INTERFERENCE MITIGATION TECHNIQUES FOR AIR TO GROUND SYSTEMS

• US 20130182790A1
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: JALALI, Ahmad, TIAN, Bin, SCHIFF, Leonard N., AMES, Willliam G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,319,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/285
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/282 Modifying the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle, e.g. projecting type aerials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0034 where the transmitter decides based on inferences, e.g. use of implicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna includes adjusting a modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction of an aircraft receiver interface in response to detected interference from an interferer. The method further includes reducing a data rate of the aircraft receiver interface when the adjusting of the modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction does not mitigate the detected interference. Another method for interference mitigation may include performing antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn. This method further includes reducing an aircraft transmitter transmit power when a signal quality of a forward link is within a predetermined range of a signal quality threshold.

Claims

1. A method for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, comprising:

adjusting a modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction of an aircraft receiver interface in response to detected interference from an interferer; and

reducing a data rate of the aircraft receiver interface when the adjusting of the modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the interferer is an aircraft including an aeronautical mobile satellite service (AMSS) transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning the aircraft receiver interface a portion of a communication spectrum that is unused by the interferer when reducing the data rate of the aircraft receiver interface does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

handing-off the aircraft receiver interface to a different ground station when reducing the data rate of the aircraft receiver interface does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing antenna beam-forming to transmit a NULL toward the interferer when the interferer is a satellite earth station transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn; and

disabling an aircraft transmitter when a roll-angle of the aircraft turn is greater than or equal to a predetermined roll-angle threshold.

7. A method for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, comprising:

performing antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn; and

reducing an aircraft transmitter transmit power when a signal quality of a forward link is within a predetermined range of a signal quality threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

disabling the aircraft transmitter when the signal quality is less than or equal to the predetermined signal quality threshold.

9. A method for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, comprising:

assigning an aircraft receiver interface a portion of a communication spectrum that is unused by an interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the satellite earth station transmitter comprises a vehicle mounted earth station (VMES), an earth station vehicle (ESV), and/or a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) ground station.

11. A method for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, comprising:

handing-off an aircraft receiver interface to a different ground station when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the satellite earth station transmitter comprises a vehicle mounted earth station (VMES), an earth station vehicle (ESV), and/or a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) ground station.

13. A method for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, comprising:

performing antenna beam-forming to transmit a NULL toward an interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the satellite earth station transmitter comprises a vehicle mounted earth station (VMES) or an earth station vehicle (ESV), and/or a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) ground station.

15. An apparatus configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

to adjust a modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction of an aircraft receiver interface in response to detected interference from an interferer; and

to reduce a data rate of the aircraft receiver interface when the adjusting of the modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the interferer is an aircraft including an aeronautical mobile satellite service (AMSS) transmitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the at least one processor is further configured to assign the aircraft receiver interface a portion of a communication spectrum that is unused by the interferer when reducing the data rate of the aircraft receiver interface does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the at least one processor is further configured to hand-off the aircraft receiver interface to a different ground station when reducing the data rate of the aircraft receiver interface does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the at least one processor is further configured to perform antenna beam-forming to transmit a NULL toward the interferer when the interferer is a satellite earth station transmitter.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the at least one processor is further configured:

to perform antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn; and

to disable an aircraft transmitter when a roll-angle of the aircraft turn is greater than or equal to a predetermined roll-angle threshold.

21. A computer program product configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising;

program code to adjust a modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction of an aircraft receiver interface in response to detected interference from an interferer; and

program code to reduce a data rate of the aircraft receiver interface when the adjusting of the modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

22. An apparatus operable for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

means for adjusting a modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction of an aircraft receiver interface in response to detected interference from an interferer; and

means for reducing a data rate of the aircraft receiver interface when the adjusting of the modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction does not mitigate the detected interference from the interferer.

23. An apparatus configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

to perform antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn; and

to reduce an aircraft transmitter transmit power when a signal quality of a forward link is within a predetermined range of a signal quality threshold.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, in which the at least one processor is further configured to disable the aircraft transmitter when the signal quality is less than or equal to the predetermined signal quality threshold.

25. A computer program product configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising;

program code to perform antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn; and

program code to reduce an aircraft transmitter transmit power when a signal quality of a forward link is within a predetermined range of a signal quality threshold.

26. An apparatus operable for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

means for performing antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn; and

means for reducing an aircraft transmitter transmit power when a signal quality of a forward link is within a predetermined range of a signal quality threshold.

27. An apparatus configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

to assign an aircraft receiver interface a portion of a communication spectrum that is unused by an interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, in which the satellite earth station transmitter comprises a vehicle mounted earth station (VMES) or an earth station vehicle (ESV), and/or a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) ground station.

29. A computer program product configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising;

program code to assign an aircraft receiver interface a portion of a communication spectrum that is unused by an interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

30. An apparatus operable for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

means for operating the ground station equipped with the multi-beam array antenna in the presence of an interferer; and

means for assigning an aircraft receiver interface a portion of a communication spectrum that is unused by the interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

31. An apparatus configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

to hand-off an aircraft receiver interface to a different ground station when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, in which the satellite earth station transmitter comprises a vehicle mounted earth station (VMES) or an earth station vehicle (ESV), and/or a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) ground station.

33. A computer program product configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising;

program code to hand-off an aircraft receiver interface to a different ground station when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

34. An apparatus operable for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

means for operating the ground station equipped with the multi-beam array antenna in the presence of an interferer; and

means for handing-off an aircraft receiver interface to a different ground station when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

35. An apparatus configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

to perform antenna beam-forming to transmit a NULL toward an interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, in which the satellite earth station transmitter comprises a vehicle mounted earth station (VMES) or an earth station vehicle (ESV), and/or a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) ground station.

37. A computer program product configured for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising;

program code to perform antenna beam-forming to transmit a NULL toward an interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.

38. An apparatus operable for air to ground communication interference mitigation within a ground station equipped with a multi-beam array antenna, the apparatus comprising:

means for operating the ground station equipped with the multi-beam array antenna in the presence of an interferer; and

means for performing antenna beam-forming to transmit a NULL toward the interferer when interference is detected from a satellite earth station transmitter.