Data transmission method and apparatus using networked receivers having spatial diversity

• US 20070274410A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Gardner, Steven H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/267
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity

Abstract

A data transmission method and apparatus are disclosed using receivers having spatial diversity, with the receivers communicating with a common client via network communication. Improved systems and methods for data transmission according to the disclosed method and apparatus include at least: a transmission source for transmitting a data signal; a first receiver for receiving the data signal; a second receiver for receiving the data signal, wherein the second receiver is spaced apart from the first receiver thereby providing spatial diversity; and a communication network for facilitating communication between a client and at least the first receiver and the second receiver, as needed, wherein the client is capable of analyzing individual data signals received by the first and second receivers and forming a composite signal of a higher quality than the quality of the individual data signals.

Claims

1. A system for transmission of data, the system comprising:

a transmission source for transmitting a data signal;

a first receiver for receiving the transmitted data signal;

a second receiver for receiving the transmitted data signal, wherein the second receiver is positioned a physical distance apart from the first receiver thereby providing spatial diversity;

a client for analyzing individual data signals received by the first receiver and the second receiver, wherein the client forms a composite signal of higher quality than quality of the individual data signals received by the first and second receivers; and

a communication network for facilitating communication between the client and the first and second receivers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission source comprises an aerial-based source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission source comprises a moving airborne object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission source comprises an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted data signal comprises data associated with imagery information.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the imagery information comprises a video image.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the imagery information comprises a still image.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitted data signal comprises compressed video transmission.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is positioned at least one-hundred meters apart from the first receiver.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is positioned at least one kilometer apart from the first receiver.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is positioned at least one-hundred kilometers apart from the first receiver.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises more than two receivers for receiving the transmitted data signal, and wherein the more than two receivers are positioned a physical distance apart from one another thereby providing spatial diversity.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network communicates utilizing Internet Protocol (IP) communication protocols.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the individual data signals received by the first and second receivers comprise multiple data components.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each data component comprises a quality indicator and a sequence identifier.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the quality indicator is determined using at least one error-detecting code or signal-to-noise ratio estimates.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the composite signal comprises sequential data components contained from the first and second receivers, and wherein the sequential data components comprise those respective data components received from each of the receivers and having highest comparative quality indicators.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the composite signal comprises error-free sequential data components obtained from the first and second receivers.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first receiver and the client are integrated into one physical component.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first receiver and the second receiver each communicate with the client via the communication network.

21. A method of transmitting data, the method comprising:

transmitting a data signal from a transmission source to at least two receivers, wherein the at least one receiver is spaced apart from the at least one other receiver thereby providing spatial diversity, and wherein the data signal is formed from sequential data components;

associating a quality indicator with each sequential data component forming the data signal received by each receiver;

communicating the data components and associated quality indicators from the receivers to a client, as needed, using a communication network;

comparing the quality indicators associated with each sequential data component using the client;

discarding data components from the receivers other than a data component having a highest quality indicator; and

forming a composite signal from the sequential data components having the highest quality indicator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data signal is transmitted from an aerial-based transmission source using a radio frequency downlink.