SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIR-TO-AIR COMMUNICATIONS USING NETWORK FORMED BETWEEN AIRCRAFT
First Claim
1. An aircraft communication system, comprising:
- a first wireless base station deployed in a first aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links;
a second wireless base station deployed in a second aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links;
at least one ground-based wireless base station configured to operatively communicate with the first wireless base station or the second wireless base station while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight;
wherein when the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight, the first wireless base station and the second wireless base station establish one or more wireless links with each other to create a wireless network for air-to-air communication, such that when one of the first aircraft or second aircraft is out of range with the ground-based wireless base station and the other aircraft is in range with the ground-based wireless base station the aircraft that is out of range can send a message to the ground-based wireless base station through the aircraft that is in range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for aircraft communications is provided. The system includes a first wireless base station deployed in a first aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links, and a second wireless base station deployed in a second aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links. At least one ground-based wireless base station is configured to operatively communicate with the first wireless base station or the second wireless base station while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight. During flight, the first and second wireless base stations establish one or more wireless links with each other to create a wireless network for air-to-air communication. When one of the first or second aircraft is out of range with the ground-based wireless base station and the other aircraft is in range with the ground-based wireless base station, the aircraft that is out of range can send a message to the ground-based wireless base station through the aircraft that is in range.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aircraft communication system, comprising:
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a first wireless base station deployed in a first aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links; a second wireless base station deployed in a second aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links; at least one ground-based wireless base station configured to operatively communicate with the first wireless base station or the second wireless base station while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight; wherein when the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight, the first wireless base station and the second wireless base station establish one or more wireless links with each other to create a wireless network for air-to-air communication, such that when one of the first aircraft or second aircraft is out of range with the ground-based wireless base station and the other aircraft is in range with the ground-based wireless base station the aircraft that is out of range can send a message to the ground-based wireless base station through the aircraft that is in range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for aircraft air-to-air communications, the method comprising:
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establishing a plurality of wireless links between a plurality of wireless base stations each deployed in a separate one of a plurality of aircraft to create a wireless network while the plurality of aircraft are in flight; and routing data transmitted by one or more of the aircraft through the wireless network using one or more data transfer protocols until a desired destination is reached. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An air-to-air communications network, comprising:
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a first node comprising a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) base station deployed in a first aircraft that is in flight; and a second node comprising a WiMax base station deployed in a second aircraft that is in flight, the second node in operative communication with the first node; wherein the first and second nodes provide a WiMax network configured to route data between the aircraft during flight until a desired ground destination is reached. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification