Steve R Magee

US Patent:

60029293, Dec 14, 1999

Filed:

Sep 29, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/939890

Inventors:

James William Bishop - Chandler AZ
Steve Magee - Scottsdale AZ
Nathan Miller - Santa Rosa CA

Assignee:

Mototrola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04M 1100
H04Q 732

US Classification:

455431

Abstract:

An on-board aircraft telecommunication exchange (32) provides communication and authentication services for M subscriber identity modules (SIMs) using N transceivers (36), where M can be greater than N. Associations between SIMs (56) and transceivers (36) are established when needed. Accordingly, a pool of transceivers 36 is provided to serve the collective needs of many subscribers. A SIM-based authentication process is performed (100) using a subscriber's original SIM (56). That authentication can be extended to a temporary SIM (106) that is substituted for the original SIM throughout the remainder of a flight. Alternatively, the original SIMs (56) may be locked in place and relinquished when a subscriber provides an appropriate PIN.

US Patent:

61578347, Dec 5, 2000

Filed:

Dec 29, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/998565

Inventors:

Jim E. Helm - Gilbert AZ
Steve Magee - Scottsdale AZ
James William Bishop - Chandler AZ

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04B 7185
H04Q 720

US Classification:

455436

Abstract:

Interoperability between terrestrial cellular systems and satellite based cellular systems allows handoffs between different cellular systems. A call in progress by a subscriber unit (101) over a terrestrial based cellular system (100) which includes a mobile switching center (MSC) (105a) and a plurality of base stations (103a-d) is handed off to a satellite based cellular system (1000) comprising a satellite network (100a, 1001b), a regional gateway (1007) and an interface gateway (1005). A call in progress by subscriber unit (101) over satellite based cellular system (1000) is also handed off to terrestrial based cellular system (100). A dual mode subscriber unit (400) provides switching functionality (409) to switch between transmit modes.