Coordinated satellite-terrestrial frequency reuse

Abstract

A system and method of operation for efficiently reusing and/or sharing at least a portion of the frequency spectrum between a first satellite spot beam and a second satellite spot beam, and/or an underlay terrestrial network associated with a second satellite spot beam. The spectrum is efficiently reused and/or shared between respective spot beams and/or associated underlay terrestrial systems in a manner minimizes interference between the respective satellite and terrestrial systems.

1 - 154 . (canceled)  
     
     
         155 . A wireless communications system comprising: 
 a space-based system configured to conduct traffic channel communications with radioterminals in a first service region using a set of satellite frequencies; and    a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region adjacent and/or overlapping the first service region and to limit use of the set of satellite frequencies for radioterminal traffic channel communications to a subset of the set of satellite frequencies.    
     
     
         156 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 155 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises frequencies in a band of satellite frequencies, and wherein the subset of the set of satellite frequencies comprises a sub-band of the band of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         157 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 155 , wherein the ground-based system is further configured to conduct traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using frequencies outside of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         158 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 155 , wherein the space-based system and/or the ground-based system selectively reuse frequencies of the set of satellite frequencies on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         159 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 155 , wherein the space-based system is configured to preferentially conduct traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using the set of satellite frequencies used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         160 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 155 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises a first subset, and further comprising a controller configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to a second subset of the set satellite frequencies that is not used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         161 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 160 , wherein the controller is configured to preferentially assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         162 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 160 , wherein the controller is configured to transition traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a radioterminal with the space-based system between the first and second subsets of the set of satellite frequencies responsive to a measure of interference.  
     
     
         163 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 160 , wherein the controller is configured to limit traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a single-mode radioterminal to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies when the single-mode radioterminal is positioned in a cell of the ground-based system.  
     
     
         164 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 160 , wherein the controller resides at the ground-based system, at the space-based system and/or at a radioterminal.  
     
     
         165 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 160 , wherein the controller is configured to preferentially assign a radioterminal to the ground-based system or to the space-based system.  
     
     
         166 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 160 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications to the space-based system or the ground-based system responsive to an input to the ground-based system, space-based system, radioterminal and/or to a location of a radioterminal.  
     
     
         167 . A wireless communications system comprising: 
 a space-based system configured to communicate with at least one first and/or second radioterminal using frequencies of a first and/or second portion of a satellite frequency band; and    a ground-based system configured to communicate with the at least one second radioterminal using frequencies of the second portion of the satellite frequency band,    wherein the first and second portions of the satellite frequency band do not overlap.    
     
     
         168 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 167  wherein the space-based system and/or the ground-based system selectively reuse frequencies of the satellite frequency band on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         169 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 167  wherein the space-based system is configured to preferentially communicate with a radioterminal using frequencies of the first and/or second portion of the satellite frequency band.  
     
     
         170 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 167  further comprising a controller that preferentially assigns radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system to the first and second portions of the satellite frequency band, respectively, or that preferentially assigns radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system to the second portion of the satellite frequency band.  
     
     
         171 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 170  wherein the controller resides at least in part in the space-based system, a radioterminal and/or the ground-based system.  
     
     
         172 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 170  wherein the controller preferentially establishes communications between a radioterminal and the ground-based system.  
     
     
         173 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 170  wherein the controller preferentially establishes communications between a radioterminal and the space-based system.  
     
     
         174 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 170  wherein the controller is responsive to an input of a user of a radioterminal, an input of an operator of the space-based and/or ground-based system, a location of the radioterminal, a signal received by the radioterminal and/or a signal received by the space-based and/or ground-based system.  
     
     
         175 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 167  wherein the space-based system is configured to preferentially communicate with a radioterminal using frequencies of the second portion of the satellite frequency band.  
     
