System for transmitting wireless high-speed data signals between a terrestrial-based antenna and an aircraft

• US 8,700,032 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gogo Business Aviation LLC (GOGO Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gogo LLC (GOGO Incorporated)
• Inventors: Redford, Stephen, Mielke, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US13/222,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/561
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing wireless high-speed data services for an aircraft. Wireless data signals can be received and transmitted by one or more directional antennae on the aircraft which can be dynamically directed to track one or more terrestrial-based antennae. The terrestrial-based antennae, for receiving and transmitting wireless data signals, are directional and can also be dynamically directed in order to track the aircraft.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of terrestrial-based antennae configured to receive data signals from and transmit data signals to aircraft distributed amongst a plurality of predetermined regions, wherein the plurality of predetermined regions each have an associated bandwidth distribution protocol included in a plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols; and

a controller in communication with the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae, the controller configured to monitor a location of aircraft within the plurality of predetermined regions and coordinate an operation of the plurality of the terrestrial-based antennae;

wherein the controller is configured to adjust an amount of bandwidth supplied to an aircraft, the controller configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based upon a first one of the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols when the aircraft is in a first one of the predetermined regions, the controller configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based upon a second one of the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols when the aircraft is in a second one of the predetermined regions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae comprises a dish antenna.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the predetermined regions is a terrestrial region.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based at least partially upon a number of aircraft communicating with a first one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based at least partially upon a bandwidth demand of at least one aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols includes at least one of a code-division multiple access (CDMA) approach, a frequency division multiple access approach (FDMA), a space division multiple access approach (SDMA) and a time division multiple access approach (TDMA).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to transfer control of communication with one of the aircraft from a first one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae to a second one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae without generating a perceived disruption in communication to the aircraft.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae is directional antennae configured to selectively track the aircraft.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna on one of the aircraft, the at least one antenna configured to transmit and receive data signals between the one of the aircraft and the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae.

10. A system, comprising:

a controller in communication with a plurality of terrestrial-based antennae, the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae configured to receive data signals from and transmit data signals to aircraft distributed amongst a plurality of predetermined regions, wherein the plurality of predetermined regions each have an associated bandwidth distribution protocol included in a plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols;

wherein the controller is configured to monitor a location of aircraft within the plurality of predetermined regions and coordinate an operation of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an amount of bandwidth supplied to an aircraft, the controller configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based upon a first one of the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols when the aircraft is in a first one of the predetermined regions, the controller configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based upon a second one of the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols when the aircraft is in a second one of the predetermined regions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the predetermined regions is a terrestrial region.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based at least partially upon a number of aircraft communicating with a first one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of bandwidth based at least partially upon a bandwidth demand of at least one aircraft.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols includes at least one of a code-division multiple access (CDMA) approach, a frequency division multiple access approach (FDMA), a space division multiple access approach (SDMA) and a time division multiple access approach (TDMA).

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to transfer control of communication with one of the aircraft from a first one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae to a second one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae without generating a perceived disruption in communication to the aircraft.

16. A method, comprising:

transmitting a first data signal from a first one of a plurality of terrestrial-based antennae to an aircraft, the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae distributed amongst a plurality of predetermined regions, the first one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae located in a first one of the predetermined regions, the plurality of predetermined regions each having an associated bandwidth distribution protocol included in a plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols;

adjusting a bandwidth size of the first data signal, the bandwidth size adjusted based upon a first one of the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols;

transmitting a second data signal from a second one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae to an aircraft, the second one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae located in a second one of the predetermined regions; and

adjusting a bandwidth size of the second data signal, the bandwidth size adjusted based upon a second one of the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols different from said first one of the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising establishing at least one of the predetermined regions as a terrestrial region.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the bandwidth size of at least one of the first and second data signals is adjusted in response to a demand for increased bandwidth from the aircraft.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the bandwidth size of the first data signal is adjusted based at least partially upon a number of aircraft communicating with the first one of the plurality of terrestrial-based antennae.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising establishing the plurality of bandwidth distribution protocols as including at least one of a code-division multiple access (CDMA) approach, a frequency division multiple access approach (FDMA), a space division multiple access approach (SDMA) and a time division multiple access approach (TDMA).