Patent ID: 6834188
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
A method of using a satellite based handheld phone system for generating a telephone call from a maritime vessel using a handheld unit comprising a dial pad, transmit button, disconnect button, lifetime timer and a call control button and an integral antennae, a base secured to said maritime vessel for cradling said handheld unit, and an antennae secured to said maritime vessel for receiving calls initiated from said handheld unit and transmitting them to a satellite phone network, wherein said method comprises the steps of:(i) dialing a desired number on the dial pad of the handheld unit to initiate a telephone call and pressing the transmit button; (ii) transmitting from said handheld unit to the antennae secured to the maritime vessel; (iii) transmitting from the antennae to a satellite phone network; (iv) communicating from the satellite phone network to a voice server; (v) connecting from the voice server to a local country voice server to connect with the target phone number for a specific duration; (vi) disconnecting from the target phone number when the specific duration is complete by engaging the disconnect button; (vii) using said call control button for viewing the specific duration of said telephone call; (viii) tracking each initiated and completed telephone call with a user log, wherein said user log comprises: a date of the telephone call, a UTC time when the telephone call was initiated, a code assigned to a user of the handheld unit, the target number, the duration of the call; a cost for the call, and a maritime vessel identification number; (ix) creating a monthly report of all telephone calls made with a given maritime vessel identification number denoting a date for each telephone call, a UTC time when the telephone call was initiated, a code assigned to a user of the handheld unit, each target number, the duration of each call, and a cost for each call; (x) using the lifetime timer to view the total duration of all telephone calls made from the handheld unit; (xi) correlating the monthly report with the lifetime timer to determine if there is any unallocated time and the cost associated with that time; (xii) computing the cost for each code assigned to a user of the satellite based phone system and creating a cost report; (xiii) using the cost report to deduct the cost associated with a particular code from pay of the user corresponding to that particular code; and (xiv) using the cost report to deduct the cost of any unallocated time from a pre-established credit for the maritime vessel.