| 摘要 |
A distributed digital communications network and method for interactive communications, e.g., for cellular, wireless Internet access, digital television, and/or like multimedia services, is provided, that includes one or more global communications satellites positioned and adapted for receiving and relaying packet data communications encapsulating the interactive communications. One or more base station(s) are located in each of a plurality of selected remote geographic regions, and have mobile wireless links to a plurality of subscribers of communications services in the region. A plurality of satellite communications terminals is also provided for communicating with the satellite from the region. Each terminal is located in the selected remote geographic region and associated with one or more of the base stations. In addition, a plurality of user terminals are utilized, each located in the selected remote geographic region and associated with the base station(s) in the region. One or more base station controller(s) located remotely from, or locally with, the base station(s) have programming for controlling the base stations. Furthermore, a single mobile switching center located remotely from, or locally with, the base station controller(s) and the base stations. The switching center, in addition, has a digital communications signal processor for handling digital signal switching between the plurality of base stations, and/or wireline and/or other communications network(s). Finally, a packet data network is utilized between the satellite and satellite communications terminals for interactive data communications throughout the distributed network. |
| 主权项 |
1. A distributed cellular network for enabling calls between a third party outside the network and a cellular telephone subscriber at a selected remote location, the network comprising:
one or more global communications satellites positioned and adapted for receiving and relaying packet data communications encapsulating cellular telephone communications; a first station located in a first remote geographic region, the first station including a first base station having mobile wireless links to a plurality of subscribers of cellular telephone services in the first region, a first satellite communications terminal for communicating with the satellite from the first region, and a first user terminal, the first station being stationary when in use but movable for deployment when not in use; a second station located in a second remote geographic region, the second station including a second base station having mobile wireless links to a plurality of subscribers of cellular telephone services in the second region, a second satellite communications terminal for communicating with the satellite from the second region, and a second user terminal, the second station being stationary when in use but movable for deployment when not in use; a third station located in a third remote geographic region, the third station including a third satellite communications terminal for communicating with the satellite from the third region, a base station controller with programming for controlling the first and second base stations, and a single mobile switching center that is stationary when in use but movable for deployment when not in use having a call processor for handling cellular telephone call switching between the first and second base stations; a land based telephone network, and/or wireline and/or other cellular telephone network(s) linked remotely and/or locally to the mobile switching center and having at least one telephone for enabling the third party to place a call to the subscriber; and a packet data network between the satellite and satellite communications terminals for interactive data communications throughout the cellular network. |
