Patent ID: 6314290
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A first gateway station in a mobile satellite system for establishing a single-hop, terminal-to-terminal call between an originating terminal and a destination terminal using assigned channels at a satellite, the first gateway station comprising:a transceiver and controller device for establishing a radio communication link with said originating terminal; andtraffic control system connected to said transceiver and controller device for performing at least one of a plurality of operations comprising: managing the allocation of said satellite channels to said first gateway station; assigning said originating terminal with at least one of said channels and a reserved one of said channels for a call path in response to data provided by said originating terminal indicating that said terminal-to-terminal call to another terminal in said system is desired, validating said originating terminal position, determining the mobile switching center identity corresponding to said destination terminal, and reserving one of said channels for signaling to said originating terminal during said terminal-to-terminal call.