Patent ID: 6084865
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
A dual-mode satellite/cellular radio telephone system using TDMA comprising mobile stations, cellular network stations and satellite relay stations for transmitting TDMA signal bursts including the method of:transmitting bursts in said TDMA format intended for a specific mobile station at a first repetition rate from a cellular network station alternatively at a second repetition rate being a sub-multiple of said first repetition rate from a satellite relay station;dividing bursts transmitted at said first repetition rate into superframe groups each comprising traffic bursts, a Slow Associated Control Channel burst and an idle frame not containing a transmitted information burst; andusing said idle frame at said specific mobile station to change its TDMA burst receiver channel frequency to that of a neighboring cellular network station or to the channel frequency of a satellite relay station and analyzing a signal received on that channel frequency.