     
         176 . A ground-based system for providing radioterminal communications in conjunction with a space-based system that is configured to conduct traffic channel communications with radioterminals in a first service region using a set of satellite frequencies, the ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region adjacent and/or overlapping the first service region and to limit use of the set of satellite frequencies for radioterminal traffic channel communications to a subset of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         177 . A ground-based system according to  claim 176 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises frequencies in a band of satellite frequencies, and wherein the subset of the set of satellite frequencies comprises a sub-band of the band of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         178 . A ground-based system according to  claim 176 , further configured to conduct traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using frequencies outside of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         179 . A ground-based system according to  claim 176 , configured to selectively reuse frequencies of the set of satellite frequencies on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         180 . A space-based system configured to provide radioterminal traffic channel communications in a first service region using a set of satellite frequencies in conjunction with a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region adjacent and/or overlapping the first service region, wherein the ground-based system is limited to use of a subset of the set of satellite frequencies for radioterminal traffic channel communications.  
     
     
         181 . A space-based system according to  claim 180 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises frequencies in a band of satellite frequencies, and wherein the subset of the set of satellite frequencies comprises a sub-band of the band of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         182 . A spaced-based system according to  claim 180 , wherein the space-based system selectively reuses frequencies of the set of satellite frequencies on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         183 . A space-based system according to  claim 180 , configured to preferentially conduct traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using the set of satellite frequencies used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         184 . A space-based system according to  claim 180 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises a first subset, and further comprising a controller configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to a second subset of the set satellite frequencies that is not used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         185 . A space-based system according to  claim 184 , wherein the controller is configured to preferentially assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         186 . A space-based system according to  claim 184 , wherein the controller is configured to transition traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a radioterminal with the space-based system between the first and second subsets of the set of satellite frequencies responsive to a measure of interference.  
     
     
         187 . A spaced-based system according to  claim 184 , wherein the controller is configured to limit traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a single-mode radioterminal with the space-based system to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies when the single-mode radioterminal is positioned in a cell of the ground-based system.  
     
     
         188 . A space-based system according to  claim 184 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system responsive to an input to the ground-based system and/or the space-based system, an input to a radioterminal, and/or a location of the radioterminal.  
     
     
         189 . A space-based system configured to communicate with at least one first and/or second radioterminal using frequencies of a first and/or second portion of a satellite frequency band in conjunction with a ground-based system that communicates with the at least one second radioterminal using frequencies of the second portion of the satellite frequency band, wherein the first and second portions of the satellite frequency band do not overlap.  
     
     
         190 . A space-based system according to  claim 189 , configured to selectively reuse frequencies of the satellite frequency band on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         191 . A space-based system according to  claim 189 , further comprising a controller that preferentially assigns radioterminal communications of the space-based system to the first and/or second portion of the satellite frequency band.  
     
     
         192 . A space-based system according to  claim 191  wherein the controller is responsive to an input of a user of a radioterminal, an input of an operator of the space-based and/or ground-based system, a location of the radioterminal, a signal received by the radioterminal and/or a signal received by the space-based and/or ground-based system.  
     
     
         193 . A ground-based system for communicating with radioterminals in conjunction with a space-based system that is configured to communicate with at least one first and/or at least one second radioterminal using frequencies of a first and/or second portion of a satellite frequency band, the ground-based system configured to communicate with the at least one second radioterminal using frequencies of the second portion of the satellite frequency band, wherein the first and second portions of the satellite frequency band do not overlap.  
     
     
         194 . A ground-based system according to  claim 193  wherein the ground-based system selectively reuses frequencies of the satellite frequency band on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         195 . A ground-based system according to  claim 193 , further comprising a controller that preferentially establishes communications between a radioterminal and the ground-based system.  
     
     
         196 . A ground-based system according to  claim 195  wherein the controller is responsive to an input of a user of a radioterminal, an input of an operator of the space-based and/or ground-based system, a location of the radioterminal, a signal received by the radioterminal and/or a signal received by the space-based and/or ground-based system.  
     
     
         197 . A wireless communications method comprising: 
 conducting traffic channel communications between a space-based system and radioterminals in a first service region using a set of satellite frequencies; and    conducting traffic channel communications between a ground-based system and radioterminals in a second service region adjacent and/or overlapping the first service region, including limiting traffic channel communications between the ground-based system and radioterminals in the second service region to a subset of the set of satellite frequencies.    
     
     
         198 . A method according to  claim 197 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises frequencies in a band of satellite frequencies, and wherein the subset of the set of satellite frequencies comprises a sub-band of the band of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         199 . A method according to  claim 197 , further comprising conducting traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications between the ground-based system and radioterminals using frequencies outside of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         200 . A method according to  claim 197 , further comprising selectively reusing frequencies of the set of satellite frequencies on a geographic basis in the space-based system and/or the ground-based system.  
     
     
         201 . A method according to  claim 197 , further comprising preferentially conducting traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications between the space-based system and radioterminals using the subset of satellite frequencies used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         202 . A method according to  claim 197 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises a first subset, and further comprising selectively assigning radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to a second subset of the set satellite frequencies that is not used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         203 . A method according to  claim 202 , wherein selectively assigning radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to a second subset of the set satellite frequencies that is not used by the ground-based system comprises preferentially assigning radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         204 . A method according to  claim 202 , further comprising transitioning traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a radioterminal with the space-based system between the first and second subsets of the set of satellite frequencies responsive to a measure of interference.  
     
     
         205 . A method according to  claim 202 , further comprising limiting traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a single-mode radioterminal to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies when the single-mode radioterminal is positioned in a cell of the ground-based system.  
     
     
         206 . A method according to  claim 202 , further comprising preferentially assigning a radioterminal to the ground-based system or to the space-based system.  
     
     
         207 . A method according to  claim 202 , wherein selectively assigning radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to a second subset of the set of satellite frequencies that is not used by the ground-based system comprises selectively assigning radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system responsive to an input to the ground-based system and/or the space-based system, an input to a radioterminal, and/or a location of a radioterminal.  
     
     
         208 . A wireless communications method comprising: 
 communicating between a space-based system and at least one first and/or at least one second radioterminal using frequencies of a first and/or second portion of a satellite frequency band; and    communicating between a ground-based system and the at least one second radioterminal using frequencies of the second portion of the satellite frequency band,    wherein the first and second portions of the satellite frequency band do not overlap.    
     
     
         209 . A method according to  claim 208 , further comprising selectively reusing frequencies of the satellite frequency band on a geographic basis in the space-based system and/or the ground-based system.  
     
     
         210 . A method according to  claim 208 , further comprising preferentially communicating between the space-based system and a radioterminal using frequencies of the first and/or second portion of the satellite frequency band.  
     
     
         211 . A method according to  claim 208 , further comprising preferentially assigning radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system to the first and second portions of the satellite frequency band, respectively, or preferentially assigning radioterminal communications of the space-based system and the ground-based system to the second portion of the satellite frequency band.  
     
     
         212 . A method according to  claim 208 , further comprising preferentially communicating between the space-based system and a radioterminal using frequencies of the second portion of the satellite frequency band.  
     
     
         213 . A method according to  claim 208 , further comprising preferentially establishing communications between a radioterminal and the ground-based system.  
     
     
         214 . A method according to  claim 208 , further comprising preferentially establishing communications between a radioterminal and the space-based system.  
     
     
         215 . A method according to  claim 208 , further comprising assigning radioterminal communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system responsive to an input of a user of a radioterminal, an input of an operator of the space-based and/or ground-based system, a location of the radioterminal, a signal received by the radioterminal and/or a signal received by the space-based and/or ground-based system.  
     
     
         216 . A wireless communications system comprising: 
 a space-based system configured to conduct control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals in a first service region using a set of satellite frequencies; and    a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region adjacent and/or overlapping the first service region and to limit use of the set of satellite frequencies for radioterminal control channel and/or signaling communications to a subset of the set of satellite frequencies.    
     
