Multiple modem communication system and method for a mobile platform

• US 10,014,930 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogo Business Aviation LLC (GOGO Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gogo LLC (GOGO Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lauer, Bryan Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hom, Shick
• Application Number:
  US15/223,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18541 for handover of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/249 according to timing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A system, method, and device to enable communication between a first and second satellite station and a controller of a mobile platform. The controller includes a processor, a first modem facilitating communication with the first satellite station via a first frequency over a first communication link, and a map of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station. The controller utilizes the map of the one or more networks of satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communicating with the controller. A second modem is coupled to the controller and facilitates communication with the second satellite station via a second frequency over a second communication link, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a time to handoff communication with the mobile communicator from the first communication link to the second communication link.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between an end-user device positioned within a mobile platform and a pair of satellite stations included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the method comprising:

utilizing a first modem and establishing, via one or more processors, a first communication link between the end-user device and a first satellite station;

utilizing one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations and determining, via the one or more processors, a second satellite station for communication with the end-user device;

utilizing a second modem and establishing, via the one or more processors, a second communication link between the end-user device and the second satellite station;

calculating, via the one or more processors, a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link; and

,

initiating the communication handoff, via the one or more processors, based on the calculated time.

2. (The method of communicating of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating, via one or more processors, the first communication link;

coupling, via one or more processors, an antenna to the second communication link; and

positioning, via one or more processors, the antenna toward the second satellite station to improve communication over the second communication link.

3. The method of communicating of claim 1, wherein calculating a time to initiate communication handoff includes at least one of the following:

determining a distance from the mobile platform to the second satellite station;

evaluating signal strength received at the first modem, evaluating signal strength received at the second modem, comparing signal strength of the first and second communication links, and comparing distance between the mobile platform and the first satellite station to distance between the mobile platform and the second satellite station.

4. The method of communicating of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors, one or more communication indicators;

analyzing, via one or more processors, the one or more communication indicators, wherein calculating the time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link based on the analysis of the one or more communication indicators.

5. The method of communicating of claim 4, wherein the one or more communication indicator includes at least one of the following:

signal strength received at the first modem, signal strength received at the second modem, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first modem and the second modem, and a distance between the mobile platform and the first and/or second satellite.

6. The method of communicating of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second communication link includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

7. A controller for facilitating communication between an end-user device and a first and second satellite station included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the controller attached to a mobile platform and comprising:

a first modem communicating with the first satellite station via a first frequency over a first communication link;

one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station;

a processor coupled to the first modem, the processor utilizing the one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communication with the end-user device; and

a second modem coupled to the processor and communicating with the second satellite station via a second frequency over a second communication link, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the calculated time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link is based on analysis by the processor of a communication indicator.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following:

signal strength received at the first modem, signal strength received at the second modem, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first modem and the second modem, and a distance between the mobile platform and the first and/or second satellite.

10. The controller of claim 7, further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the first modem and positioned toward the first satellite station to facilitate communication with the first satellite station over the first frequency, wherein the processor is configured to position the antenna toward the second satellite station based on the calculated time to initiate communication handoff.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the antenna is enclosed within a radome affixed to or integral with the mobile platform.

12. The controller of claim 7, wherein the first frequency and/or second frequency includes at least a portion of a K_u-band, K_a-band, or L-band.

13. The controller of claim 7, wherein the first and/or second communication link includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

14. The controller of claim 7, wherein the mobile platform is an air-based transport, a land-based transport, or a sea-based transport.

15. The controller of claim 7, further comprising a replaceable line unit attached to the mobile platform, wherein at least a portion of the controller is housed within the replaceable line unit.

16. A mobile communicator enabling communication between an end-user device positioned on a mobile platform and a first and second satellite station included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the mobile communicator comprising:

a controller attached to the mobile platform, the controller including a processor, a first modem, a second modem, and a memory device operatively coupled together;

a wireless local area network (WLAN) coupled to the first modem and the second modem;

the first modem facilitating communication via a first communication link including the wireless local area network (WLAN) between the end-user device and the first satellite station;

one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station stored in the memory device, wherein the processor utilizes the one or more maps of the one or more satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communicating with the end-user device; and

the second modem facilitating communication via a second communication link including the wireless local area network (WLAN) and between the end-user device and the second satellite station, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

17. The mobile communicator of claim 16, wherein the calculated time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link is based on analysis by the processor of a communication indicator, wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following:

signal strength received at the first modem, signal strength received at the second modem, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first modem and the second modem, and a distance between the mobile communicator and the first and/or second satellite.

18. The mobile communicator of claim 16, further comprising:

an antenna capable of being coupled to the first modem or the second modem, wherein the controller positions the antenna for communication with the second satellite station based on the calculated time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

19. The mobile communicator of claim 16, further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the first modem, wherein the controller is configured to decouple the antenna from the first modem and couple the antenna to the second modem based on the calculated time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

20. The mobile communicator of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to support bi-directional communication to and from the end-user wireless device.