Satellite cellular telephone and data communication system.

摘要

A system for facilitating global cellular/trunked mobile communication is disclosed. This system permits communication with hand held and mobile mounted cellular telephones. The system permits two-way communications anywhere on or above the earth up to a particular height above the earth of several hundred nautical miles. The system employs a number of low-earth orbiting satellites (1,2, etc.) moving about the earth in orbit. Links (i) are provided from the satellites directly to the users and via the public switched telephone network (20) to other users (30). The satellites are interconnected via links (j) in a ring structure surrounding the earth. Switching is performed by each of the satellites. In addition, each of the satellites hands off a call as it moves out of the range of a particular user.