Intellectual Property Analysis of Iridium Satellite Communication Patents

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This week’s Patently Obvious report focuses on U.S. Patents 5,604,920 and 5,410,728, two key patents in the technology behind the Iridium NEXT constellation of satellites. On June 22, 2010, Thales Alenia Space announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire a significant patent portfolio from Intellectual Ventures related to the Iridium satellite communication systems, the terms of which were undisclosed.

This report focuses on patents of interest which predate and are concurrent to the Iridium patents, including public-domain alternatives.

The patents discussed in this report describe a satellite cellular telephone and data communication system.