Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
15
CLAIMS
1. A method of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between one
or more
communication systems, comprising the steps of:
configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of frequencies
associated therewith and
comprising a first substantially central portion and a first plurality of
subareas, each of
the first plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery of
the first
substantially central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
first satellite spot
beam;
configuring a second satellite spot beam having a second set of frequencies
associated
therewith and comprising a second substantially central portion and a second
plurality of
subareas, each of the second plurality of subareas extending substantially
from a
periphery of the second central portion to substantially near a circumference
of the
second satellite spot beam;
configuring at least one terrestrial cell that at least partially overlaps the
first satellite spot beam
having a third set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial system,
at least one of a
portion of the second set of frequencies and a portion of the first set of
frequencies used
in the first central portion, responsive to predetermined criteria associated
with the third
set of frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing
at least one
of the second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at
least
substantially geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized
cells having a first size and the second plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized cells having a
second size.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first size and the second size are
approximately equal.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant from
the first satellite spot beam when they are at least one of assigned, reused
and borrowed for use in
those first plurality of subareas not sharing a common boundary with the
second satellite spot beam.
16
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of frequencies used in the
first central portion
comprise at least one of those frequency sets respectively associated with
satellite spot beams directly
adjacent to the first satellite spot beam.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of assigning, reusing and borrowing
is based on
prioritization rules.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic load
and capacity
constraints of cells that frequencies are taken from.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within the
first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of
frequencies associated
with the at least one second satellite spot beam.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within the
first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of
frequencies associated
with any spot beams adjacent the first satellite spot beam.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within a
subarea of the first
spot beam not sharing at least a portion of a common boundary with the second
satellite spot beam
can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the second set of frequencies
associated with the second
satellite spot beam.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least one
of load balancing
and received signal strength interference.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
configuring a second terrestrial cell that at least partially overlaps the
second satellite spot beam
having a fourth set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the second terrestrial
cell, at least one of
the first set of frequencies and the frequencies used in the second central
portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the fourth set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
first set of
17
frequencies when the first set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically
distant from the second satellite spot beam.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first central portion and the second
central portion
comprise approximately twenty five percent of the area covered by the first
satellite spot beam and the
second satellite spot beam, respectively.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of frequencies and the second
set of frequencies
comprise a plurality of paired uplink and downlink frequencies.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein a downlink frequency of a frequency set is
used in a first
subarea of the first spot beam, and wherein a corresponding one of the uplink
frequencies is reused in
a second subarea of the first spot beam.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the area of coverage of a spot beam
comprises an area
having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the spot
beam having a substantially
maximum signal strength to a distance from the center of the spot beam where
the signal strength of
the spot beam is attenuated by approximately 3 dB.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of at least one of 10 -2 to
-3 for voice and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of subareas is equal to a number
of spot beams
comprising a cluster minus one.
19. A method of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies, comprising
the steps of:
configuring a first communications area having a first set of frequencies
associated therewith
and comprising a first substantially central portion and a first plurality of
subareas, each
of the first plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery of
the first
substantially central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
first
communications area;
configuring a second communications area having a second set of frequencies
associated
therewith and comprising a second substantially central portion and a second
plurality of
18
subareas, each of the second plurality of subareas extending substantially
from a
periphery of the central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
second
communications area;
configuring at least one third communications area that at least partially
overlaps the first
communications area, having a third set of frequencies associated therewith;
and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the third communications
area, at least one
of a portion of the second set of frequencies and a portion of the first set
of frequencies
used in the first central portion, responsive to predetermined criteria
associated with the
third set of frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and
borrowing at
least one of the second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies
are at least
substantially geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized
cells having a first size and the second plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized cells having a
second size.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first size and the second size are
approximately equal.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant from
the second communications area when they are at least one of assigned, reused
and borrowed for use
in those first plurality of subareas not sharing a common boundary with the
second communications
area.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the first set of frequencies used in the
first central portion
comprise at least one of those frequency sets respectively associated with
communication areas
external to and directly adjacent to the first communications area.
24. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of assigning, reusing and
borrowing is based on
prioritization rules.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic
load and capacity
constraints of candidate cells that frequencies are being taken from.
19
26. The method of claim 19 wherein a user positioned within the first central
portion can be
assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of frequencies
associated with the at least
one second satellite spot beam.
27. The method of claim 19 wherein a user positioned within the first central
portion can be
assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of frequencies
associated with any
communication areas adjacent the first satellite spot beam.
28. The method of claim 19 wherein a user positioned within a subarea not
sharing at least a
portion of a common boundary with the second communications area can be
assigned, reuse and/or
borrow any of the second set of frequencies associated with the second
communications area.
29. The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least one
of load balancing
and received signal strength interference.
30. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:
configuring a fourth communications area within the second communications area
having a
fourth set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the fourth communications
area, at least
one of the first set of frequencies and the frequencies used in the second
central portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the fourth set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
first set of
frequencies when the first set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically
distant from the second communications area.
31. The method of claim 19 wherein the first central portion and the second
central portion
comprise approximately twenty five percent of the area covered by the first
communications area and
the second communications area, respectively.
32. The method of claim 19 wherein the first and second set of frequencies
comprise a plurality
of paired uplink and downlink frequencies, wherein a downlink frequency of a
frequency set is used
in a first subarea of the first communications area, and wherein a
corresponding one of the uplink
frequencies is reused in a second subarea of the first communications area.
20
33. The method of claim 19 wherein the area of coverage of a communications
area comprises
an area having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the
communications area
having a substantially maximum signal strength to a distance from the center
of the communications
area where the signal strength of the communications area is attenuated by
approximately 3 dB.
34. The method of claim 19 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of at least one of 10 -2 to
-3 for voice and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
35. A method of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between one
or more
communication systems, comprising the steps of:
configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of frequencies
associated therewith and
comprising a first substantially central portion and a first plurality of
subareas, each of
the first plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery of
the first
substantially central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
first satellite spot
beam;
configuring a second satellite spot beam having a second set of frequencies
associated
therewith and comprising a second substantially central portion and a second
plurality of
subareas, each of the second plurality of subareas extending substantially
from a
periphery of the central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
second
satellite spot beam;
configuring at least one terrestrial cell that at least partially overlaps the
first satellite spot beam
having a third set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the second satellite spot
beam, at least one
of a portion of the third set of frequencies responsive to predetermined
criteria, including
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the third set
of
frequencies associated with the at least one terrestrial cell when the
terrestrial cell is at
least substantially geographically distant from the second set of frequencies.
36. A method of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between one
or more
communication systems, comprising the steps of:
configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of frequencies
associated therewith and
comprising a first substantially central portion and a first plurality of
subareas, each of
the first plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery of
the first
21
substantially central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
first satellite spot
beam;
configuring a second satellite spot beam having a second set of frequencies
associated
therewith;
configuring at least one terrestrial cell that at least partially overlaps the
first satellite spot beam
having a third set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial cell, at
least one of a portion
of the second set of frequencies and a portion of the first set of frequencies
used in the
first central portion, responsive to predetermined criteria associated with
the third set of
frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at
least one of the
second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least
substantially
geographically distant from the terrestrial cell.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized.
38. The method of claim 36 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant from
the first satellite spot beam when they are at least one of assigned, reused
and borrowed for use in
those first plurality of subareas not sharing a common boundary with the
second satellite spot beam.
39. The method of claim 36 wherein the first set of frequencies used in the
first central portion
comprise at least one of those frequency sets respectively associated with one
or more satellite spot
beams directly adjacent to the first satellite spot beam.
40. The method of claim 36 wherein said step of assigning, reusing and
borrowing is based on
prioritization rules.
41. The method of claim 40 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic
load and capacity
constraints of candidate cells that frequencies are being taken from.
42. The method of claim 36 wherein a user positioned within the first central
portion can be
assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of frequencies
associated with the second
satellite spot beam.
22
43. The method of claim 36 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within the
first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of
frequencies associated
with any spot beams adjacent the first satellite spot beam.
44. The method of claim 36 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within a
subarea of the
first spot beam not sharing at least a portion of a common boundary with the
second satellite spot
beam can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the second set of frequencies
associated with the
second satellite spot beam.
45. The method of claim 36 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least one
of load balancing
and received signal strength interference.
46. The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of:
configuring a second terrestrial cell that at least partially overlaps the
second satellite spot beam
having a fourth set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the second terrestrial
cell, at least one of
the first set of frequencies and the frequencies used in the second central
portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the fourth set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
first set of
frequencies when the first set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically
distant from the second terrestrial cell.
47. The method of claim 36 wherein the first central portion comprises
approximately twenty
five percent of the area covered by the first satellite spot beam.
48. The method of claim 36 wherein the first and second set of frequencies
comprise a plurality
of paired uplink and downlink frequencies, wherein a downlink frequency of a
frequency set is used
in a first subarea of the first spot beam, and wherein a corresponding one of
the uplink frequencies is
reused in a second subarea of the first spot beam.
49. The method of claim 36 wherein the area of coverage of a spot beam
comprises an area
having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the spot
beam having a substantially
maximum signal strength to a distance from the center of the spot beam where
the signal strength of
the spot beam is attenuated by approximately 3 dB.
23
50. The method of claim 36 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of at least one of 10 -2 to
-3 for voice and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
51. A method of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between one
or more
communication systems, comprising the steps of:
configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of frequencies
associated therewith and
comprising a first plurality of subareas, each of the first plurality of
subareas extending
from a substantially center area of the first satellite spot beam to
substantially near a
circumference of the first satellite spot beam in a fan-like manner thereby
forming the
first plurality of subareas;
configuring a second satellite spot beam having a second set of frequencies
associated
therewith;
configuring at least one terrestrial cell that at least partially overlaps the
first satellite spot beam
having a third set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the at least one
terrestrial cell, at least one
of a portion of the second set of frequencies and a portion of the first set
of frequencies
used in the first central portion, responsive to predetermined criteria
associated with the
third set of frequencies for communication therewith, including at least one
of assigning,
reusing and borrowing at least one of the second set of frequencies when the
second set
of frequencies are at least substantially geographically distant from the
first spot beam.
52. The method of claim 51 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized.
53. The method of claim 51 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant from
the second satellite spot beam when they are at least one of assigned, reused
and borrowed for use in
those first plurality of subareas not sharing a common boundary with the
second satellite spot beam.
54. The method of claim 51 wherein the first set of frequencies used in the
first central portion
comprise those frequency sets respectively associated with at least one of the
satellite spot beams
directly adjacent to the first satellite spot beam.
24
55. The method of claim 51 wherein said step of assigning, reusing and
borrowing is based on
prioritization rules.
56. The method of claim 55 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic
load and capacity
constraints of candidate cells that frequencies are being taken from.
57. The method of claim 55 wherein the prioritization rules further include
signal strength.
58. The method of claim 51 wherein a user positioned within the first central
portion can be
assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of frequencies
associated with the second
satellite spot beam.
59. The method of claim 51 wherein a user positioned within the first central
portion can be
assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of frequencies
associated with any spot
beams adjacent the first satellite spot beam.
60. The method of claim 51 wherein a user positioned within a subarea not
sharing at least a
portion of a common boundary with the second satellite spot beam can be
assigned, reuse and/or
borrow any of the second set of frequencies associated with the second
satellite spot beam.
61. The method of claim 51 wherein the predetermined criteria comprise at
least one of load
balancing and received signal strength interference.
62. The method of claim 51 further comprising the steps of:
configuring a terrestrial cell that at least partially overlaps the second
satellite spot beam having
a fourth set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial cell, at
least one of the first
set of frequencies and the frequencies used in the second central portion,
responsive to
predetermined criteria associated with the fourth set of frequencies,
including at least one
of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the first set of
frequencies when the
first set of frequencies are at least substantially geographically distant
from the terrestrial
cell.
25
63. The method of claim 51 wherein the first and second set of frequencies
comprise a plurality
of paired uplink and downlink frequencies.
64. The method of claim 63 wherein a downlink frequency of a frequency set is
used in a first
subarea of the first spot beam, and wherein a corresponding one of the uplink
frequencies is used in a
second subarea of the first spot beam.
65. The method of claim 51 wherein the area of coverage of a spot beam
comprises an area
having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the spot
beam having a substantially
maximum signal strength to a distance from the center of the spot beam where
the signal strength of
the spot beam is attenuated by approximately 3 dB.
66. The method of claim 51 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of 10 -2 to 10 -3 for voice
and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
67. A system for at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between one
or more
communication systems, comprising:
at least one satellite capable of configuring: a) a first spot beam having a
first set of frequencies
associated therewith, the first spot beam comprising a first substantially
central portion
and a first plurality of subareas, each of the first plurality of subareas
extending
substantially from a periphery of the first substantially central portion to
substantially
near a circumference of the first satellite spot beam, and b) a second
satellite spot beam
having a second set of frequencies associated therewith, the second spot beam
comprising a second substantially central portion and a second plurality of
subareas, each
of the second plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery
of the second
central portion to substantially near a circumference of the second satellite
spot beam;
a terrestrial base station positioned within the first satellite spot beam for
configuring a
terrestrial cell having at least partially overlapping coverage with the first
spot beam, the
terrestrial cell having a third set of frequencies associated therewith and an
area coverage
at least partially overlapping with an area of coverage associated with the
first spot beam;
a first subscriber terminal positioned within the terrestrial base station
area of coverage; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial
base station and
for use by said first subscriber terminal in communicating with at least one
of a second
subscriber terminal and other communications device, at least one of a portion
of the
26
second set of frequencies and a portion of the first set of frequencies used
in the first
central portion, responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the
third set of
frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at
least one of the
second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least
substantially
geographically distant from the second satellite spot beam.
68. The system of claim 67 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized
and having a first size, and the second plurality of subareas are
substantially and having a second size.
69. The system of claim 68 wherein the first size and the second size are
approximately equal.
70. The system of claim 67 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant from
the second satellite spot beam when they are at least one of assigned, reused
and borrowed for use by
subscriber terminals positioned in those first plurality of subareas not
sharing a common boundary
with the second satellite spot beam.
71. The system of claim 67 wherein the first set of frequencies used by
subscriber terminals
positioned in the first central portion comprise at least one of those
frequency sets respectively
associated with one or more satellite spot beams directly adjacent to the
first satellite spot beam.
72. The system of claim 67 wherein at least one of assigning, reusing and
borrowing is based
on prioritization rules.
73. The system of claim 72 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic
load and capacity
constraints of cells that frequencies are taken from.
