Radio communication network and method for unobstrusive call interception via data duplication

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
2 shows a schematic representation of digital, cellular communication network 30.
In the preferred embodiment, network 30 includes satellites (SVs) 32, gateways 34, and subscriber units (SUs) 36.
Satellites 32 are located in outer space while gateways 34 and subscriber units 36 reside on or near the surface 38 of the earth.
Each satellite 32 has its own coverage area which extends over only a fraction of earth's surface 38.
This coverage area is approximately the region of surface 38 that is within a line-of-sight view of satellite 32 at any given instant.
Satellites 32 are or may be in radio communication with other satellites 32 that are in-view over RF communication trunks 40, with in-view gateways 34 over RF communication trunks 42, and in-view subscriber units 36 over radio links 44.
As presently preferred, sixty-six satellites 32 are arranged in a constellation of eleven, low earth, polar orbits, but this is not a requirement.
FIG.
2 shows only two of these satellites 32 for convenience.
Antennas (not shown) on satellites 32 form patterns projected toward the earth that define cells (not shown) through which cellular communication services are offered to subscriber units 36.
Cellular communication services are provided through subscriber units 36 from any point on the earth covered by a cell, and a blanket of cells desirably covers substantially the entire earth.
Network 30 may include any number of subscriber units 36.
Likewise, network 30 may include any number of gateways 34.
However, network 30 may desirably deploy gateways 34 in accordance with geopolitical jurisdictions and include many fewer gateways 34 than subscriber units 36.
Gateways 34 couple network 30 with local public switched telecommunication networks 46 and the multitude of telephonic devices 48 that couple thereto.
In addition, gateways 34 hold and employ a large portion of the intelligence required to operate network 30.
Satellites 32 and gateways 34 represent network nodes which are switching centers for network 30