Airborne constellation of communications platforms and method

• US 6,628,941 B2
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Space Data Corporation
• Inventors: Knoblach, Gerald M., Frische, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Application Number:
  US09/342,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/427, 455/430, 455/431, 455/11.1, 455/436, 244/158.R, 244/24, 244/31
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18576 Satellite systems for providing narrowband data service to fixed or mobile stations, e.g. using a minisatellite, a microsatellite for selecting H04W

Abstract

An airborne constellation is disclosed with a plurality of individual lighter-than-air platforms spaced apart above a contiguous geographic area within a predetermined altitude range so that ubiquitous line of sight coverage of the geographic area is provided. Each of the plurality of platforms include an enclosure holding a regulated volume of low density gas for buoyancy of the platforms. Each of the plurality of platforms further includes a signal transmitting device attached to the enclosure by which signals from the platform may be transmitted to the contiguous geographic area.

Claims

1. A free floating constellation communications system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform;

said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceivers;

wherein said at least one of said communications devices is capable of handing off communication with said first platform to said second platform as said first platform moves out of a communication range of said at least one of said communications devices, and

wherein said free floating constellation communications system provides a line-of-sight coverage of wireless data to a population on a contiguous landmass and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are launched in a manner such that when in an operating range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet there is substantially a relative distance between said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms.

2. A free floating constellation communications system (CCS) of claim 1, further comprising:

an altitude regulator device;

plurality of geographically spaced-apart platform launching sites from which said plurality of platforms can be launched;

a plurality of ground terminals; and

a network of communications links interconnecting at least some of said ground terminals to one another.

3. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said regulator is operatively connected to regulate said platform to float within the stratosphere of the Earth.

4. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein a predetermined altitude range within which said plurality of platforms are regulated to float comprises a range of about 70,000 feet to about 100,000 feet.

5. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said regulator regulates the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined altitude range and a controllable vent by which a portion of said quantity of contained gas can be released to reduce the buoyancy of said platform.

6. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said regulator comprises a quantity of high density material carried onboard said platform and a release device by which a portion of said high density matter can be released to increase buoyancy of said platform.

7. The floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said regulator comprises:

a controllable gas vent;

a controllable ballast release device;

an altitude determining mechanism; and

a control signal processor device connected with said transceiver, said altitude determining mechanism, said gas vent and ballast release so that the altitude can be adjusted.

8. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said communications system of said plurality of spaced-apart ground terminals comprise a transceiver.

9. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 8, wherein at least one of said spaced-apart ground terminals comprises a network operation center.

10. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 9, wherein the network operation center comprises circuitry for controlling a predetermined operation of the platform.

11. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, further comprising a network operation center (NOC) connected to said network of communications links.

12. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 11, wherein said NOC is connected to at least some of said plurality of ground terminals with a hub and spoke arrangement of communications links.

13. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 11, wherein said NOC is connected to at least some of said plurality of ground terminals with a mesh arrangement of communications links.

14. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said network of communications links interconnecting said ground terminals comprises connections to ground lines.

15. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said network of communications links interconnecting said ground terminals comprises space satellite communications links.

16. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 2, wherein said network of communications links comprises platform-to-platform communications links.

17. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking device, wherein said tracking device comprises:

a directional antenna; and

a directional antenna aiming mechanism responsive to GPS coordinate data for selectively aiming said directional antenna at one or more of said plurality of platforms.

18. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 17, wherein said tracking device comprises:

a directional antenna; and

a directional antenna aiming and gain tracking mechanism for aiming said directional antenna at a selected platform according to a communications signal strength between said selected platform and said directional antenna.

19. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of platforms comprise a lighter-than-air device selected from the group consisting of a balloon, a blimp, an aerostat, a zeppelin, an airship, a dirigible, a weather balloon, ajimsphere, a hot air balloon, a sounding balloon and a meteorological balloon and combinations thereof.

20. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of platforms comprise rubber balloons.

21. A free floating constellation communications system as in claim 1 wherein said platforms comprise zero-pressure balloons.

22. A free floating constellation communications system as in claim 1 wherein said platforms comprise internal air bladder balloons.

23. A free floating constellation communications system as in claim 1 wherein said platforms comprise adjustable volume balloons.

24. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, wherein said platforms comprise hdrogen-filled balloons.

25. A free floating CCS as in claim 1 wherein said communications devices comprise pagers.

26. A free floating CCS as in claim 1 wherein said communications devices comprise advanced messaging devices.

27. A free floating CCS as in claim 1 wherein said communications devices comprise wireless telephones.

28. A free floating CSS as in claim 1 wherein said communications devices comprises telemetry devices.

29. A free floating CSS as in claim 1 wherein said communications devices comprises equipment tracking units.

30. A free floating CSS as in claim 1 wherein said communications devices comprises personal tracking units.

31. A free floating CCS as in claim 1 wherein:

a) said platform comprises a rapid descent mechanism; and

b) said platform is disposable.

32. A free floating CCS as in claim 1 wherein:

a) said platform comprises a balloon;

b) said platform comprises a rapid descent mechanism; and

c) said balloon is replaceable for recovery and reuse of said transceiver.

33. The free floating CCS of claim 1, wherein said communications signal transceiver comprises circuitry capable of communications using Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) protocol.

34. Free floating CCS of claim 1, wherein said communications signal transceiver comprises circuitry capable of communications using Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol.

35. The free floating CCS of claim 1, wherein said communications signal transceiver comprises circuitry capable of communications using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) protocol.

36. The free floating CCS of claim 1, wherein said communications signal transceiver comprises circuitry capable of communications using the ReFLEX protocol.

37. The free floating CCS of claim 1, wherein said communications signal transceiver comprises circuitry capable of communications using the Flex protocol.

38. The free floating CCS of claim 1, wherein said communications signal transceiver comprises circuitry capable of communications using the POCSAG paging protocol.

39. The free floating CCS of claim 1, wherein said communications signal transceiver comprises circuitry capable of communications using the ERMES paging protocol.

40. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

an altitude determining mechanism;

a source of meteorological data; and

controls for adjusting the altitude of a platform into a wind velocity and direction determined according to said meteorological data.

41. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

an attitude sensor onboard at least one said plurality of platforms; and

a steerable antenna coupled to at least one of said communications signal transceivers and attached to at least one of said plurality of platforms, said steerable antenna having stabilization controls for stabilizing said steerable antenna in a direction from said platform provides consistent ground coverage over said geographic area.

42. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 41, further comprising an aim control operatively associated with said steerable antenna and said altitude sensor for selectively changing the position of the coverage area of said antenna to facilitate filling gaps of coverage over said geographic area.

43. Free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said platforms comprise:

an unmanned free balloon; and

a payload box having a total weight less than six pounds and exterior surfaces with predetermined areas and that has a weight to size ratio of no more than three ounces per square inch on any surface of the package, determined by dividing the total weight in ounces of the payload box by the area in square inches of its smallest exterior surface.

44. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of platforms further comprises an altitude regulator operatively connected to regulate the platform to float within a predetermined altitude range after initial ascent;

wherein said altitude regulator further comprises;

a quantity of high density material;

a device for determining the altitude of said platform, wherein said device for determining the altitude of said platform comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and

a material release mechanism for releasing a portion of said quantity of high density material.

45. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

a hydrogen gas enclosure for holding a quantity of hydrogen;

an onboard electrical power source on at least one of said platforms, wherein said on-board electrical power source comprises a fuel cell interconnected with said hydrogen gas enclosure for receiving hydrogen as a component of the fuel for said fuel cell; and

an altitude regulator attached to said platform to regulate the altitude of said platform within a predetermined altitude range, said altitude regulator comprising;

an altitude determining mechanism;

a controllable vent from said gas enclosure and vent controls operatively coupled with said altitude determining mechanism for venting of said hydrogen gas for regulating the altitude of said platform; and

a controllable ballast release attached to said platform to release ballast for regulating the altitude of said platform.

46. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 45, wherein said controllable vent and vent controls operatively coupled thereto further comprise at least one Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) element mechanically coupled to said control vent and operatively connected to said electrical power source for selectively receiving and not receiving electrical power to thereby selectively change the length of said NiTi element for opening and closing said controllable vent.

47. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 45, further comprising a meteorological package connected to said platform through a fiber optic link to said transceiver thereby substantially preventing electrical arcing between said meteorological package and said transceiver when said platform moves through electrically charged clouds.

48. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking system capable of tracking one or more of said plurality of platforms.

49. The free floating constellation communications system of claim 1, further comprising a rapid deflation system for removing a platform from the air upon malfunction or improper location of the platform.

50. A free floating constellation communications system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, each of said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceivers;

wherein said at least one of said communications devices is capable of receiving communications from said communications signal transceiver of said first platform and said communications signal tranceiver of said second platform, but hearing communications from only one communications signal transceiver and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are launched in a manner such that when in an operating range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet there is substantially a relative distance between said plurality of lighter-air-platforms.

51. A free floating constellation communications system comprising:

a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, each of said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceivers;

wherein said first and second platforms dynamically assign new frames in which to transmit communication signal from said communications signal transceiver as the platforms drift such that a comunications device receives communications signals from only one communications signal transceiver in a particular frame and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are launched in a manner such that when in an operating range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet there is substantially a relative distance between said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms.

52. A method of communicating using a free floating constellation communication system comprising:

providing a communication device for communicating wit lighter-than-air platforms;

communicating with a first lighter-than-air platform when the communication device is in a communication range of the first-lighter-than-air platform,

communicating with a second lighter-than-air platform when the communication device moves out of the communication range of the first lighter-than-air platform, wherein the first and second lighter-than-air platforms each comprise an altitude regulator device and a communications signal transceiver and wherein the first and second lighter-than-air platforms are free floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are launched in a manner such that when in an operating range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet there is substantially a relative distance between said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the communication device comprises a pager.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the communication device comprises a an advanced messaging device.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless telephone.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein said altitude regulator device regulates the altitude of said platform to within a predetermined altitude range of between about 60,000 feet and about 140,000 feet.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein said altitude regulator device is operatively connected to regulate the platform to float within the stratosphere of the Earth.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein said altitude regulator regulates the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined altitude range and a controllable vent by which a portion of said quantity of contained gas can be released to reduce the buoyancy of said platform.

59. The method of claim 52, where in said altitude regulator comprises a quantity of high density material carried onboard said platform and a release device by which a portion of said high density matter can be released to increase buoyancy of said platform.

60. A method of communicating using a free floating constellation communications system comprising:

providing a plurality of lighter-than-air platforms comprising at least a first platform and a second platform, each of said first and second platforms comprising a communications signal transceiver and being free floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control; and

communicating with a communication device having communications capability with said communications signal transceiver, wherein said first and second platforms dynamically assign new frames in which to transmit communication signals from said communications signal transceivers as the platforms drift such that a communication device receives communications signals from only one communications signal transceiver in a particular frame and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are launched in a manner such that when in an operating range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet there is substantially a relative distance between said plurality of lighter-than-air platform.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the communication device comprises a pager.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the communication device comprises a an advanced messaging device.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless telephone.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein said altitude regulator device is operatively connected to regulate the platform to float within the stratosphere of the Earth.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein said altitude regulator regulates the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined altitude range and a controllable vent by which a portion of said quantity of contained gas can be released to reduce the buoyancy of said platform.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein said altitude regulator comprises a quantity of high density material carried onboard said platform and a release device by which a portion of said high density matter can be released to increase buoyancy of said platform.

67. A method for providing communication service comprising:

providing a first lighter-than-air platform;

providing a second lighter-than-air platform wherein the first and second lighter-than-air platforms each comprise an altitude regulator device and a communications signal transceiver and wherein the first and second sight-than-air platforms are free floating without any longitudinal and latitudinal position control;

providing a plurality of communications devices within a contiguous geographic area, at least one of said communications devices having communications capability with said communications signal transceiver, wherein said at least one of said communications devices is capable of handing off communication with said the platform to said second platform as said first platform moves out of a communication range of said at least one of said communications devices and wherein said free floating constellation communications system provides a line-of-sight wireless data coverage to a population on a contiguous landmass and said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms are launched in a manner such that when in an operating range of 60,000 to 140,000 feet there is substantially a relative distance between said plurality of lighter-than-air platforms.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the communication device comprises a pager.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the communication device comprises a an advanced messaging device.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless telephone.

71. The method of claim 67, wherein said altitude regulator device is operatively connected to regulate the platform to float within the stratosphere of the Earth.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein said altitude regulator regulates the floating of said platform within a predetermined altitude range and comprises a quantity of contained gas having a density less than the density of air within said predetermined altitude range and a controllable vent by which a portion of said quantity of contained gas can be released to reduce the buoyancy of said platform.

73. The method of claim 67, wherein said altitude regulator comprises a quantity of high density material carried onboard said platform and a release device by which a portion of said high density matter can be released to increase buoyancy of said platform.