74. The system of claim 67 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within the
first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the respective set of
frequencies associated with
the at least one second satellite spot beam.
75. The system of claim 67 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within the
first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of
frequencies associated
with any spot beam directly adjacent the first satellite spot beam.
27
76. The system of claim 67 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within a
subarea of the
first spot beam not sharing at least a portion of a common boundary with the
second satellite spot
beam can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the second set of frequencies
associated with the
second satellite spot beam.
77. The system of claim 67 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least one
of load balancing
and received signal strength interference.
78. The system of claim 67 further comprising:
a second terrestrial base station positioned within the second satellite spot
beam and having at
least partially overlapping coverage with the first spot beam, for configuring
at least one
terrestrial cell therein, wherein the terrestrial cell has a fourth set of
frequencies
associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by said second terrestrial
base station, at least
one of the first set of frequencies and the frequencies used in the second
central portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the fourth set of
frequencies for
establishing communication between the second subscriber unit positioned
within an area
of coverage of said second base station and at least one of the first
subscriber terminal
and other communications device, including at least one of assigning, reusing
and
borrowing at least one of the first set of frequencies when the first set of
frequencies are
at least substantially geographically distant from the second satellite spot
beam.
79. The system of claim 67 wherein the first central portion and the second
central portion
comprise approximately twenty five percent of the area covered by the first
satellite spot beam and the
second satellite spot beam, respectively.
80. The system of claim 67 wherein the first and second set of frequencies
comprise a plurality
of paired uplink and downlink frequencies.
81. The system of claim 80 wherein a downlink frequency of a frequency set is
used in a first
subarea of the first spot beam, and wherein a corresponding one of the uplink
frequencies is reused in
a second subarea of the first spot beam.
28
82. The system of claim 67 wherein the area of coverage of a spot beam
comprises an area
having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the spot
beam having a substantially
maximum signal strength to a distance from the center of the spot beam where
the signal strength of
the spot beam is attenuated by approximately 3 dB.
83. The system of claim 67 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of 10 -2 to 10 -3 for voice
and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
84. The system of claim 67 wherein the number of subareas is equal to a number
of spot beams
comprising a cluster minus one.
85. A system for making a telephone call using a satellite-terrestrial
communications system
that at least one of assigns and reuses frequencies between a first satellite
spot beam and a second
satellite spot beam, comprising:
a subscriber terminal for dialing a telephone number to communicate with at
least a second
communications device;
a first terrestrial cell having said subscriber terminal positioned therein;
at least one satellite for configuring: a) a first satellite spot beam
associated with said first
terrestrial cell and having a first set of frequencies associated therewith,
the first satellite
spot beam comprising a first substantially central portion and a first
plurality of subareas,
each of the first plurality of subareas extending substantially from a
periphery of the first
substantially central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
first satellite spot
beam, and b) a second satellite spot beam having the second communications
device
positioned therein and a second set of frequencies associated therewith; and
means for establishing a connection between the subscriber terminal and at
least the second
communications device, by at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by
the first
spot beam, at least one of the second set of frequencies, responsive to
predetermined
criteria including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least
one of the
second set of frequencies when the subscriber terminal is substantially
geographically
distant from the second satellite spot beam.
86. A system for use in at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies,
comprising:
at least a first satellite for: a) configuring a first communications area
having a first set of
frequencies associated therewith, the communications area comprising a first
29
substantially central portion and a first plurality of subareas, each of the
first plurality of
subareas extending substantially from a periphery of the first substantially
central portion
to substantially near a circumference of the first communications area, and
for b)
configuring a second communications area having a second set of frequencies
associated
therewith and comprising a second substantially central portion and a second
plurality of
subareas, each of the second plurality of subareas extending substantially
from a
periphery of the central portion to substantially near a circumference of the
second
communications area;
a terrestrial base station positioned within the first communications area and
having at least
partially overlapping coverage with the first communications area, that
configures at least
a third communications area within the first communications area, the third
communications area having a third set of frequencies associated therewith;
and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by said
terrestrial base station, at
least one of a portion of the second set of frequencies and a portion of the
first set of
frequencies used in the first central portion for facilitating communications
between a
subscriber terminal positioned within the first communications area and a
second
communications device, and responsive to predetermined criteria associated
with the
third set of frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and
borrowing at
least one of the second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies
are at least
substantially geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
87. The system of claim 86 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal sized
and having a first size and the second plurality of subareas are substantially
equal sized and having a
second size.
88. The system of claim 87 wherein the first size and the second size are
approximately equal.
89. The system of claim 86 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant from
the second communications area when they are at least one of assigned, reused
and borrowed for use
in those first plurality of subareas not sharing a common boundary with the
second communications
area.
90. The system of claim 86 wherein the first set of frequencies used in the
first central portion
comprise those frequency sets respectively associated with communication areas
external to and
directly adjacent to the first communications area.
30
91. The system of claim 86 wherein the assigning, reusing and borrowing is
based on
prioritization rules.
92. The system of claim 91 wherein the prioritization rules comprise dynamic
load and capacity
constraints of candidate cells that frequencies are being taken from.
93. The system of claim 86 wherein a user positioned within the first central
portion can be
assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of frequencies
associated with the second
communications area.
94. The system of claim 86 wherein when the subscriber terminal is positioned
within the first
central portion it can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the respective
set of frequencies
associated with any communication areas adjacent the first communications
area.
95. The system of claim 86 wherein when the subscriber terminal is positioned
within a subarea
of the first communications area not sharing at least a portion of a common
boundary with the second
communications area it can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the second
set of frequencies
associated with the second communications area.
96. The system of claim 86 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least one
of load balancing
and received signal strength interference.
97. The system of claim 86, further comprising:
a second terrestrial base station positioned within the second communications
area and having
at least partially overlapping coverage with the second communications area,
wherein the
second communications area comprises at least one terrestrial cell within the
second
communications area, and wherein said second terrestrial base station has a
fourth set of
frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by said second terrestrial
base station, at least
one of the first set of frequencies and the frequencies used in the second
central portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the fourth set of
frequencies, for
establishing communication between a second subscriber unit positioned within
an area
covered by said second terrestrial base station and at least one of the first
subscriber unit
31
and the second communication device, including at least one of assigning,
reusing and
borrowing at least one of the first set of frequencies when the first set of
frequencies are
at least substantially geographically distant from the second terrestrial base
station.
98. The system of claim 86 wherein the first central portion and the second
central portion
comprise approximately twenty five percent of the area covered by the first
communications area and
the second communications area, respectively.
99. The system of claim 86 wherein the first and second set of frequencies
comprise a plurality
of paired uplink and downlink frequencies, wherein a downlink frequency of a
frequency set is used
in a first subarea of the first communications area, and wherein a
corresponding one of the uplink
frequencies is reused in a second subarea of the first communications area.
100. The system of claim 86 wherein the area of coverage of a communications
area comprises
an area having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the
communications area
having a substantially maximum signal strength to a distance from the center
of the communications
area where the signal strength of the communications area is attenuated by
approximately 3 dB.
101. The system of claim 86 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of 10 -2 to 10 -3 for voice
and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
102. A system for at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between a
plurality of
communication systems, comprising:
at least one satellite capable of: a) configuring a first satellite spot beam
having a first set of
frequencies associated therewith and comprising a first substantially central
portion and a
first plurality of subareas, each of the first plurality of subareas extending
substantially
from a periphery of the first substantially central portion to substantially
near a
circumference of the first satellite spot beam, and b) configuring a second
satellite spot
beam having a second set of frequencies associated therewith and comprising a
second
substantially central portion and a second plurality of subareas, each of the
second
plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery of the central
portion to
substantially near a circumference of the second satellite spot beam,
a terrestrial base station positioned within the first satellite spot beam and
having at least
partially overlapping coverage with the first spot beam, for configuring at
least one
32
terrestrial cell within the first satellite spot beam having a third set of
frequencies
associated therewith and having an area of coverage at least partially
overlapping with
the first satellite spot beam; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the second
satellite spot beam, at
least one of a portion of the third set of frequencies responsive to
predetermined criteria,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
third set of
frequencies associated with the at least one terrestrial cell when the portion
is at least
substantially geographically distant from the second set of frequencies.
103. A system of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between a
plurality of
communication systems, comprising:
a first satellite capable of a) configuring a first satellite spot beam having
a first set of
frequencies associated therewith and comprising a first substantially central
portion and a
first plurality of subareas, each of the first plurality of subareas extending
substantially
from a periphery of the first substantially central portion to substantially
near a
circumference of the first satellite spot beam, and b) configuring a second
satellite spot
beam having a second set of frequencies associated therewith;
a terrestrial base station positioned within the first satellite spot beam and
having at least
partially overlapping coverage with the first spot beam, for configuring at
least one
terrestrial cell within the first satellite spot beam, the terrestrial cell
having a third set of
frequencies associated therewith and having an area of coverage at least
partially
overlapping with an area of coverage of the first satellite spot beam; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial
base station for use
in establishing communications between a first subscriber terminal positioned
within an
area of coverage of said terrestrial base station and at least one of a second
subscriber
terminal and communications device, at least one of a portion of the second
set of
frequencies and a portion of the first set of frequencies used in the first
central portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the third set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
second set
of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
104. The system of claim 103 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal
sized.
33
105. The system of claim 103 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant
from the second satellite spot beam when they are at least one of assigned,
reused and borrowed for
use in those first plurality of subareas not sharing a common boundary with
the second satellite spot
beam.
106. The system of claim 103 wherein the first set of frequencies used in the
first central
portion comprise those frequency sets respectively associated with satellite
spot beams directly
adjacent to the first satellite spot beam.
107. The system of claim 103 wherein said step of assigning, reusing and
borrowing is based on
prioritization rules.
108. The system of claim 107 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic
load and
capacity constraints of candidate cells that frequencies are being taken from.
109. The system of claim 103 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within
the first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the respective set of
frequencies associated with
the second satellite spot beam.
110. The system of claim 103 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within
the first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow any of the respective set of
frequencies associated with
any spot beams adjacent the first satellite spot beam.
111. The system of claim 103 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within a
subarea not
sharing at least a portion of a common boundary with the second satellite spot
beam can be assigned,
reuse and/or borrow any of the second set of frequencies associated with the
second satellite spot
beam.
112. The system of claim 103 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least
one of load
balancing and received signal strength interference.
113. The system of claim 103 further comprising:
a second terrestrial base station positioned within the second satellite spot
beam and having at
least partially overlapping coverage with the second spot beam, wherein the
second
34
satellite spot beam further comprises at least one terrestrial cell having a
fourth set of
frequencies associated therewith,
wherein said means facilitates at least one of assigning, reusing and
borrowing, by said second
terrestrial base station for use with a second subscriber terminal positioned
within an area
covered by said second terrestrial base station, at least one of the first set
of frequencies
and the frequencies used in the second central portion, responsive to
predetermined
criteria associated with the fourth set of frequencies for establishing
communication
between the second subscriber terminal and at least one of the first
subscriber terminal
and communications device, including at least one of assigning, reusing and
borrowing at
least one of the first set of frequencies when the first set of frequencies
are at least
substantially geographically distant from the second satellite spot beam.
114. The system of claim 103 wherein the first central portion comprises
approximately twenty
five percent of the area covered by the first satellite spot beam.
115. The system of claim 103 wherein the first and second set of frequencies
comprise a
plurality of paired uplink and downlink frequencies, wherein a downlink
frequency of a frequency set
is used in a first subarea of the first spot beam, and wherein a corresponding
one of the uplink
frequencies is reused in a second subarea of the first spot beam.
116. The system of claim 103 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of 10 -2 to 10 -3 for voice
and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
117. The system of claim 103 wherein the area of coverage of a spot beam
comprises an area
having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the spot
beam having a substantially
maximum signal strength to a distance from the center of the spot beam where
the signal strength of
the spot beam is attenuated by approximately 3 dB.
118. A system of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between a
plurality of
communication systems, comprising:
a first satellite capable of: a) configuring a first satellite spot beam
having a first set of
frequencies associated therewith and comprising a first plurality of subareas,
each of the
first plurality of subareas extending from a substantially center area of the
first satellite
spot beam to substantially near a circumference of the first satellite spot
beam in a fan-
35
like manner thereby forming the first plurality of subareas, and b)
configuring a second
satellite spot beam having a second set of frequencies associated therewith;
a terrestrial base station positioned within the first satellite spot beam and
having at least
partially overlapping coverage with the first spot beam, for configuring a
terrestrial cell,
the terrestrial cell having a third set of frequencies associated therewith
and having an
area of coverage at least partially overlapping with an area of coverage
associated with
the first spot beam; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by said
terrestrial base station and
for use by a first subscriber terminal in communicating with at least one of a
second
subscriber terminal or communications device, at least one of a portion of the
second set
of frequencies and a portion of the first set of frequencies used in the first
central portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the third set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
second set
of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
119. The system of claim 118 wherein the first plurality of subareas are
substantially equal
sized.
120. The system of claim 118 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant
from the second satellite spot beam when they are at least one of assigned,
reused and borrowed for
use in those first plurality of subareas not sharing a common boundary with
the second satellite spot
beam.
121. The system of claim 118 wherein the assigning, reusing and borrowing is
based on
prioritization rules.
121. The system of claim 121 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic
load and
capacity constraints of candidate cells that frequencies are being taken from.
123. The system of claim 118 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within a
subarea not
sharing at least a portion of a common boundary with the second satellite spot
beam can be assigned,
reuse and/or borrow any of the second set of frequencies associated with the
second satellite spot
beam.
36
124. The system of claim 118 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least
one of load
balancing and received signal strength interference.
125. The system of claim 118 further comprising:
a second terrestrial base station positioned within the second satellite spot
beam and having at
least partially overlapping coverage with the second spot beam, and associated
with a
terrestrial cell having a fourth set of frequencies associated therewith; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by said second terrestrial
base station, at least
one of the first set of frequencies and the frequencies used in spot beams
adjacent to the
second spot beam, responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the
fourth set of
frequencies, for establishing communication between a second subscriber
terminal
positioned within the area of coverage of said second terrestrial base station
and at least
one of a subscriber terminal and communications device, including at least one
of
assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the first set of frequencies
when the first
set of frequencies are at least substantially geographically distant from the
second
satellite spot beam.
126. The system of claim 118 wherein the first and second frequencies comprise
a plurality of
paired uplink and downlink frequencies, wherein one of the frequency sets is
used in a first subarea of
the first spot beam, and wherein a corresponding one of the uplink frequencies
is reused in a second
subarea of the first spot beam.
