ARCHITECTURE FOR SIMULTANEOUS SPECTRUM USAGE BY AIR-TO-GROUND AND TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, comprising:
- an in-flight aircraft including an antenna assembly;
a plurality of ATG base stations, each of which defines a corresponding radiation pattern focusing energy toward the horizon, wherein the base stations are spaced apart from each other to define at least partially overlapping coverage areas to communicate with the antenna assembly in an ATG communication layer defined between a first altitude and a second altitude via an ATG communication network; and
a plurality of terrestrial base stations configured to communicate primarily in a ground communication layer below the first altitude via a terrestrial communication network;
wherein the terrestrial base stations and the ATG base stations are each configured to communicate using the same radio frequency (RF) spectrum in the ground communication layer and ATG communication layer, respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells may include an in-flight aircraft including an antenna assembly, a plurality of ATG base stations, a plurality of terrestrial base stations. Each of the ATG base stations defines a corresponding radiation pattern, and the ATG base stations are spaced apart from each other to define at least partially overlapping coverage areas to communicate with the antenna assembly in an ATG communication layer defined between a first altitude and a second altitude. The terrestrial base stations are configured to communicate primarily in a ground communication layer below the first altitude. The terrestrial base stations and the ATG base stations are each configured to communicate using the same radio frequency (RF) spectrum in the ground communication layer and ATG communication layer, respectively.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, comprising:
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an in-flight aircraft including an antenna assembly; a plurality of ATG base stations, each of which defines a corresponding radiation pattern focusing energy toward the horizon, wherein the base stations are spaced apart from each other to define at least partially overlapping coverage areas to communicate with the antenna assembly in an ATG communication layer defined between a first altitude and a second altitude via an ATG communication network; and a plurality of terrestrial base stations configured to communicate primarily in a ground communication layer below the first altitude via a terrestrial communication network; wherein the terrestrial base stations and the ATG base stations are each configured to communicate using the same radio frequency (RF) spectrum in the ground communication layer and ATG communication layer, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An antenna assembly for an aircraft, the antenna assembly being capable of communicating with air-to-ground (ATG) base stations of an ATG wireless communication network, the antenna assembly comprising a plurality of antenna elements, at least one of which is tiltable to maintain the antenna assembly oriented toward a focus region responsive to in-flight maneuvering of the aircraft,
wherein the focus region extends between the horizon and within about 15 degrees of the horizon relative to the in-flight aircraft.
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16. (canceled)
Specification