Methods for providing distributed airborne wireless communications
First Claim
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1. A method of providing wireless communication services, comprising:
- receiving a first radio frequency (RF) signal from a first area by a distributed airborne communication payload comprising communication system components including transmitters, receivers, and a payload control module, wherein the payload control module is comprised of sections located on respective ones of a plurality of airborne platforms and wherein the distributed airborne communication payload is controlled by the payload control module to function as a single network component;
relaying the first RF signal along the sections located on different airborne platforms, the relaying comprising receiving the first RF signal over a first channel frequency at a first airborne platform and transmitting the first RF signal, at the first channel frequency or at a second channel frequency, from the first airborne platform to a second platform airborne platform to produce an air-to-user (ATU) link;
transmitting the first RF signal to a second area; and
transmitting a second RF signal between the first airborne platform and second airborne platform to set up and control operation of the ATU link;
wherein the method further comprises;
providing a plurality of airborne platforms with predetermined payload power and weight capabilities;
providing communication payload sections, wherein each section has power and weight requirements that can be satisfied by the capabilities of at least one single airborne platform; and
mounting the communication payload sections onto the airborne platforms and forming an airborne fleet with net communication payload capabilities of an airborne wireless communication node.
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Abstract
Embodiments of methods for providing distributed airborne wireless communications are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of providing wireless communication services includes: receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from a first area by a distributed airborne communication payload, wherein the distributed airborne communication payload is comprised of sections located on respective ones of a plurality of airborne platforms; relaying the RF signal along the sections located on different airborne platforms; and transmitting the RF signal to a second area.
72 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of providing wireless communication services, comprising:
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receiving a first radio frequency (RF) signal from a first area by a distributed airborne communication payload comprising communication system components including transmitters, receivers, and a payload control module, wherein the payload control module is comprised of sections located on respective ones of a plurality of airborne platforms and wherein the distributed airborne communication payload is controlled by the payload control module to function as a single network component; relaying the first RF signal along the sections located on different airborne platforms, the relaying comprising receiving the first RF signal over a first channel frequency at a first airborne platform and transmitting the first RF signal, at the first channel frequency or at a second channel frequency, from the first airborne platform to a second platform airborne platform to produce an air-to-user (ATU) link; transmitting the first RF signal to a second area; and transmitting a second RF signal between the first airborne platform and second airborne platform to set up and control operation of the ATU link;
wherein the method further comprises;providing a plurality of airborne platforms with predetermined payload power and weight capabilities; providing communication payload sections, wherein each section has power and weight requirements that can be satisfied by the capabilities of at least one single airborne platform; and mounting the communication payload sections onto the airborne platforms and forming an airborne fleet with net communication payload capabilities of an airborne wireless communication node. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification