Fixed wireless back haul for mobile communications using stratospheric platforms

• US 20050032545A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Donald C. D., Chang, Ming U., Feria, Ying, Rosen, Harold
• Application Number:
  US10/931,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform

Abstract

A method and system for communicating includes a plurality of cells having base units therein. Each of the base units communicates with a plurality of users within the cells. A communications platform is located in a stratospheric location for transmitting and receiving information with respect to the base units. A gateway station communicates with the communications platform and routes signals to terrestrial networks or other user back through the communications platform. A microcell within at least one of the cells is used to provide coverage in a small geographic area such as within a building. Each of the microcells is also in communication with the gateway station through the platform.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of cells having a base unit therein, each base unit directly communicating with a plurality of users wirelessly;

a communications platform located in a stratospheric location for directly transmitting information signals to and directly receiving information signals from said base unit wirelessly; and

a gateway station directly communicating with the communications platform for wirelessly coupling of the user terminal with a terrestrial-based network through the communications platform and the base unit.

2. A communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein said users are mobile users.

3. A communications system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a microcell within one of the plurality of cells.

4. A communications system as recited in claim 3 wherein the microcell is formed within a building.

7. A communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein the communications platform is substantially stationary in the stratospheric location.

8. A communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system comprises a plurality of communications platforms.

5-6. -6. (Cancelled)

9. A method of operating a communications system comprises the steps of:

wirelessly sending a first signal from a user terminal directly to a base unit;

wirelessly sending the first signal from the base unit directly to a stratosphere-based platform; and

transmitting the first signal directly from the stratosphere-based platform to a gateway station.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of transmitting the first signal from the gateway station to a terrestrial-based network.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of transmitting the first signal from the gateway station to the stratosphere-based platform.

12. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of sending a first signal comprises the step of sending a first signal from the user terminal to a microcell base unit.

13-19. -19. (Cancelled)

20. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of cells;

a plurality of base units, each of said plurality of base units directly communicating with a plurality of user terminals wirelessly;

a communications platform located in a stratospheric location for directly transmitting information signals wirelessly to and directly receiving information signals wirelessly from said plurality of base units; and

a gateway station directly communicating with the communications platform for wirelessly coupling a first user terminal of said plurality of user terminals with a terrestrial-based network or a second user terminal of said plurality of user terminals through the communications platform and a respective base unit of said plurality of base units.

21. A communications system as recited in claim 20 wherein said plurality of base units is less than said plurality of cells.