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A system and method are disclosed for bidirectionally coupling a first satellite communication system to a second satellite communication system, wherein the first and second systems operate with different protocols. In a presently preferred embodiment of this invention the first system uses a sprea

A system and method are disclosed for bidirectionally coupling a first satellite communication system to a second satellite communication system, wherein the first and second systems operate with different protocols. In a presently preferred embodiment of this invention the first system uses a spread spectrum (SS), code division multiple access (CDMA) technique wherein the satellites serve as simple ‘bent pipe’repeaters for relaying communications between a user and a gateway. The second satellite communication system may be any other type of system having at least one characteristic that precludes direct communication between the first and the second systems. In an exemplary embodiment the second system uses a time division multiple access (TDMA) technique, and furthermore enables direct satellite-to-satellite communication links. A ground-based protocol conversion unit (70) is positioned for receiving a communication from a satellite of either the first or the second system, and includes circuitry for converting the transmission into a transmission that is suitable for transmission into the other system.

대표청구항 ▼

A hybrid communication system, comprising: a first satellite-based communication system including at least one first satellite; a second satellite-based communication system including at least one second satellite; wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol, whe

A hybrid communication system, comprising: a first satellite-based communication system including at least one first satellite; a second satellite-based communication system including at least one second satellite; wherein said first satellite-based communication system employs a first protocol, wherein said second satellite-based communication system employs a second protocol, wherein the first protocol is different than the second protocol; and wherein said hybrid communication system further comprises at least one protocol conversion unit that includes, a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one first satellite of said first satellite-based communication system; a second transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with said at least one second satellite of said second satellite-based communication system; and a protocol converter that is bidirectionally coupled to said first transceiver and to said second transceiver for receiving a transmission from one of said satellite-based communication systems, for converting the received transmission to the protocol employed by the other satellite-based communication system, and for transmitting a protocol-converted transmission to the other satellite-based communication system; and wherein said first and second transceivers are both located at a terrestrial location.