Beam forming and pointing in a network of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for broadband access
First Claim
1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) apparatus configured to form antenna beams toward at least one target coverage region on a ground area, the UAV apparatus comprising:
- an antenna fixture configured to form static beams to cover the at least one target coverage region on the ground area;
where a same frequency band can be shared with an adjacent beam from another UAV apparatus at different times via a time-division multiplexing (TDM) scheme;
a plurality of transmitters configured to transmit a first signal to a plurality of ground terminals within the at least one target coverage region on the ground area;
a plurality of receivers configured to receive a second signal from the plurality of ground terminals;
a processor; and
at least one computer program operative to run on the processor, the computer program comprising one or more instructions which are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the UAV apparatus to;
form at least one beam on the ground comprising at least one cell;
where the at least one cell encompasses at least one ground terminal of the plurality of ground terminals; and
where the UAV apparatus maintains an orbit above the ground area.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods configured to form and point beams from one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) toward a target coverage area on the ground. One embodiment describes dividing the target coverage area on the ground among multiple UAVs when each UAV antenna system generates static beams. Another embodiment describes dividing the target coverage area on the ground among multiple UAVs when their antenna systems are capable of dynamically steering their respective beams. Another set of embodiments describe systems and method to allow multiple UAVs to provide service in the same area on the ground using the same spectrum.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) apparatus configured to form antenna beams toward at least one target coverage region on a ground area, the UAV apparatus comprising:
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an antenna fixture configured to form static beams to cover the at least one target coverage region on the ground area; where a same frequency band can be shared with an adjacent beam from another UAV apparatus at different times via a time-division multiplexing (TDM) scheme; a plurality of transmitters configured to transmit a first signal to a plurality of ground terminals within the at least one target coverage region on the ground area; a plurality of receivers configured to receive a second signal from the plurality of ground terminals; a processor; and at least one computer program operative to run on the processor, the computer program comprising one or more instructions which are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the UAV apparatus to; form at least one beam on the ground comprising at least one cell; where the at least one cell encompasses at least one ground terminal of the plurality of ground terminals; and where the UAV apparatus maintains an orbit above the ground area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of forming antenna beams toward at least one target coverage region on a ground area, the method comprising:
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forming at least one static beam to cover the at least one target coverage region on the ground area comprising at least one cell; where at least one neighboring beam to the at least one static beam is formed by another UAV apparatus; where the at least one static beam and the at least one neighboring beam share a same frequency band by dividing the same frequency band into one or more sub-bands; wherein the at least one cell encompasses at least one ground terminal of a plurality of ground terminals; and transmitting a first signal to the plurality of ground terminals within the at least one target coverage region on the ground area; receiving a second signal from the plurality of ground terminals; and maintaining an orbit above the ground area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) apparatus, the UAV apparatus comprising:
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an antenna fixture configured to form one or more beams; a plurality of transmitters configured to transmit a first signal to a plurality of ground terminals without steering; wherein the at least one target coverage region comprises an area that corresponds to an orbital path; a plurality of receivers configured to receive a second signal from the plurality of ground terminals; and logic configured to form at least one beam on the ground comprising at least one cell; wherein the at least one cell encompasses at least one ground terminal of the plurality of ground terminals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification