Patent ID: 6055425
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A cellular telephone system for use within an aircraft, which system comprises a plurality of user terminals distributed within an aircraft for location each adjacent a seat or a group of seats, an optical interface system for interfacing the user terminals to a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) within the aircraft, the optical interface system being distributed throughout the aircraft, and comprising a plurality of optical fibres interconnecting an array of transducer units with a master unit, each transducer unit and said master unit providing a bidirectional communication path with conversion between optical and radio signals, each transducer unit being located near and connected to a user terminal or group of user terminals by respective cable connections, said master unit being connected to the BTS, said base Transceiver Station being connected to an Aeronautical Earth Station (AES) for transmitting and receiving signals via satellite to a Ground Earth Station.