     
         217 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 216 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises frequencies in a band of satellite frequencies, and wherein the subset of the set of satellite frequencies comprises a sub-band of the band of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         218 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 216 , wherein the ground-based system is further configured to conduct control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using frequencies outside of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         219 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 216 , wherein the space-based system and/or the ground-based system selectively reuse frequencies of the set of satellite frequencies on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         220 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 216 , wherein the space-based system is configured to preferentially conduct traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using the set of satellite frequencies used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         221 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 216 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises a first subset, and further comprising a controller configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to a second subset of the set satellite frequencies that is not used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         222 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 221 , wherein the controller is configured to preferentially assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         223 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 221 , wherein the controller is configured to transition traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a radioterminal with the space-based system between the first and second subsets of the set of satellite frequencies responsive to a measure of interference.  
     
     
         224 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 221 , wherein the controller is configured to limit traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a single-mode radioterminal to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies when the single-mode radioterminal is positioned in a cell of the ground-based system.  
     
     
         225 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 221 , wherein the controller resides at the ground-based system, at the space-based system and/or at a radioterminal.  
     
     
         226 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 221 , wherein the controller is configured to preferentially assign a radioterminal to the ground-based system or to the space-based system.  
     
     
         227 . A wireless communications system according to  claim 221 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications to the space-based system or the ground-based system responsive to an input to the ground-based system, space-based system, radioterminal and/or to a location of a radioterminal.  
     
     
         228 . A ground-based system for providing radioterminal communications in conjunction with a space-based system that is configured to conduct control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals in a first service region using a set of satellite frequencies, the ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region adjacent and/or overlapping the first service region and to limit use of the set of satellite frequencies for radioterminal control channel and/or signaling communications to a subset of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         229 . A ground-based system according to  claim 228 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises frequencies in a band of satellite frequencies, and wherein the subset of the set of satellite frequencies comprises a sub-band of the band of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         230 . A ground-based system according to  claim 228 , further configured to conduct traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using frequencies outside of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         231 . A ground-based system according to  claim 228 , configured to selectively reuse frequencies of the set of satellite frequencies on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         232 . A space-based system configured to provide radioterminal control channel and/or signaling communications in a first service region using a set of satellite frequencies in conjunction with a ground-based system configured to communicate with radioterminals in a second service region adjacent and/or overlapping the first service region, wherein the ground-based system is limited to use of a subset of the set of satellite frequencies for radioterminal control channel and/or signaling communications.  
     
     
         233 . A space-based system according to  claim 232 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises frequencies in a band of satellite frequencies, and wherein the subset of the set of satellite frequencies comprises a sub-band of the band of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         234 . A spaced-based system according to  claim 232 , wherein the space-based system selectively reuses frequencies of the set of satellite frequencies on a geographic basis.  
     
     
         235 . A space-based system according to  claim 232 , configured to preferentially conduct traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications with radioterminals using the set of satellite frequencies used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         236 . A space-based system according to  claim 232 , wherein the set of satellite frequencies comprises a first subset, and further comprising a controller configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to a second subset of the set satellite frequencies that is not used by the ground-based system.  
     
     
         237 . A space-based system according to  claim 236 , wherein the controller is configured to preferentially assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system to the first subset of the set of satellite frequencies and/or to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies.  
     
     
         238 . A space-based system according to  claim 236 , wherein the controller is configured to transition traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a radioterminal with the space-based system between the first and second subsets of the set of satellite frequencies responsive to a measure of interference.  
     
     
         239 . A spaced-based system according to  claim 236 , wherein the controller is configured to limit traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of a single-mode radioterminal with the space-based system to the second subset of the set of satellite frequencies when the single-mode radioterminal is positioned in a cell of the ground-based system.  
     
     
         240 . A space-based system according to  claim 236 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively assign radioterminal traffic channel, control channel and/or signaling communications of the space-based system and/or the ground-based system responsive to an input to the ground-based system and/or the space-based system, an input to a radioterminal, and/or a location of the radioterminal.