Free space laser and millimetre wave(MMW) network for airborne relay networks
First Claim
1. An aircraft system comprising:
- a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals in a first millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band via a first antenna;
a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals in a second mmW frequency band via a second antenna;
a processing unit coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver;
wherein the processing unit is configured to provide data signals to the first and the second transceivers for transmission and to receive demodulated signals from the first and second transceivers;
wherein the processing unit is further configured to output signals to alter orientation of the first antenna through which to establish a first point-to-point connection with a first aircraft and to output signals to alter orientation of the second antenna through which to establish a second point-to-point connection with a second aircraft;
the first point-to-point connection and the second point-to-point connection forming part of a point-to-point aircraft relay ring network communicatively coupling a plurality of aircraft in a shared flight route area to each other; and
wherein the processing unit is further configured to compare characteristics of signals, received from the second aircraft via the second transceiver, with a model relating signal characteristics to weather to determine weather conditions of an area through which the received signals passed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft system comprises a first and second transceiver each configured to transmit and receive radio signals in respective first millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band and second mmW frequency band; and a processing unit configured to provide the data signals to the first and second transceivers for transmission and to receive demodulated signals from the first and second transceivers. The processing unit is further configured to output signals to alter the orientation of the first antenna to establish a first point-to-point connection with a first aircraft and to output signals to alter the orientation of the second antenna to establish a second point-to-point connection with a second aircraft; the first point-to-point connection and the second point-to-point connection forming part of a point-to-point aircraft relay ring network communicatively coupling a plurality of aircraft in a shared flight route area to each other.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aircraft system comprising:
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a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals in a first millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band via a first antenna; a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals in a second mmW frequency band via a second antenna; a processing unit coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver; wherein the processing unit is configured to provide data signals to the first and the second transceivers for transmission and to receive demodulated signals from the first and second transceivers; wherein the processing unit is further configured to output signals to alter orientation of the first antenna through which to establish a first point-to-point connection with a first aircraft and to output signals to alter orientation of the second antenna through which to establish a second point-to-point connection with a second aircraft;
the first point-to-point connection and the second point-to-point connection forming part of a point-to-point aircraft relay ring network communicatively coupling a plurality of aircraft in a shared flight route area to each other; andwherein the processing unit is further configured to compare characteristics of signals, received from the second aircraft via the second transceiver, with a model relating signal characteristics to weather to determine weather conditions of an area through which the received signals passed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A point-to-point aircraft relay ring network comprising:
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a plurality of aircraft flying in a flight route area; one or more ground stations communicatively coupled to one or more of the plurality of aircraft; wherein each of the plurality of aircraft includes an aircraft system comprising; a receive antenna configured to receive radio signals in a first millimeter wave (mmW) frequency band; a receiver configured to demodulate the radio signals received via the receive antenna; a transmit antenna configured to direct radiated radio signals in a second mmW frequency band; a transmitter configured to modulate data signals for transmission via the transmit antenna; a processing unit coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; wherein the processing unit is configured to provide the data signals to the transmitter for transmission via the transmit antenna and to receive demodulated signals from the receiver; wherein the processing unit is further configured to output signals to alter orientation of the transmit antenna through which to establish a first point-to-point connection with a respective first aircraft from the plurality of aircraft in the flight route area; wherein the processing unit is further configured to output signals to alter orientation of the receive antenna through which to establish a second point-to-point connection with a respective second aircraft from the plurality of aircraft in the flight route area; wherein the first point-to-point connection and the second point-to-point connection form part of the point-to-point aircraft relay ring network communicatively coupling the plurality of aircraft together; and wherein the processing unit is further configured to compare characteristics of signals, received from the second aircraft via the second transceiver, with a model relating signal characteristics to weather to determine weather conditions of an area through which the received signals passed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of communicating data through an aircraft relay network, the method comprising:
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generating output signals configured to alter orientation of a transmit antenna through which to establish a first mmW point-to-point connection with a second aircraft, and configured to alter orientation of a receive antenna through which to establish a second point-to-point connection with a third aircraft; orienting the transmit antenna on a first aircraft through which to establish the first millimeter wave (mmW) point-to-point connection with the second aircraft; orienting the receive antenna on the first aircraft through which to establish the second mmW point-to-point connection with the third aircraft, the first mmW point-to-point connection and the second mmW point-to-point connection forming part of a point-to-point aircraft relay ring network communicatively coupling a plurality of aircraft together; demodulating data received over the second mmW point-to-point connection; modulating data for transmission over the first mmW point-to-point connection; and comparing characteristics of signals, received from the third aircraft over the second mmW point-to-point connection, with a model relating signal characteristics to weather to determine weather conditions of an area through which the received signals passed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An aircraft system comprising:
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a first free space optical (FSO) transceiver configured to transmit and receive a first set of optical signals through free space and convert the first set of optical signals to a first set of electrical signals; second FSO transceiver configured to transmit and receive a second set of optical signals through the free space and convert the second set of optical signals to a second set of electrical signals; a processing unit coupled to the first FSO transceiver and the second FSO transceiver; wherein the processing unit is configured to provide data signals to the first and the second FSO transceivers for transmission and to receive the electrical signals from the first and second FSO transceivers; wherein the processing unit is further configured to output signals to alter orientation of at least one of the first and the second FSO transceivers or at least one of their respective lenses in order to establish a point-to-point laser connection between one of the first and second FSO transceivers, and another FSO transceiver located on an aircraft forming part of a point-to-point aircraft relay ring network communicatively coupling a plurality of aircraft in a shared flight route area to each other; and wherein the processing unit is further configured to compare characteristics of signals, received from the aircraft via the first FSO transceiver, with a model relating signal characteristics to weather to determine weather conditions of an area through which the received signals passed. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification