METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL DATA SERVICES AND LIVE TELEVISION PROGRAMMING TO MOBILE PLATFORMS

• US 20090080368A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Fitzsimmons, George, Harrang, Jeffrey P., Richards, William R., de La Chapelle, Michael, Higgins, Robert P., Bengeult, Greg A., Morrison, Arthur F., Williams, Richard D. II, Miller, Daniel F., Martens, Paulus J., Carson, Ronald S., Lynch, Michael G., White, Geoffrey O., Berkheimer, Russell
• Application Number:
  US12/272,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20090080368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system. A local area network (LAN) receives the remaining data content and provides same to individual users on the mobile platform in accordance with previously submitted programming requests or data input by the users at access stations associated independently with each user. The transmit antenna is used to transmit data content from laptop computers, PDAs or other user electronic devices coupled to the access stations back to the designated satellite transponder. The satellite transponder then transponds the data back to the antenna of the ground-based control segment.

Claims

1. A system for providing data content to a plurality of mobile platforms via at least one satellite having at least one radio frequency (RF) transponder, and for transmitting data content from said mobile platforms via said RF transponder to a remotely located control center, comprising:

an independent mobile system associated with each said mobile platform and carried by each said mobile platform;

an antenna system associated with said remotely located control center for transmitting encoded RF signals representative of said data content via said RF transponder to said mobile system;

each said mobile system comprising;

an on-board antenna system;

a communications subsystem in communication with said on-board antenna system for generating baseband video signals and data signals from said encoded RF signals received by said on-board antenna system, and for producing encoded signals from data transmissions input by each of a plurality of occupants;

a data content management system for filtering of portions of said data content not addressed to occupants on said mobile platform;

a network for distributing said baseband video signals and said data signals output from said data content management system to said occupants, said network including a plurality of access stations, whereby individual occupants receive only specific subportions of said baseband video signals and said data signals relating to previous information selections made by said occupants; and

said independent mobile system also operating to transmit said signals input by each of said occupants from each of said access stations, via said on-board antenna system of said mobile system and said RF transponder, to said remotely located control center.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said access stations are adapted to be coupled to personal computing devices operated by each of said occupants.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said data content management system comprises a file server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said satellite comprises a plurality of RF transponders, and wherein said remotely located control center comprises a ground based control center that designates one of said RF transponders to communicate in dedicated fashion with a designated one of said mobile platforms.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a local area network.

6. A system for providing real time video signals to a mobile platform via a satellite having at least one radio frequency (RF) transponder, the system comprising:

a ground based system for transmitting RF signals representative of said video signals to said satellite;

a mobile receiving system disposed on said mobile platform comprising;

an antenna for receiving said RF signals from said RF transponder;

an antenna control system for use in steering said antenna to track said satellite as said mobile platform is in motion;

a communications system responsive to signals received by said antenna for generating baseband video signals in accordance therewith;

a data content management system responsive to said communications system for determining which portions of said baseband video signals are to be transmitted to each of a plurality of access stations on said mobile platform for viewing by individuals on said mobile platform; and

a distribution system for routing said portions of said baseband video signals to specific ones of said access stations in response to requests by said occupants, such that each said occupant receives only a portion of said baseband video signals in accordance with said request made by each said occupant.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said communications system comprises a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders for decoding, demodulating and digital-to-analog converting received RF signals into said baseband video signals.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said data content management system comprises a server.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said baseband video signals represent live television signals.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said baseband video signals represent direct broadcast television signals.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said ground based system comprises a network operations center for managing accounting and billing operations associated with access to the system by each said user.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said ground based system operates to transmit encoded data signals to said RF transponder of said satellite;

and

wherein said communications system operates to de-modulate and D/A convert said RF signals to produce said baseband data signals.

13. A system for supplying a plurality of channels of data content to a plurality of independent mobile platforms, wherein each said mobile platform has a plurality of occupants, and for receiving data content transmitted from said mobile platform by said occupants, said system comprising:

a ground based antenna for transmitting encoded radio frequency (RF) signals representing said data content;

at least one satellite having a plurality of RF transponders in orbit over a desired geographical coverage area within which said mobile platforms are travelling, for transponding said encoded RF signals;

a mobile receiving system disposed on each said mobile platform, each said mobile system comprising;

an antenna system including a receive antenna for receiving said encoded RF signals from a designated one of said RF transponders, and a transmit antenna for transmitting said data content to a designated one of said RF transponders;

an antenna control system for steering said transmit and receive antennas to track said satellite as said mobile platform is in motion;

a communications system responsive to said encoded RF signals received by said receive antenna for demodulating and decoding said encoded RF signals to produce baseband video signals and data signals;

said communications system including a system for transmitting data content from each of said occupants, via said transmit antenna, to said designated one of said transponders;

a data content management system responsive to said communications system for determining which portions of said baseband video signals and which portions of said data signals are to be transmitted to specific ones of a plurality of access stations on said mobile platform for use by said occupants of said mobile platform; and

a network system for routing said portions of said baseband video signals and said data signals to specific ones of said access stations in response to requests by said occupants, such that each said occupant receives only a requested portion of at least one of said baseband video signals or a requested portion of said data signals.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said communications system comprises a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said data content management system comprises a server.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising a data system for supplying crew information services to said data content management system.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising an air telephone system on board said mobile platform for transmitting data services to at least one ground based voice telephony receiving station within said coverage area.

18. A system for providing data content to a plurality of mobile platforms via at least one satellite having at least one radio frequency (RF) transponder, and for transmitting data content from said mobile platforms via said RF transponder to a remotely located control center, comprising:

an independent mobile system associated with each said mobile platform and carried by each said mobile platform;

an antenna system associated with said remotely located control center for transmitting encoded RF signals representative of said data content via said RF transponder to said mobile system;

each said mobile system comprising;

an on-board antenna system;

a communications subsystem in communication with said on-board antenna system for receiving information from occupants on board said mobile platform and transmitting said information to said one satellite, and for generating signals and data signals from said encoded RF signals received by said on-board antenna system from said one satellite;

a data content management system for filtering of portions of said data content not addressed to said occupants on said mobile platform; and

a network for distributing said video signals and said data signals output from said data content management system to said occupants, said network including a plurality of access stations, whereby individual ones of said occupants receive only specific subportions of said baseband video signals and said data signals relating to previous information selections made by said occupants.

19. A system for providing data content to a mobile platform via a satellite having at least one radio frequency (RF) transponder, the system comprising:

a ground based system for transmitting encoded RF signals representative of said data content to said satellite;

a mobile receiving system disposed on said mobile platform comprising;

an antenna for receiving said encoded RF signals from said RF transponder;

an antenna control system for use in steering said antenna to track said satellite as said mobile platform is in motion;

a communications system responsive to said encoded RF signals received by said antenna for generating data content in accordance therewith, said data content being usable by electronic devices being operated by users on said mobile platform;

a data content management system responsive to said communications system for determining which subportions of said data content are to be transmitted to each of a plurality of access stations on said mobile platform for use by users on said mobile platform; and

a distribution system for routing said subportions of said data content to specific ones of said access stations in accordance with previously made requests by specific ones of said users, such that each said user receives only a specific subportion of said data content corresponding to a previously made request by said user.

20. A system for bi-directionally communicating real time data content between a plurality of independent mobile platforms and a remotely located facility, wherein each said mobile receiving platform has a plurality of users each having an electronic device, said system comprising:

an antenna associated with said remotely located facility for transmitting encoded radio frequency (RF) signals representing said real time data content;

at least one satellite having a plurality of RF transponders in orbit over a desired geographical coverage area within which said mobile platforms are travelling, for transponding said encoded RF signals;

a mobile receiving system disposed on each said mobile platform, each said mobile system comprising;

an antenna system including a receive antenna for receiving said encoded RF signals from a designated one of said RF transponders, and a transmit antenna for transmitting said data content to a designated one of said RF transponders;

an antenna control system for steering said transmit and receive antennas to track said satellite as said mobile platform moves through said geographical coverage area;

a communications system responsive to said encoded RF signals received by said receive antenna for demodulating and decoding said encoded RF signals to produce said real time data content for use by said mobile platform;

said communications system including a system for transmitting data content from each of said users, via said transmit antenna, to said designated one of said transponders;

a data content management system responsive to said communications system for determining which portion of said real time data content has been requested by said users on said mobile platform, which specific ones of said users are to receive specific subportions of said portion of real time data content; and

a network system including a plurality of access stations adapted to interface to said electronic devices of each of said users, said network system adapted to route said subportions of said real time data to specific ones of said access stations so that each said user receives only a specific one of said subportions of said real time data that said user had previously requested.

21. A method for bi-directionally communicating data content in real time between a plurality of mobile platforms travelling through a geographic area, and a transponded satellite, said method comprising:

using a plurality of access stations on each said mobile platform for receiving information from said users on said mobile platforms, where each said user has an electronic device interfaced to a respective one of said access stations;

using a communications subsystem on each said mobile platform to transmit said information from said users to said transponded satellite;

using said transponded satellite to relay said information to a remote facility;

causing said remote facility to receive said information and to transmit a forward link signal to said transponded satellite that includes data content;

using a data content management system on each said mobile platform to determine a subportion of said data content that is to be delivered to said users on each said mobile platform, and each said data content management system eliminating that portion of said data content not intended for said users on its associated said mobile platform; and

using a local area network on board each said mobile platform to deliver selected portions of said subportion of said data from said data content management system to specific ones of said users on each said mobile platform.