Antenna beam management and gateway design for broadband access using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for providing broadband access, comprising:
- a plurality of gateways, each of the gateways being coupled to a core network;
one or more user terminals; and
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the UAV comprising;
a first antenna system configured to form at least one first beam towards the one or more user terminals;
a second antenna system configured to form at least one second beam toward the one or more gateways;
a first set of radio transceivers and modems configured to transmit and receive a first plurality of signals to/from the one or more user terminals;
a second set of radio transceivers and modems configured to transmit and receive a second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways; and
a router/processor sub-system configured to route packets between the one or more user terminals and at least one of the plurality of gateways and to manage the at least one first and at least one second beams, where the router/processor sub-system is further configured to;
determine at least one blockage condition that affects transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways; and
responsively switch the transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from one or more diversity gateways.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for creating beams from a non-terrestrial vehicle (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) toward user terminals and gateways on the ground. Another aspect of the disclosure includes systems and methods for switching the UAV beams toward the user terminals and gateways as the UAV moves in its orbit. Still another aspect of the disclosure describes systems and methods for routing traffic from user terminals to the internet via multiple gateways.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for providing broadband access, comprising:
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a plurality of gateways, each of the gateways being coupled to a core network; one or more user terminals; and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the UAV comprising; a first antenna system configured to form at least one first beam towards the one or more user terminals; a second antenna system configured to form at least one second beam toward the one or more gateways; a first set of radio transceivers and modems configured to transmit and receive a first plurality of signals to/from the one or more user terminals; a second set of radio transceivers and modems configured to transmit and receive a second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways; and a router/processor sub-system configured to route packets between the one or more user terminals and at least one of the plurality of gateways and to manage the at least one first and at least one second beams, where the router/processor sub-system is further configured to; determine at least one blockage condition that affects transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways; and responsively switch the transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from one or more diversity gateways. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for use within a system for providing broadband access, the UAV comprising:
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a first antenna system configured to form at least one first beam towards one or more user terminals; a second antenna system configured to form at least one second beam toward one or more gateways; a first set of radio transceivers and modems configured to transmit and receive a first plurality of signals to/from the one or more user terminals; a second set of radio transceivers and modems configured to transmit and receive a second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways; and a router/processor sub-system configured to route packets between the one or more user terminals and at least one of the plurality of gateways and to manage the at least one first and at least one second beams, where the router/processor sub-system is further configured to; determine at least one blockage condition that affects transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways; and responsively switch the transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from one or more diversity gateways. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing broadband access, the method comprising:
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forming at least one first beam towards one or more user terminals via a first antenna system; forming at least one second beam toward one or more gateways via a second antenna system; transmitting and receiving a first plurality of signals to/from the one or more user terminals via a first set of radio transceivers and modems; transmitting and receiving a second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways via a second set of radio transceivers and modems; and routing packets between the one or more user terminals and at least one of the plurality of gateways and managing the at least one first and at least one second beams; determining at least one blockage condition that affects transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from the one or more gateways; and responsively switching the transmission or reception of the second plurality of signals to/from one or more diversity gateways. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification