Active user management for the combined satellite and terrestrial cellular components of the UMTS

Some guidelines are given for the active user management procedures of an integrated mobile communication system endowed with both terrestrial and satellite environments. The communication system is based on the evolution of GSM and on a LEO or MEO satellite constellation, without intersatellite links. On the basis of the selected dynamic constellations, particular attention is devoted to the location monitoring strategy and the definition of the area served by a fixed earth station. Simulation results are reported to allow the evaluation of the impact of such a location management strategy on the satellite network design. Furthermore, some aspects of the inter-environment handover are analysed.