Summary of the AMSC mobile telephone system

Abstract

This paper provides a summary of American Mobile Satellite Corporation's (AMSC) advanced mobile satellite based communications service for North America. This system will provide voice, data, and facsimile communications to or between land mobile, maritime, airborne, or fixed location (transportable) users. The system operation is facilitated by a new high-power geostationary satellite. Commercial service is scheduled to begin in 1994. The system logical architecture is described. The architecture includes the functional elements of the satellite and the ground network consisting of: the Network Management System (NMS), the Network Operations Center (NOC), the Network Communications Controller (NCC), The Feederlink Earth Station (FES), the Mobile Terminal (MT), and an optional Data Hub (DH). Special features of the system are described including: the voice calling features; interoperability with the public, private, and cellular telephone networks; and system performance and capacity. The system design architecture is described showing the implementation of the Communications Ground Segment (CGS) and the interfaces to external organizations including: the similar Canadian system of TMI Communications (TMI), the Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Service (AMS(R)S), and connectivity with public and private terrestrial networks. lnteroperability with the cellular telephone networks within the U. S. is discussed, and includes implementation of: extended call delivery, roaming call origination, and cellular to satellite live call handoff.