Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Message addressed to multiple destinations
Reexamination Certificate
1997-02-26
2002-10-15
Hsu, Alpus H. (Department: 2665)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Message addressed to multiple destinations
C370S321000, C370S338000, C455S003020, C455S003030, C725S064000, C725S068000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06466554
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a satellite data distribution method and system using a mobile communication system and, more particularly, to a satellite data distribution method and system for distributing data to a base station of a mobile communication system and subscribers of the mobile communication system substantially at the same time by providing a satellite communication receiver to the base station of the mobile communication system.
The satellite data distribution, which distributes data to a base station of a mobile communication system and subscribers of the mobile communication system substantially at the same time, may be referred to as a remote loading system for a base station of a mobile communication system via a satellite.
2. Description of the Related Art
The satellite data distribution system serves to distribute data to a number of subscribers of the system. The satellite data distribution system has become popular as one of multi-media services. Particularly, the satellite data distribution system has an advantage to distribute data simultaneously over a large area as compared to other data distribution systems such as a cable communication system or a ground area radio communication system.
FIG. 1
is an illustration for explaining a conventional wide area data distribution system using satellite communication. The conventional satellite data distribution system can provide an interactive data distribution service. A host center
10
stores various sets of data including application data, and can transmit a large amount of data to a number of subscriber terminals
20
or to a predetermined subscriber terminal via a satellite
1
.
The host center
10
has a satellite antenna such as a parabola antenna or a Cassegrain antenna so as to transmit data to the satellite
1
. Each of the subscriber terminals
20
includes a receiver unit and a satellite communication antenna to receive the data transmitted by the satellite
1
.
In the procedure of the conventional data distribution service, a subscriber (which corresponds to an individual user or a company) requests a distribution of data to the host center
10
via a ground surface network. The host center
10
responds to the subscriber's request to distribute the requested data to the subscriber. A user of this system can use various services through a personal computer, for example, which is connected to the receiver unit.
However, the above-mentioned conventional data distribution system has a problem in that each of the subscribers must have the satellite communication receiver unit and the satellite communication antenna which requires a relatively large construction. Thus, a company or an individual user cannot easily install the receiver unit and the satellite antenna which is a bottleneck for spreading the data distribution service using a satellite.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful satellite data distribution method and system in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a satellite data distribution method and system in which a subscriber can receive a data distribution service via a mobile communication system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a satellite data distribution method and system for efficiently distributing loading data to a plurality of base stations of a mobile communication system via a satellite.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided according to one aspect of the present invention a satellite data distribution method for distributing data to a plurality of subscribers of a satellite data distribution system via a satellite, the satellite data distribution system including a mobile communication system having at least one base station unit communicating with the subscribers, the satellite data distribution method comprising the steps of:
a) transmitting data to be distributed from a center station of the satellite data distribution system to the satellite;
b) distributing the data from the satellite to the base station unit of the mobile communication system; and
c) distributing the data from the base station unit to the subscribers.
According to the above-mentioned invention, the data to be distributed to the subscribers is relayed by the base station unit of the mobile communication system. The data transmitted from the satellite is collectively received by the base station unit, and then the data is distributed to each of the subscribers via the radio communication used in the mobile communication system. Thus, a satellite data reception unit is not necessarily provided to each of the subscribers.
In the satellite data distribution method according to the present invention, the base station unit of the mobile communication system may be connected to the center station via a communication network, and may further comprise the step of:
d) sending a distribution request from one of the subscribers to the center station via the mobile communication network and the communication network, the distribution request requesting distribution of the data.
In the above-mentioned invention, step a) may include the step of:
a-1) transmitting the data from the center station to the base station unit of the mobile communication system via the satellite in response to the distribution request from the one of the subscribers.
Additionally, step d) may comprise the step of:
d-1) sending a closing request to the mobile communication system for requesting closing of a communication channel used for distributing the data while the data is being distributed to the subscribers after the distribution request from one of the subscribers is confirmed in the base station unit.
Thus, the mobile communication network can always recognize available channels which are not used for the satellite distribution data, and thus an effective channel assignment can be performed in the mobile communication system.
In the satellite data distribution method according to the present invention, step d) may comprise the step of:
d-2) setting a reception frequency in the base station unit for receiving the data from the satellite after confirming the distribution request from the subscribers during a communication between the one of the subscribers and the center station.
Step d) may further comprise the step of:
d-3) transferring information from the one of the subscribers to the base station unit, the information including the reception frequency and a subscriber number of the one of the subscribers.
Additionally, step c) may comprise the steps of:
c-1) automatically making a call from the base station unit to the one of the subscribers based on the information transferred in step d-3); and
c-2) automatically disconnecting a connection between the base station unit and the one of the subscribers after the data is distributed from the base station unit to the one of the subscribers.
In the above-mentioned invention, the calling operation and disconnecting operation are automatically performed by the base station unit, resulting in reduction in the control operations performed by the mobile communication system.
The satellite distribution method according to the present invention may further comprise the step of:
e) sending to the one of the subscribers a message indicating that a distribution of the data is unable when the data is not received from the satellite within a predetermined time period after the distribution request is sent from the one of the subscribers.
Additionally, there is provided according to another aspect of the present invention a base station unit of a mobile communication system used in a satellite data distribution system distributing data to a plurality of subscribers via a satellite, the base station unit comprising:
a communication processing unit for connecting the subscribers to the mobile communication system;
a satellite data rece
Fujitsu Limited
Hsu Alpus H.
Katten Muchin Zavis & Rosenman
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