Positioning assisted inter-segment handover for integrated GSM-satellite mobile system

This paper considers the user terminal (UT) mobility management aspect in an integrated GSM-satellite mobile communication system. A positioning assisted inter-segment handover scenario has been proposed and related performances are evaluated. The system investigated is a GSM cellular network integrated with a non-GEO satellite network based on intermediate circular orbit (ICO). UT position is calculated during a call by making use of the dynamic feature of the satellite constellation. Related parameter are rate of delay change and Doppler shift. The main impacts on positioning accuracy are analysed under various conditions.