127. The system of claim 118 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of 10 -2 to 10 -3 for voice
and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
128. The system of claim 118 wherein the area of coverage of a spot beam
comprises an area
having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the spot
beam having a substantially
maximum signal strength to a distance from the center of the spot beam where
the signal strength of
the spot beam is attenuated by approximately 3 dB.
129. A system for at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between
one or more
communication systems, comprising:
means for configuring: a) a first spot beam having a first set of frequencies
associated
therewith, the first spot beam comprising a first substantially central
portion and a first
37
plurality of subareas, each of the first plurality of subareas extending
substantially from a
periphery of the first substantially central portion to substantially near a
circumference of
the first satellite spot beam, and b) a second satellite spot beam having a
second set of
frequencies associated therewith, the second spot beam comprising a second
substantially
central portion and a second plurality of subareas, each of the second
plurality of
subareas extending substantially from a periphery of the second central
portion to
substantially near a circumference of the second satellite spot beam;
means positioned within the first satellite spot beam for configuring a
terrestrial cell having at
least partially overlapping coverage with the first spot beam, the terrestrial
cell having a
third set of frequencies associated therewith and an area coverage at least
partially
overlapping with an area of coverage associated with the first spot beam;
a first subscriber terminal positioned within the terrestrial base station
area of coverage; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial
base station and
for use by said first subscriber terminal in communicating with at least one
of a second
subscriber terminal and other communications device, at least one of a portion
of the
second set of frequencies and a portion of the first set of frequencies used
in the first
central portion, responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the
third set of
frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at
least one of the
second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least
substantially
geographically distant from the second satellite spot beam.
130. A system for making a telephone call using a satellite-terrestrial
communications system
that at least one of assigns and reuses frequencies between a first satellite
spot beam and a second
satellite spot beam, comprising:
a subscriber terminal for dialing a telephone number to communicate with at
least a second
communications device;
a first terrestrial cell having said subscriber terminal positioned therein;
means for configuring: a) a first satellite spot beam associated with said
first terrestrial cell,
having a first set of frequencies associated therewith, and having at least
partially
overlapping coverage with the first terrestrial cell, the first satellite spot
beam comprising
a first substantially central portion and a first plurality of subareas, each
of the first
plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery of the first
substantially
central portion to substantially near a circumference of said first satellite
spot beam, and
b) a second satellite spot beam having the second communications device
positioned
therein and a second set of frequencies associated therewith; and
38
means for establishing a connection between said subscriber terminal and at
least the second
communications device, by at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by
the first
spot beam, at least one of the second set of frequencies, responsive to
predetermined
criteria including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least
one of the
second set of frequencies when the subscriber terminal is substantially
geographically
distant from the second satellite spot beam.
131. A system for use in at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies,
comprising:
means for configuring: a) a first communications area having a first set of
frequencies
associated therewith, the communications area comprising a first substantially
central
portion and a first plurality of subareas, each of the first plurality of
subareas extending
substantially from a periphery of the first substantially central portion to
substantially
near a circumference of the first communications area, and b) a second
communications
area having a second set of frequencies associated therewith and comprising a
second
substantially central portion and a second plurality of subareas, each of the
second
plurality of subareas extending substantially from a periphery of the central
portion to
substantially near a circumference of the second communications area;
means positioned within the first satellite spot beam for configuring at least
a third
communications area within the first communications area, the third
communications
area having a third set of frequencies associated therewith and having at
least partially
overlapping coverage with the first spot beam; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by said
terrestrial base station, at
least one of a portion of the second set of frequencies and a portion of the
first set of
frequencies used in the first central portion for facilitating communications
between a
subscriber terminal positioned within the first spot beam and a second
communications
device, and responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the third set
of
frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at
least one of the
second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least
substantially
geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
132. A system for at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between a
plurality of
communication systems, comprising:
means for: a) configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of
frequencies associated
therewith and comprising a first substantially central portion and a first
plurality of
subareas, each of the first plurality of subareas extending substantially from
a periphery
39
of the first substantially central portion to substantially near a
circumference of the first
satellite spot beam, and b) configuring a second satellite spot beam having a
second set
of frequencies associated therewith and comprising a second substantially
central portion
and a second plurality of subareas, each of the second plurality of subareas
extending
substantially from a periphery of the central portion to substantially near a
circumference
of the second satellite spot beam;
means positioned within the first satellite spot beam for configuring at least
one terrestrial cell
within the first satellite spot beam having a third set of frequencies
associated therewith
and having an area of coverage at least partially overlapping with the first
satellite spot
beam; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the second
satellite spot beam, at
least one of a portion of the third set of frequencies responsive to
predetermined criteria,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
third set of
frequencies associated with the at least one terrestrial cell when the portion
is at least
substantially geographically distant from the second set of frequencies.
