The communications system of  claim 87 , further comprising: 
 a satellite controller configured to determine available channels to use in the satellite portion for communications between at least one user terminal and the satellite.    
   
   
       98 . The communications system of  claim 97 , further comprising: 
 a terrestrial controller configured to determine available channels to use in the terrestrial portion for communications between at least one user terminals and the base station.    
   
   
       99 . The communications system of  claim 98 , wherein the satellite controller and the terrestrial controller operate substantially independently.  
   
   
       100 . The communications system of  claim 87 , further comprising: 
 a controller configured to determine available channels to use in the satellite portion for communications between at least one of the user terminals and the satellite, and determining available channels for use in the terrestrial bands between at least one of the user terminals and the base station.    
   
   
       101 . A communications system, comprising: 
 a satellite portion having a satellite configured to receive communications from user terminals over an uplink satellite frequency and to transmit communications to the user terminals over a downlink satellite frequency;    an ancillary terrestrial portion configured to transmit communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the user terminals over the satellite downlink frequency.    
   
   
       102 . The communications system of  claim 101 , wherein at least one of the user terminals is a dual mode user terminal and is further configured to communicate with both the satellite communications network on the satellite uplink and downlink frequencies and the terrestrial communications network over the satellite uplink frequencies.  
   
   
       103 . The communications system of  claim 101 , wherein the satellite portion uses channels in the satellite that are divided by a code.  
   
   
       104 . The communications system of  claim 103 , wherein the channels use a code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       105 . The communications system of  claim 104 , wherein the terrestrial uplink portion uses use time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       106 . The communications system of  claim 101 , wherein the satellite portion uses use time divided channels and/or frequency divided channels.  
   
   
       107 . The communications system of  claim 106 , wherein the terrestrial portion uses code division multiple access communications protocol.  
   
   
       108 . The communications system of  claim 101 , wherein the satellite portion contains narrow frequency channels, and the terrestrial portion contains wide frequency channels.  
   
   
       109 . The communications system of  claim 101 , wherein the satellite portion contains wide frequency channels, and the terrestrial uplink portion contain narrow frequency channels.  
   
   
       110 . The communications system of  claim 101 , further comprising: 
 an integrated frequency controller for allocating channels within the satellite portion and the terrestrial portion.    
   
   
       111 . The communications system of  claim 101 , further comprising: 
 a satellite controller configured to determine available channels to use in the satellite portion for communications between at least one user terminal and the satellite.    
   
   
       112 . The communications system of  claim 111 , further comprising: 
 a terrestrial controller configured to determine available channels to use in the terrestrial portion for communications between at least one user terminals and the base stations.    
   
   
       113 . The communications system of  claim 112 , wherein the satellite controller and the terrestrial controller operate substantially independently.  
   
   
       114 . The communications system of  claim 101 , further comprising: 
 a controller configured to determine available channels to use in the satellite portion for communications between at least one of the user terminals and the satellite, and determining available channels for use in the terrestrial bands between at least one of the user terminals and the base station.