Patent ID: 7187927

Claim:
A method of providing cell phone communications with a global airborne cell phone system comprising the steps of: making a cell phone call with a cell phone of a first type; receiving the cell phone call with a pico cell of the first type; switching the cell phone call with a first switch connected to the pico cell of the first type; receiving the cell phone call from the first switch with a first satellite radio connected to the first switch; transmitting the cell phone call to a first satellite in a first satellite system; receiving the cell phone call from the first switch with a second satellite radio connected to the first switch; transmitting the cell phone call to a second satellite in a second satellite system; providing aircraft position data with a navigation system; storing satellite system parameters and service data in a database; and switching the pico cell of the first type to the first satellite radio and to the second satellite radio according to coverage of the first satellite and the second satellite for a current aircraft position with a processor connected to the first switch, the first satellite radio, the second satellite radio, the database, and the navigation system; initiating a call with the cell phone; delivering an electronic serial number over a control channel; determining with the pico cell quality of service (QoS) needs from a QoS indicator from the cell phone; directing the call to a low earth orbit satellite system if a voice call is needed; directing the call to a geosynchronous earth orbit satellite if high speed data is needed; waiting for authorization; enabling a selected service when authorization is received; beginning data communications; and completing data communications.