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Beam forming and pointing in a network of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for broadband access

  • US 9,800,320 B2
  • Filed: 09/06/2016
  • Issued: 10/24/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A ground terminal apparatus configured to operate within a first service area and be provided data communication services from a first service provider, comprising:

  • a terminal antenna fixture configured to form a first beam toward one or more unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the terminal antenna fixture configured to steer the first beam thereof to track a position of the one or more UAV as the one or more UAV maintains one or more corresponding orbits, the one or more UAV comprising a subset of a plurality of UAV, the subset of the plurality of UAV in data communication with the first service provider via a gateway apparatus;

    a plurality of radio transmitters configured to transmit a first signal to the one or more UAV; and

    a plurality of receivers configured to receive a second signal from the one or more UAV;

    where the first service area is at least partially overlapping with a second service area associated with at least one other ground terminal apparatus, the at least one other ground terminal apparatus configured to form a second beam toward one or more other UAV of the plurality of UAV and be provided data communication services from a second service provider.

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