High efficiency sub-orbital high altitude telecommunications system
First Claim
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1. A wireless, telecommunications network system comprising:
- a plurality of telecommunications nodes,said nodes being located in a sub-orbital plane at about 12 to 35 miles above the earth,means for maintaining said nodes in preselected geographic locations in the sub-orbital plane,each of said nodes comprising means for sending and receiving broadband, digital radio telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel between said node in the sub-orbital plane and a mobile ground communication device, said radio telecommunications signals being modulated by broadband code division multiple access spread spectrum technology,said means for sending and receiving said radio telecommunications signals further including a plurality of antennae that are operative to receive relatively weak telecommunications signals from said mobile ground communication device,means for decoding the telecommunications signals received by each of said antennae so that said node can identify said mobile ground communication device and its location, andsaid antennae and said decoding means being operative to increase the sensitivity of said node to signals identifying said mobile ground communication device and its location so that it can detect and receive relatively weak telecommunications signals, so that maximum utilization of a spectrum is made available for use by said telecommunications signals without interference.
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Abstract
A wireless telecommunications system comprising a plurality of telecommunications nodes that include receivers and transmitters that are located in a suborbital plane. The telecommunications signals are broadband digital radio signals which are modulated by code division multiple access spread spectrum technology. The receivers include a plurality of antennae that are operative to receive relatively weak telecommunications signals and which use spatial processing to identify their source so that maximum utilization of the spectrum is made available for use by the telecommunications signals without interference.
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Citations
131 Claims
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1. A wireless, telecommunications network system comprising:
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a plurality of telecommunications nodes, said nodes being located in a sub-orbital plane at about 12 to 35 miles above the earth, means for maintaining said nodes in preselected geographic locations in the sub-orbital plane, each of said nodes comprising means for sending and receiving broadband, digital radio telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel between said node in the sub-orbital plane and a mobile ground communication device, said radio telecommunications signals being modulated by broadband code division multiple access spread spectrum technology, said means for sending and receiving said radio telecommunications signals further including a plurality of antennae that are operative to receive relatively weak telecommunications signals from said mobile ground communication device, means for decoding the telecommunications signals received by each of said antennae so that said node can identify said mobile ground communication device and its location, and said antennae and said decoding means being operative to increase the sensitivity of said node to signals identifying said mobile ground communication device and its location so that it can detect and receive relatively weak telecommunications signals, so that maximum utilization of a spectrum is made available for use by said telecommunications signals without interference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 121, 122, 126)
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4. A wireless, telecommunications network system comprising:
- a plurality of telecommunications nodes,
said nodes being located in a sub-orbital plane at about 12 to 35 miles above the earth, means for maintaining said nodes in preselected geographic locations in the sub-orbital plane, each of said nodes comprising means for sending and receiving broadband, digital radio telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel between said node in the sub-orbital plane and a mobile ground communication device, said radio telecommunications signals being modulated by broadband code division multiple access spread spectrum technology, said means for sending and receiving said radio telecommunications signals further including a plurality of antennae that are operative to receive relatively weak telecommunications signals from said mobile ground communication device, means for decoding the telecommunications signals received by each of said antennae so that said node can identify said mobile ground communication device and its location, said antennae and said decoding means being operative to increase the sensitivity of said node to signals identifying said mobile ground communication device and its location so that it can detect and receive relatively weak telecommunications signals, so that maximum utilization of a spectrum is made available for use by said telecommunications signals without interference, wherein said wireless telecommunications channel has a frequency bandwidth that is greater than about eight MHZ.
- a plurality of telecommunications nodes,
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20. A method for making wireless telecommunications comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of telecommunications nodes, said nodes defining a network, locating said nodes in a sub-orbital plane at about 12 to 35 miles above the earth and maintaining said nodes in preselected geographic locations in the suborbital plane, providing each of said nodes with means for sending and receiving broadband, digital radio telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel between said node in the suborbital plane and a mobile ground communication device, providing each of said nodes with a plurality of antennae that are operative to receive relatively weak digital, radio telecommunications signals from said mobile ground communication device, modulating said telecommunications signals by broadband code division multiple access spread spectrum technology, decoding said telecommunications signals received by each of said antennae so that said node can identify said mobile ground communication device and its location, and said antennae and said decoding means being operative to increase the sensitivity of said nodes to signals identifying said mobile ground communication device and its location so that they can detect and receive said relatively weak telecommunications signals, so that maximum utilization of a spectrum is made available for use by said telecommunications signals without interference. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 123, 127)
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23. A method for making wireless telecommunications comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of telecommunications nodes, said nodes defining a network, locating said nodes in a sub-orbital plane at about 12 to 35 miles above the earth and maintaining said nodes in preselected geographic locations in the suborbital plane, providing each of said nodes with means for sending and receiving broadband, digital radio telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel between said node in the suborbital plane and a mobile ground communication device, providing each of said nodes with a plurality of antennae that are operative to receive relatively weak digital, radio telecommunications signals from said mobile ground communication device, modulating said telecommunications signals by broadband code division multiple access spread spectrum technology, decoding said telecommunications signals received by each of said antennae so that said node can identify said mobile ground communication device and its location, said antennae and said decoding means being operative to increase the sensitivity of said nodes to signals identifying said mobile ground communication device and its location so that they can detect and receive said relatively weak telecommunications signals, so that maximum utilization of a spectrum is made available for use by said telecommunications signals without interference, wherein said wireless telecommunications channel has a frequency bandwidth that is greater than about eight MHZ. - View Dependent Claims (124)
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39. A cellular-type wireless communications system comprising:
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a wireless switching center connected to a telephone network; a plurality of airborne base stations each associated with a cell corresponding to a specific geographic area, each airborne base station operable to directly transmit and receive communication signals to/from individual subscriber terminals within the associated cell and to/from said wireless switching center to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals, said plurality of airborne base stations including at least one antenna for communicating with said wireless switching center and with individual subscriber terminals in an associated cell; and each of said plurality of airborne base stations being supported by at least one airborne platform including a propulsion system, the propulsion system being mounted on the airborne platform and being operable to maintain the platform airborne above a geographic area being serviced by the airborne base station; and each of said plurality of airborne base stations being operative, in conjunction with the wireless switching center, to hand off communication sessions with subscriber terminals to at least one other airborne base station. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 125)
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50. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a mobile switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said mobile switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne base stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; supporting said plurality of airborne base stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said mobile switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals; and handing off communication sessions of subscriber terminals from one of said plurality of airborne base stations to at least one other of said plurality of airborne base stations. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne base stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; supporting said plurality of airborne base stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals; and handing off communication sessions of subscriber terminals from one of said plurality of airborne base stations to at least one other of said plurality of airborne base stations. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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58. A cellular-type wireless communications system comprising:
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a wireless switching center connected to a telephone network; a plurality of airborne base stations each associated with a cell corresponding to a specific geographic area, each airborne base station operable to directly transmit and receive communication signals to/from individual subscriber terminals within the associated cell and to/from said wireless switching center to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals, said plurality of airborne base stations including at least one antenna for communicating with said wireless switching center and with individual subscriber terminals in an associated cell; and each of said plurality of airborne base stations being supported by at least one airborne platform including a propulsion system, the propulsion system being mounted on the airborne platform and being operable to maintain the platform airborne above a geographic area being serviced by the airborne base station. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a mobile switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said mobile switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne base stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; and supporting said plurality of airborne base stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said mobile switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne base stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; and supporting said plurality of airborne base stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76)
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77. A cellular-type wireless communications system comprising:
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a wireless switching center connected to a telephone network; a plurality of airborne base stations each associated with a cell corresponding to a specific geographic area, each of said plurality of airborne base stations operable to directly transmit and receive communication signals to/from individual subscriber terminals within the associated cell and to/from said wireless switching center to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals; and at least one of said plurality of airborne base stations having at least one antenna for communicating with said wireless switching center and with individual subscriber terminals in a specific geographic region, said plurality of airborne base stations comprising at least a first airborne base station supported by a first aircraft above the geographic region and a second airborne base station supported by a second aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79)
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80. A cellular-type wireless communications system comprising:
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a wireless switching center connected to a telephone network; a plurality of airborne stations each associated with a cell corresponding to a specific geographic area, each airborne station operable to directly transmit and receive communication signals to/from individual subscriber terminals within the associated cell and to/from said wireless switching center to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals, said plurality of airborne stations including at least one antenna for communicating with said wireless switching center and with individual subscriber terminals in an associated cell; and each of said plurality of airborne stations being supported by at least one airborne platform including a propulsion system, the propulsion system being mounted on the airborne platform and being operable to maintain the platform airborne above a geographic area being serviced by the airborne station; and each of said plurality of airborne stations being operative, in conjunction with the wireless switching center, to hand off communication sessions with subscriber terminals to at least one other airborne station. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a mobile switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said mobile switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; supporting said plurality of airborne stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said mobile switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals; and handing off communication sessions of subscriber terminals from one of said plurality of airborne stations to at least one other of said plurality of airborne stations. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94)
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95. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; supporting said plurality of airborne stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals; and handing off communication sessions of subscriber terminals from one of said plurality of airborne stations to at least one other of said plurality of airborne stations. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98)
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99. A cellular-type wireless communications system comprising:
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a wireless switching center connected to a telephone network; a plurality of airborne stations each associated with a cell corresponding to a specific geographic area, each airborne station operable to directly transmit and receive communication signals to/from individual subscriber terminals within the associated cell and to/from said wireless switching center to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals, said plurality of airborne stations including at least one antenna for communicating with said wireless switching center and with individual subscriber terminals in an associated cell; and each of said plurality of airborne stations being supported by at least one airborne platform including a propulsion system, the propulsion system being mounted on the airborne platform and being operable to maintain the platform airborne above a geographic area being serviced by the airborne station. - View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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110. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a mobile switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said mobile switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; and supporting said plurality of airborne stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said mobile switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals. - View Dependent Claims (111, 112, 113)
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114. A method for wireless communications in a geographic area comprising:
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positioning a switching center at a location to facilitate communication in the geographic area, said switching center switching calls between ones of a plurality of airborne stations and a telephone network; positioning and maintaining a plurality of airborne platforms above the geographic area; and supporting said plurality of airborne stations having at least one antenna on said respective plurality of airborne platforms for directly transmitting/receiving communication signals with a plurality of individual mobile subscriber terminals on the ground in said geographic area and with said switching center, to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116, 117)
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118. A cellular-type wireless communications system comprising:
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a wireless switching center connected to a telephone network; a plurality of airborne stations each associated with a cell corresponding to a specific geographic area, each of said plurality of airborne stations operable to directly transmit and receive communication signals to/from individual subscriber terminals within the associated cell and to/from said wireless switching center to enable communication sessions to be maintained, through the telephone network, between individual subscriber terminals and other telecommunication terminals; and at least one of said plurality of airborne stations having at least one antenna for communicating with said wireless switching center and with individual subscriber terminals in a specific geographic region, said plurality of airborne stations comprising at least a first airborne station supported by a first aircraft above the geographic region and a second airborne station supported by a second aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (119, 120)
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128. A wireless, telecommunications network system comprising:
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a plurality of telecommunications nodes located in a sub-orbital plane at about 12 to 35 miles above the earth, means for maintaining said nodes stationary in the sub-orbital plane over preselected points on the earth; and each of said nodes comprising means for sending and receiving telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel between said stationary node in the sub-orbital plane and a mobile ground communications device. - View Dependent Claims (129, 130, 131)
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Specification