Broadband wireless communication system for in-flight aircraft

• US 20070042773A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wi-Sky Networks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wi-Sky Networks, LLC
• Inventors: Alcorn, Donald
• Application Number:
  US11/206,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20070042773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A broadband wireless communication system for in-flight aircraft has been developed. The system includes multiple ground transmission stations that are located along a predefined air corridor within overlapping communications range and a receiver station located on board the in-flight aircraft. The ground transmission stations provide a broadband wireless communications link according to IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard also called “WiMax”.

Claims

1. A system of providing high speed data communications to an in-flight aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of ground transmission stations that are located along a predefined air corridor within overlapping communications range; and

a receiver station located on board the in-flight aircraft, where the plurality of ground transmission stations provide a high speed data communications link with the receiver station according to IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard.

2. The system of claim 1, where the receiver station is operated by an end user.

3. The system of claim 1, where the receiver station is operated by the aircraft.

4. The system of claim 3, where the aircraft provides an end user with access to the high speed data communications link through a network within the aircraft.

5. The system of claim 4, where the network is an LAN.

6. The system of claim 1, where the high speed data communications link comprises internet access.

7. The system of claim 1, where the high speed data communications link comprises streaming video access.

8. The system of claim 1, where the high speed data communications link comprises voice-over IP access.

9. The system of claim 1, where the high speed data communications link comprises access to data about the aircraft.

10. The system of claim 1, where the IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard operates at a frequency between 10 GHz and 66 GHz.

11. The system of claim 1, where the IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard operates at a frequency below 11 GHz.

12. The system of claim 1, where the high speed data communications link transfers data at a rate up to 75 Mbps.

13. A system of providing high speed data communications to an in-flight aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of ground transmission stations that are located along a predefined air corridor within overlapping communications range; and

a receiver station operated by an individual passenger on board the in-flight aircraft, where the plurality of ground transmission stations provide internet access to the passenger according to IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard at a frequency between 10 GHz and 66 GHz.

14. A method for providing high speed data communications to an in-flight aircraft, comprising:

providing a plurality of ground transmission stations that are located along a predefined air corridor within overlapping communications range; and

linking the plurality of ground transmission stations to a receiver station on board an in-flight aircraft to provide a high speed data communications link according to IEEE 802.16 Air Interface Standard.

15. The method of claim 14, where the receiver station is operated by an individual user on board the in-flight aircraft.

16. The method of claim 14, where the receiver station is operated by the aircraft.

17. The method of claim 16, where the aircraft provides an end user with access to the high speed data communications link through a network within the aircraft.