[09-21-07 – Satellite Today]  Mobile Satellite Ventures LP (MSV) has been awarded two Canadian patents and two Australian patents that enable user devices to switch from satellite to terrestrial component in order to avoid dropping calls, the company announced Sept. 20.

The patents also cover spectrum reuse techniques that maximize system capacity and reduce costs.

"The patents disclose novel techniques of executing handoffs in a hybrid MSS/ATC system where frequencies authorized for satellite communications are also used or reused to provide ATC communications," Peter Karabinis, MSV’s senior vice president and CTO and the co-inventor of the technology, said in a statement.