Patent ID: 6999720
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising: a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and an ancillary terrestrial network that is configured to refrain from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband; wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to determine portions thereof that are located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and wherein the satellite radiotelephone frequencies include a plurality of Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) frequencies and wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to determine portions thereof that are located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband by receiving and/or processing signal strength and/or content of at least one of the BCCH frequencies.