METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A NETWORK FOR POWER BEAM TRANSMISSION
First Claim
1. A power beam transmission system comprising:
- a plurality of source nodes, each source node of the plurality of source nodes being configured to generate a power beam usable by at least one user node;
a control system to control operation of the plurality of source nodes;
at least one user node; and
a communication system for transmitting signals between the plurality of source nodes and the at least one user node;
the at least one user node being configured to transmit user node messages via the communication system to at least one source node, the user node messages including one or more of a set of operative parameters;
a power beam service request; and
at least one acceptance message in response to at least one offer from one of the plurality of source nodes;
each source node of the plurality of source nodes being configured upon receipt of a user node message to transmit an offer to provide power beam service in response to the power beam service request, wherein the offer to power beam service commits the source node to provide a power beam service corresponding to the set of operative parameters of the at least one user node and to deliver a power beam to the user node in response to receiving the at least one acceptance message from the user node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing power beams via a network of source nodes. Source nodes are configured to receive requests for power beam service from airborne user nodes such as aircraft equipped with photovoltaic receivers. User nodes are configured to communicate a set of parameters, such as location, mobility, field of regard, one or more beam wavelengths compatible with the receiver, the beam wavelength further described with a maximum sustained power, duty cycle and pulse repetition rate. Source nodes publish parameters to a network control system. Source nodes publish their location, velocity vector, orientation, available beam capacity, and a schedule of user nodes currently receiving service from the node. Source nodes selectively receive requests from user nodes, and respond to the requests to satisfy the user node parameters. Relays may be used to avoid obstructions, and deconflicting sensors and obstruction sensors may be used detect unauthorized or unusable beam paths.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A power beam transmission system comprising:
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a plurality of source nodes, each source node of the plurality of source nodes being configured to generate a power beam usable by at least one user node;
a control system to control operation of the plurality of source nodes;
at least one user node; and
a communication system for transmitting signals between the plurality of source nodes and the at least one user node;the at least one user node being configured to transmit user node messages via the communication system to at least one source node, the user node messages including one or more of a set of operative parameters;
a power beam service request; and
at least one acceptance message in response to at least one offer from one of the plurality of source nodes;each source node of the plurality of source nodes being configured upon receipt of a user node message to transmit an offer to provide power beam service in response to the power beam service request, wherein the offer to power beam service commits the source node to provide a power beam service corresponding to the set of operative parameters of the at least one user node and to deliver a power beam to the user node in response to receiving the at least one acceptance message from the user node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A user node for receiving at least one transmission of a power beam from a network of power beam source nodes comprising an airborne vehicle, the airborne vehicle configured to communicate via a communication system a set of operative parameters;
- broadcast a request for power service to at least one source node of a plurality of source nodes in the network; and
communicate at least one acceptance message in response to at least one offer from one of the plurality of source node. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
- broadcast a request for power service to at least one source node of a plurality of source nodes in the network; and
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24. A method of controlling power transmission of power beams from a plurality of power beam source nodes to at least one user node, the method comprising:
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providing a control system for configuring the plurality of source nodes and the at least one user nodes, and a communication system for transmitting signals between the plurality of source nodes and the at least one user node, wherein each user node is configured to communicate via the communication system a set of parameters; broadcasting a request for power service from the at least one user node to at least one source node of the plurality of source nodes; determining a set of operative parameters of the requesting user node in response to a need for power; transmitting at least one offer to provide power service from at least one source node of the plurality of source nodes in response to the broadcast request for power service, wherein the offer commits the at least one source node to provide a power beam service corresponding to the set of operative parameters of the requesting user node; communicating from the requesting user node at least one acceptance message in response to the at least one offer; and delivering a power beam of the at least one source node in response to the at least one acceptance message. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 31)
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- 29. The method of claim 29, wherein the user node comprises an airborne vehicle.
Specification