Balloon network with free-space optical communication between super-node balloons and RF communication between super-node and sub-node balloons
First Claim
1. A network system comprising:
- a plurality of sub-node balloons configured as sub-nodes in a balloon network, wherein each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency (RF) communication system that is operable for data communications; and
a plurality of super-node balloons configured as super-nodes in a balloon network, wherein each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system that is operable for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons via an optical link, and wherein at least one of the super-node balloons comprises both;
(a) the free-space optical communication system that is operable for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) an RF communication system that is operable for data communications with at least one of the sub-node balloons via an RF link;
wherein the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is operable to transmit the data received from the at least one of the super-node balloons to at least one ground-based station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments may involve hierarchical balloon networks that include both optical and radio frequency links between balloons. An exemplary network system may include: (a) a plurality of super-node balloons, where each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) a plurality of sub-node balloons, where each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency communication system that is operable for data communications. Further, at least one super-node balloon may further include an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one sub-node balloon, where the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is further operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one super-node balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A network system comprising:
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a plurality of sub-node balloons configured as sub-nodes in a balloon network, wherein each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency (RF) communication system that is operable for data communications; and a plurality of super-node balloons configured as super-nodes in a balloon network, wherein each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system that is operable for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons via an optical link, and wherein at least one of the super-node balloons comprises both;
(a) the free-space optical communication system that is operable for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) an RF communication system that is operable for data communications with at least one of the sub-node balloons via an RF link;wherein the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is operable to transmit the data received from the at least one of the super-node balloons to at least one ground-based station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A network system comprising:
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a plurality of balloons that collectively operate as a hierarchical balloon network, wherein the plurality of balloons comprise at least a plurality of first balloons and a plurality of second balloons; wherein each of the second balloons comprises a radio-frequency (RF) communication system that is operable for data communications; wherein each of the first balloons comprises a free-space optical communication system that is operable for packet-data communication with one or more other first balloons, and wherein at least one of the first balloons comprises both;
(a) the free-space optical communication system that is operable for packet-data communication with one or more other first balloons and (b) an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one second balloon; andwherein the RF communication system of the at least one second balloon is operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one first balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification