Wedge shaped cells in a wireless communication system

• US 9,913,149 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartsky Networks Llc
• Original Assignee: Smartsky Networks Llc
• Inventors: Hyslop, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US15/345,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 455446, 370328, 370338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/30 Special cell shapes, e.g. doughnuts or ring cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/328 by altitude
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Aspects described herein relate to a network for providing air-to-ground wireless communication in various cells. The network includes a first base station array, each base station of which includes a respective first antenna array defining a directional radiation pattern that is oriented in a first direction, wherein each base station of the first base station array is disposed spaced apart from another base station of the first base station array along the first direction by a first distance. The network also includes a similar second base station array where the second base station array extends substantially parallel to the first base station array and is spaced apart from the first base station array by a second distance to form continuous and at least partially overlapping cell coverage areas between respective base stations of the first and second base station arrays.

Claims

1. A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, the network comprising:

a first base station array, each base station of which includes a respective first antenna array defining a first directional radiation pattern, wherein each base station of the first base station array is disposed spaced apart from another base station of the first base station array; and

a second base station array, each base station of which includes a respective second antenna array defining a second directional radiation pattern,

wherein each base station of the second base station array is disposed spaced apart from another base station of the second base station array,

wherein at least one base station of the first base station array overlaps cell coverage areas with at least one base station of the second base station array,

wherein the first directional radiation pattern or the second directional radiation pattern defines a substantially wedge shaped radiation pattern,

wherein each base station of the first base station array is of a first type, and each base station of the second base station array is of a second type, the first and second types being different from each other,

wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array overlaps cell coverage areas with the at least one base station of the second base station array to extend coverage for communication with an aircraft up to a predetermined altitude; and

wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array is enabled to handover communication with the aircraft to the at least one base station of the second base station array responsive to movement of the aircraft.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on employing a different frequency or communication channel.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on the first type employing unlicensed spectrum and the second type employing licensed spectrum.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on the first type employing unlicensed spectrum and the second type employing a long term evolution (LTE) air interface.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on the first type employing the substantially wedge shaped radiation pattern, and the second type employing a different radiation pattern.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein coverage provided immediately above a geographic location of a given base station of the first type is provided by a base station of the second type up to the predetermined altitude.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the handover between the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array is made based on altitude of the aircraft.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein the overlap between coverage areas of the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array occurs proximate to the altitude of the aircraft at the handover.

9. The network of claim 1, wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array each operate at unlicensed band frequencies.

10. The network of claim 1, wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array each operate at frequency bands in a licensed spectrum.

11. A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, the network comprising:

a first base station array, each base station of which includes a respective first antenna array defining a first directional radiation pattern, wherein each base station of the first base station array is disposed spaced apart from another base station of the first base station array; and

a second base station array, each base station of which includes a respective second antenna array defining a second directional radiation pattern,

wherein each base station of the second base station array is disposed spaced apart from another base station of the second base station array,

wherein at least one base station of the first base station array overlaps cell coverage areas with at least one base station of the second base station array,

wherein the first directional radiation pattern or the second directional radiation pattern defines a radiation pattern that extends toward the horizon bounded between a first elevation angle and a second elevation angle,

wherein each base station of the first base station array is of a first type, and each base station of the second base station array is of a second type, the first and second types being different from each other,

wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array overlaps cell coverage areas with the at least one base station of the second base station array to extend coverage for communication with an aircraft up to a predetermined altitude; and

wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array is enabled to handover communication with the aircraft to the at least one base station of the second base station array responsive to movement of the aircraft.

12. The network of claim 11, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on employing a different frequency or communication channel.

13. The network of claim 11, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on the first type employing unlicensed spectrum and the second type employing licensed spectrum.

14. The network of claim 11, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on the first type employing unlicensed spectrum and the second type employing a long term evolution (LTE) air interface.

15. The network of claim 11, wherein the first type and the second type are different based on the first type employing a substantially wedge shaped radiation pattern, and the second type employing a different radiation pattern.

16. The network of claim 11, wherein coverage provided immediately above a geographic location of a given base station of the first type is provided by a base station of the second type up to the predetermined altitude.

17. The network of claim 11, wherein the handover between the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array is made based on altitude of the aircraft.

18. The network of claim 17, wherein the overlap between coverage areas of the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array occurs proximate to the altitude of the aircraft at the handover.

19. The network of claim 11, wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array each operate at unlicensed band frequencies.

20. The network of claim 11, wherein the at least one base station of the first base station array and the at least one base station of the second base station array each operate at frequency bands in a licensed spectrum.