AU2511599A - Mobile telecommunications device for supporting location-dependent radio frequencies and transmission methods - Google Patents

Description

GR 98 P 2290 Description Mobile telecommunication device 5 In conventional systems for wireless telecommunication, mobile subscriber stations usually communicate via stationary facilities of the infrastructure. In contrast with this, satellite 10 systems are now planned or being set up in which the infrastructure, that is to say the base stations, are implemented by satellites which, for various reasons, are not geostationary but orbit the earth at a relatively low altitude and, in doing so, continuously 15 change their location in relation to the earth's surface. In the course of their movement around the globe, these mobile telecommunication devices will fly successively over the territories of different 20 countries in which different regulations for utilizing frequencies or transmission protocols apply. The object on which the invention is based is therefore to specify the technical teaching by means of which the conformance to different regulations relating to 25 telecommunication which vary locally and possibly with time is made possible. This object is achieved by the subject matters of the present claims. It is thereby ensured, using a facility for transmitting messages to a multiplicity of subscriber stations via a number of 30 radio frequencies or by means of different transmission methods and a facility for evaluating at least one control signal depending on the position of the telecommunication device for selecting or changing the radio frequencies or transmission methods used by the 35 telecommunication device, that the respective applicable regulations are observed.

GR 98 P 2290 - la The invention thus provides for a very extensive, time-optimized adaptation of the mobile infrastructure facilities to GR 98 P 2290 -2 a multiplicity of national radio transmission regulations which permits better utilization of transmission resources than the use of transmission resources which have been released globally. 5 Naturally, satellites are not the only conceivable mobile telecommunication facilities in the sense of the present invention. Naturally, mobile devices on ocean going ships or as payload of airships and similar mobile telecommunication devices in the sense of the 10 present invention can be used. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for the use of a number of radio facilities or controllers and the use of means for connecting or disconnecting these radio facilities or controllers in 15 dependence on a control signal or on a number of control signals. This advantageous embodiment of the invention thus takes into account in a particularly simple and robust manner the fact that a satellite supported telecommunication system is frequently in 20 simultaneous contact with the territories of a number of countries in that suitable radio facilities can be provided for different countries. A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the device is equipped with means for 25 determining the position of the device and means for generating a control signal in dependence on the current position. This has the advantage that no special terrestrial infrastructure needs to be created for implementing the invention. 30 In the text which follows, the invention will be described with the aid of preferred embodiments and with the aid of figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of the interaction of a device according to the invention 35 with a terrestrial GR 98 P 2290 -3 infrastructure for controlling the telecommunication device. Figure 2 diagrammatically shows a preferred embodiment of the telecommunication device according to 5 the invention using a number of radio facilities. Figure 1 illustrates how a mobile telecommunication device 11 (satellite) can be caused to select or change the radio frequencies or transmission methods by a control signal 14 when flying 10 over a boundary region between two locally limited mobile radio infrastructures 12, 13. The control signal can be sent out directly by terrestrial 15 (radio beacon) or other stationary devices (for example geostationary satellites etc.) or it can be generated 15 by a device for position finding 16 in the telecommunication device itself. Thus, if the telecommunication device 11 is within transmission range of a radio beacon 15, a response, e.g. a change of frequency or operating mode, is automatically 20 initiated in the telecommunication device. In this manner, the mobile telecommunication device can optimally adapt to local or time-defined regulations regarding the use of frequencies or the utilization of transmission methods. It is possible, 25 for example, to locally influence satellite links, e.g. the use of a satellite could be blocked for certain user groups in trouble spots. The device according to the invention thus typically contains a controllable radio device or a 30 number of such radio devices which can be switched on and off by a programmable controller. The information GR 98 P 2290 -4 regarding when this is to be done is derived from a control signal. This signal originates from an external device or is derived in the mobile telecommunication device from position data which can 5 come, e.g. from a global positioning system (GPS). It is advantageous if a number of radio parts 17, 18 or a radio part which can be switched to a number of frequencies - differentiated, if necessary, depending on uplink or downlink - or operating modes, is 10 integrated into the telecommunication device. In this arrangement, the information table or algorithms, which establish the relationship between current position and the corresponding operating mode of the radio parts, are also changed by a central control station and are 15 thus adapted to changing regulations. Accordingly, a storage device for such tables (data records) and a processor 19 for processing and adapting these stored data must be provided in such a mobile telecommunication device.

Claims (3)

1. A mobile telecommunication device (11) using a facility for transmitting messages to a multiplicity of 5 subscriber stations via a number of radio frequencies or by means of different transmission methods and a facility for evaluating at least one control signal (14) depending on the position of the telecommunication device for selecting or changing the radio frequencies 10 or transmission methods used by the telecommunication device.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 using a number of radio facilities (17, 18) or controllers and means for connecting or disconnecting these radio facilities or 15 controllers in dependence on a control signal or on a number of control signals.

3. The device as claimed in one of the preceding claims using means for determining the position of the device and means for generating a control signal in 20 dependence on the current position.