133. A system of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between a
plurality of
communication systems, comprising:
means for: a) configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of
frequencies associated
therewith and comprising a first substantially central portion and a first
plurality of
subareas, each of the first plurality of subareas extending substantially from
a periphery
of the first substantially central portion to substantially near a
circumference of the first
satellite spot beam, and b) configuring a second satellite spot beam having a
second set
of frequencies associated therewith;
means positioned within the first satellite spot beam for configuring at least
one terrestrial cell
within the first satellite spot beam, the terrestrial cell having a third set
of frequencies
associated therewith and having an area of coverage at least partially
overlapping with an
area of coverage of the first satellite spot beam; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial
base station for use
in establishing communications between a first subscriber germinal positioned
within an
area of coverage of said terrestrial base station and at least one of a second
subscriber
terminal and communications device, at least one of a portion of the second
set of
frequencies and a portion of the first set of frequencies used in the first
central portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the third set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
second set
40
of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
134. A system of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between a
plurality of
communication systems, comprising:
means for: a) configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of
frequencies associated
therewith and comprising a first plurality of subareas, each of the first
plurality of
subareas extending from a substantially center area of the first satellite
spot beam to
substantially near a circumference of the first satellite spot beam in a fan-
like manner
thereby forming the first plurality of subareas, and b) configuring a second
satellite spot
beam having a second set of frequencies associated therewith;
means positioned within the first satellite spot beam for configuring a
terrestrial cell, the
terrestrial cell having a third set of frequencies associated therewith and
having an area of
coverage at least partially overlapping with an area of coverage associated
with the first
spot beam; and
means for at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by said
terrestrial base station and
for use by a first subscriber terminal in communicating with at least one of a
second
subscriber terminal or communications device, at least one of a portion of the
second set
of frequencies and a portion of the first set of frequencies used in the first
central portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the third set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
second set
of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
135. A method of at least one of assigning and reusing frequencies between one
or more
communication systems, comprising the steps of:
configuring a first satellite spot beam having a first set of frequencies
associated therewith and
comprising a first substantially central portion;
configuring a second satellite spot beam having a second set of frequencies
associated
therewith and comprising a second substantially central portion
configuring at least one terrestrial cell within the first satellite spot beam
having a third set of
frequencies associated therewith and having at least partially overlapping
coverage with
the first spot beam; and
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the terrestrial system,
at least one of a
portion of the second set of frequencies and a portion of the first set of
frequencies used
41
in the first central portion, responsive to predetermined criteria associated
with the third
set of frequencies, including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing
at least one
of the second set of frequencies when the second set of frequencies are at
least
substantially geographically distant from the first satellite spot beam.
136. The method of claim 135 wherein the second set of frequencies are
substantially distant
from the first satellite spot beam when they are used in subareas of the
second spot beam that do not
share a common boundary with the first satellite spot beam.
137. The method of claim 135 wherein the first set of frequencies used in the
first central
portion comprise at least one of those frequency sets respectively associated
with satellite spot beams
directly adjacent to the first satellite spot beam.
138. The method of claim 135 wherein said step of assigning, reusing and
borrowing is based
on prioritization rules.
139. The method of claim 138 wherein the prioritization rules include dynamic
load and
capacity constraints of cells that frequencies are taken from.
140. The method of claim 135 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within
the first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of
frequencies associated
with the at least one second satellite spot beam.
141. The method of claim 135 wherein a subscriber terminal positioned within
the first central
portion can be assigned, reuse and/or borrow use any of the respective set of
frequencies associated
with any spot beams adjacent the first satellite spot beam.
142. The method of claim 135 wherein the predetermined criteria is at least
one of load
balancing and received signal strength interference.
143. The method of claim 135 further comprising the steps of:
configuring a second terrestrial cell within the second satellite spot beam
having a fourth set of
frequencies associated therewith and having at least partially overlapping
coverage with
the second spot beam; and
42
at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing, by the second terrestrial
cell, at least one of
the first set of frequencies and the frequencies used in the second central
portion,
responsive to predetermined criteria associated with the fourth set of
frequencies,
including at least one of assigning, reusing and borrowing at least one of the
first set of
frequencies when the first set of frequencies are at least substantially
geographically
distant from the second satellite spot beam.
144. The method of claim 135 wherein the first central portion and the second
central portion
comprise approximately twenty five percent of the area covered by the first
satellite spot beam and the
second satellite spot beam, respectively.
145. The method of claim 135 wherein the first set of frequencies and the
second set of
frequencies comprise a plurality of paired uplink and downlink frequencies,
wherein a downlink
frequency of a frequency set is used in the first spot beam, and wherein a
corresponding one of the
uplink frequencies is reused in the second spot beam.
146. The system of claim 136 wherein an area of coverage of at least one of a
spot beam and a
terrestrial cell comprises an area corresponding to a bit error rate in the
range of 10 -2 to 10 -3 for voice
and 10 -5 to 10 -6 for data.
147. The method of claim 135 wherein the area of coverage of a spot beam
comprises an area
having a radius substantially equal to a distance from a center of the spot
beam having a substantially
maximum signal strength to a distance from the center of the spot beam where
the signal strength of
the spot beam is attenuated by approximately 3dB.