Patent ID: 8010127

Claim:
A mobile terminal, comprising: a global positioning system receiver for receiving signals from a plurality of global positioning system satellites; a first communication module that enables communication by the mobile terminal with a geosynchronous satellite; a second communication module that enables communication by the mobile terminal with a low earth orbit satellite; and a processor that controls a relative operation of said first and second communication modules, said control by said processor including a selected operation of one of said first and second communication modules based on an identification of one of a plurality of potential international service areas in which the mobile terminal is operating, said control by said processor occurring at a time proximate to a first time activation of the mobile terminal, wherein upon selection of one of said first and second communication modules, said selected communication module is used to transmit measurements of said received global positioning system satellite signals and sensor information generated by one or more sensors coupled to the mobile terminal to a centralized location via a chosen satellite service provider operating in said identified international service area.