Multiple Modem Communication System and Method for a Mobile Platform

• US 20180248615A1
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Published: 08/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogo Business Aviation LLC (GOGO Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gogo LLC (GOGO Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lauer, Bryan Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 10,461,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18541 for handover of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/249 according to timing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A system, method, and device to enable communication between a first and second satellite station and a controller of a mobile platform. The controller includes a processor, a first modem facilitating communication with the first satellite station via a first frequency over a first communication link, and a map of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station. The controller utilizes the map of the one or more networks of satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communicating with the controller. A second modem is coupled to the controller and facilitates communication with the second satellite station via a second frequency over a second communication link, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a time to handoff communication with the mobile communicator from the first communication link to the second communication link.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a mobile platform and one or more satellite stations of one or more networks of satellite stations, the method comprising:

establishing, via one or more processors, a first communication link between the mobile platform and a first satellite station;

utilizing one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations and determining, via the one or more processors, a second satellite station for communication with the mobile platform;

establishing, via the one or more processors, a second communication link between the mobile platform and the second satellite station;

calculating, via the one or more processors, a time to initiate a communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link; and

, initiating, via the one or more processors, the communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link based on the calculated time.

2. The method of communicating of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating, via one or more processors, the first communication link;

coupling, via the one or more processors, an antenna to the second communication link; and

positioning, via the one or more processors, the antenna toward the second satellite station to improve communication over the second communication link.

3. The method of communicating of claim 1, wherein calculating a time to initiate the communication handoff includes at least one of the following:

determining a distance from the mobile platform to the second satellite station;

evaluating signal strength received via the first communication link, evaluating signal strength received via the second communication link, comparing signal strength of the first and second communication links, and comparing distance between the mobile platform and the first satellite station to distance between the mobile platform and the second satellite station.

4. The method of communicating of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the one or more processors, one or more communication indicators;

analyzing, via the one or more processors, the one or more communication indicators, wherein calculating the time to initiate the communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link based on the analysis of the one or more communication indicators.

5. The method of communicating of claim 4, wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following:

signal strength received via the first communication link, signal strength received via the second communication link, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first communication link and the second communication link, and the distance between the mobile platform and the first and/or second satellite.

6. The method of communicating of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second communication link includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) onboard the mobile platform.

7. A controller attached to a mobile platform and facilitating communication with a first and second satellite station included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the controller comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to a memory device; and

a set of instructions stored on the memory device, which when executed by the processor, cause the controller to;

establish a first communication link between the mobile platform and the first satellite station;

utilize one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations and determine the second satellite station for communication with the mobile platform;

establish a second communication link between the mobile platform and the second satellite station;

calculate a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link; and

,

initiate the communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link based on the calculated time.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the calculated time to initiate the communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link is based on analysis by the processor of a communication indicator.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following:

signal strength received via the first communication link, signal strength received via the second communication link, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first communication link and the second communication link, and the distance between the mobile platform and the first and/or second satellite.

10. The controller of claim 7, further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the first communication link and positioned toward the first satellite station to facilitate communication with the first satellite station over a first frequency, wherein the processor is configured to position the antenna toward the second satellite station based on the calculated time to initiate communication handoff.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the antenna is enclosed within a radome affixed to or integral with the mobile platform.

12. The controller of claim 10, wherein the first frequency includes at least a portion of a K_u-band, K_a-band, or L-band.

13. The controller of claim 7, wherein the first and/or second communication link includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

14. The controller of claim 7, wherein the mobile platform is an air-based transport, a land-based transport, or a sea-based transport.

15. The controller of claim 7, further comprising a replaceable line unit attached to the mobile platform, wherein at least a portion of the controller is housed within the replaceable line unit.

16. A mobile platform configured to communicate with a first and second satellite station included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the mobile platform comprising:

a controller including a processor and a memory device, wherein the processor and the memory device are operatively coupled together;

a first communication link established between the mobile platform and the first satellite station; and

one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations accessible to the mobile platform,

wherein the processor utilizes the one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communicating with the mobile platform via a second communication link established between the mobile platform and the second satellite station, and calculates a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

17. The mobile platform of claim 16, wherein the calculated time to initiate the communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link is based on analysis by the processor of a communication indicator, wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following:

signal strength received via the first communication link, signal strength received via the second communication link, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first communication link and the second communication link, and the distance between the mobile platform and the first and/or second satellite.

18. The mobile platform of claim 16, further comprising:

an antenna capable of being coupled to the first communication link or the second communication link, wherein the controller positions the antenna for communication with the second satellite station based on the calculated time to initiate the communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

19. The mobile platform of claim 16, further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the first communication link, wherein the controller is configured to decouple the antenna from the first communication link and couple the antenna to the second communication link based on the calculated time to initiate the communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

20. The mobile platform of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to support bi-directional communication to and from an end-user wireless device operatively coupled to a wireless local network (WAN) onboard the mobile platform.