SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CELLULAR SIGNALS TO MOBILE DEVICE USERS TRAVELLING BY AIR

• US 20160080073A1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Polehn, Donna L., WEISBROD, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 9,735,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing broadband network access to mobile devices during air travel. The system transmits a first signal from a phased array antenna towards an airspace. The system also steers the phased array antenna towards an aircraft within the airspace based on a determined movement of the aircraft, a device signal generated by a mobile device aboard the aircraft, or a combination thereof. The system also determines a frequency shift associated with a return of the first signal from the aircraft. Still further, the system determines a second signal of a different frequency based on the frequency shift.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a first signal from a phased array antenna towards an airspace;

steering the phased array antenna towards an aircraft within the airspace based on a determined movement of the aircraft, a device signal generated by a mobile device aboard the aircraft, or a combination thereof;

determining a frequency shift associated with a return of the first signal from the aircraft; and

determining a second signal of a different frequency based on the frequency shift.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the second signal to the aircraft,

wherein the second signal provides enough gain for the mobile device to access a communication network of a communication service provider from the aircraft.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a presence, a movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft within the airspace to within a predetermined range of the phased array antenna based on the first signal,

wherein the predetermined range is based on a physical characteristic of the phased array antenna, a scan region generated as a result of the steering of the phased array antenna during transmission of the first signal, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining an adjusted direction of the first signal based on the presence, the movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft relative to the phased array antenna,

wherein the steering of the phased array antenna is based on the adjusted direction, and wherein the adjusted direction is implemented by changing a phase of one or more array elements of the phased array antenna.

5. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a subsequent presence, a subsequent movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft to within range of another phased array antenna; and

transmitting the second signal to the another phased array antenna based on the subsequent presence, the subsequent movement, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 3, wherein the first signal is generated in association with (a) a base station, a cellular site, or a combination thereof of the communication service network;

(b) a frequency band established by the communication service provider;

or (c) a combination thereof for determining the presence, the movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a speed, a direction, an elevation, a distance from the phased array antenna, or a combination thereof of the aircraft based on the frequency of the first signal, the frequency shift, or a combination thereof,

wherein the phased array antenna is steered based on the speed, the direction, the elevation, the distance from the phased array antenna, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a frequency compensation calculation, a signal transformation calculation, or a combination thereof to determine the adjusted frequency based on the frequency shift,

wherein the second signal is generated based on the results of the frequency compensation calculation, the signal transformation calculation, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 8, wherein the frequency compensation calculation, the signal transformation calculation, the transmission of the first signal, the transmission of the second signal, or a combination thereof is executed in connection with an interface to a baseband unit, a radio equipment controller, radio equipment, or a combination thereof associated with the communication service network.

10. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

transmit a first signal from a phased array antenna towards an airspace;

steer the phased array antenna towards an aircraft within the airspace based on a determined movement of the aircraft, a device signal generated by a mobile device aboard the aircraft, or a combination thereof;

determine a frequency shift associated with a return of the first signal from the aircraft; and

determine a second signal of a different frequency based on the frequency shift.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the second signal to the aircraft,

wherein the second signal provides enough gain for the mobile device to access a communication network of a communication service provider from the aircraft.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a presence, a movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft within the airspace to within a predetermined range of the phased array antenna based on the first signal,

wherein the predetermined range is based on a physical characteristic of the phased array antenna, a scan region generated as a result of the steering of the phased array antenna during transmission of the first signal, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an adjusted direction of the first signal based on the presence, the movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft relative to the phased array antenna,

wherein the steering of the phased array antenna is based on the adjusted direction, and wherein the adjusted direction is implemented by changing a phase of one or more array elements of the phased array antenna.

14. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a subsequent presence, a subsequent movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft to within range of another phased array antenna; and

transmit the second signal to the another phased array antenna based on the subsequent presence, the subsequent movement, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first signal is generated in association with (a) a base station, a cellular site, or a combination thereof of the communication service network;

(b) a frequency band established by the communication service provider;

or (c) a combination thereof for determining the presence, the movement, or a combination thereof of the aircraft.

16. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a speed, a direction, an elevation, a distance from the phased array antenna, or a combination thereof of the aircraft based on the frequency of the first signal, the frequency shift, or a combination thereof,

wherein the phased array antenna is steered based on the speed, the direction, the elevation, the distance from the phased array antenna, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

initiate a frequency compensation calculation, a signal transformation calculation, or a combination thereof to determine the adjusted frequency based on the frequency shift,

wherein the second signal is generated based on the results of the frequency compensation calculation, the signal transformation calculation, or a combination thereof.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein frequency compensation calculation is executed in connection with an interface to a baseband unit, a radio equipment controller, radio equipment, or a combination thereof associated with the communication service network

19. A system comprising:

a platform configured to transmit a first signal from a phased array antenna towards an airspace;

to steer the phased array antenna towards an aircraft within the airspace based on a determined movement of the aircraft, a device signal generated by a mobile device aboard the aircraft, or a combination thereof;

to determine a frequency shift associated with a return of the first signal from the aircraft; and

to determine a second signal of a different frequency based on the frequency shift.

20. A system of claim 19, wherein the platform is further configured to transmit the second signal to the aircraft, wherein the second signal provides enough gain for the mobile device to access a communication network of a communication service provider from the aircraft.