Wedge shaped cells in a wireless communication system

• US 10,257,717 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartsky Networks Llc
• Original Assignee: Smartsky Networks Llc
• Inventors: Hyslop, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US15/877,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20180160318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 455446, 370328, 370338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/30 Special cell shapes, e.g. doughnuts or ring cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/328 by altitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Aspects described herein relate to a network for providing air-to-ground wireless communication in various cells. The network includes a first base station array, each base station of which includes a respective first antenna array defining a directional radiation pattern that is oriented in a first direction, wherein each base station of the first base station array is disposed spaced apart from another base station of the first base station array along the first direction by a first distance. The network also includes a similar second base station array where the second base station array extends substantially parallel to the first base station array and is spaced apart from the first base station array by a second distance to form continuous and at least partially overlapping cell coverage areas between respective base stations of the first and second base station arrays.

Claims

1. A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, comprising:

a first base station including a first antenna array defining a first directional radiation pattern that is oriented toward a horizon; and

a second base station including second antenna array defining a second directional radiation pattern that at least partially overlaps with the first base station,

wherein the first base station employs unlicensed spectrum,

wherein the second base station employs licensed spectrum,

wherein the first and second base stations are each configured to wirelessly communicate with a radio disposed on an aircraft flying through respective cell coverage areas of the first and second base stations, and

wherein the first and second base stations are each configured to handover communication with the radio as the aircraft moves between the respective cell coverage areas of the first and second base stations.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first directional radiation pattern or the second direction radiation pattern defines a substantially wedge shaped radiation pattern.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein the first and second directional radiation patterns overlap each other to provide continuous coverage up to a predetermined altitude.

4. The network of claim 3, wherein coverage up to the predetermined altitude immediately above the first base station is provided by the second base station.

5. The network of claim 4, wherein the predetermined altitude is about 45,000 feet.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein one of the first antenna array or the second antenna array forms a semicircular radiation pattern.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array each form semicircular radiation patterns.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein the first antenna array and the second antenna array each include six sectors of about thirty degrees.

9. The network of claim 1, wherein each of the first directional radiation pattern and the second direction radiation pattern define a substantially wedge shaped radiation pattern.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein each of the first directional radiation pattern and the second direction radiation pattern form semicircular radiation patterns.

11. The network of claim 1, wherein the first directional radiation pattern is differently shaped than the second direction radiation pattern.

12. A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, comprising:

a first base station including a first antenna array defining a first directional radiation pattern that is oriented toward a horizon; and

a second base station including second antenna array defining a second directional radiation pattern that at least partially overlaps with the first base station,

wherein one of the first base station or the second base station employs unlicensed spectrum, and the other of the first base station and the second base station employs licensed spectrum,

wherein the first and second base stations are each configured to wirelessly communicate with a radio disposed on an aircraft flying through respective cell coverage areas of the first and second base stations, and

wherein the first and second base stations are each configured to handover communication with the radio as the aircraft moves between the respective cell coverage areas of the first and second base stations.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first directional radiation pattern or the second direction radiation pattern defines a substantially wedge shaped radiation pattern.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein the first and second directional radiation patterns overlap each other to provide continuous coverage up to a predetermined altitude.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein coverage up to the predetermined altitude immediately above the first base station is provided by the second base station.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein the predetermined altitude is about 45,000 feet.

17. The network of claim 12, wherein one of the first antenna array or the second antenna array forms a semicircular radiation pattern.

18. The network of claim 12, wherein each of the first directional radiation pattern and the second direction radiation pattern define a substantially wedge shaped radiation pattern.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein each of the first directional radiation pattern and the second direction radiation pattern form semicircular radiation patterns.

20. The network of claim 12, wherein the first directional radiation pattern is differently shaped than the second direction radiation pattern.