Patent ID: 8060082

Claim:
A satellite radio telephone system comprising: a) at least two spaced-based components, each of which is configured to communicate with a plurality of radio telephones wherein each of the at least two spaced-based components employs its own frequency band and its own unique air interface; and b) an ancillary terrestrial component that is configured to communicate terrestrially with the plurality of radio telephones over said own frequency band and said own unique air interface of each respective one of said at least two spaced-based components and an ancillary terrestrial component air interface different from said own unique air interface of each respective one of said at least two spaced-based components; and wherein at least a portion of the own frequency bands of the at least two spaced-based components is associated with a first area of coverage of the ancillary terrestrial component; and wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is further configured to reuse and/or share at least another portion of the own frequency bands of the at least two spaced-based component associated with one or more areas of coverage adjacent to the first area of coverage.