Global communication network

• US 9,973,260 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2017
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Haziza, Dedi David
• Primary Examiner(s): Elliott, IV, Benjamin H
• Application Number:
  US15/433,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20170163334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/043 Pseudo-noise [PN] codes variable during transmission synchronisation of spread spectrum receivers H04B1/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method for modifying a communication signal for transmission from a source to a destination includes identifying, by data processing hardware, a target platform for communication with a communication device. The method includes establishing a communication connection between the target platform and the communication device and identifying an available communication channel for communicating data between the target platform and the communication device. The method also includes modifying a communication signal by multiplying the communication signal with a pseudo random noise spreading code. The method also includes causing transmission of the modified communication signal from the communication device to the target platform through the available communication channel. The modified communication signal is transmitted below a thermal noise of the available communication channel.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by data processing hardware, a target platform for communication with a communication device;

establishing a communication connection between the target platform and the communication device;

identifying, by the data processing hardware, an available communication channel for communicating data between the target platform and the communication device;

modifying, by the data processing hardware, a communication signal by multiplying the communication signal with a pseudo-random noise-spreading code, the communication signal being above a thermal noise of the available communication channel before the modifying of the communication signal, and a modified communication signal resulting from the modifying of the communication signal being below the thermal noise of the available communication channel; and

causing, by the data processing hardware, transmission of the modified communication signal from the communication device to the target platform through the available communication channel, the modified communication signal being transmitted below the thermal noise of the available communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before modifying the communication signal, generating, by the data processing hardware, the communication signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before modifying the communication signal, receiving, at the data processing hardware, the communication signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pseudo random noise spreading code spreads the communication signal by a factor of 128.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified communication signal is transmitted through the available communication channel in a Ku band.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the target platform comprises:

tracking, by the data processing hardware, global positions of high altitude platforms;

determining, by the data processing hardware, a collection of high altitude platforms and available communication channels for transmitting the communication signal at a communication time of the transmission of the modified communication signal from the communication device; and

selecting, by the data processing hardware, the target platform from the collection of high altitude platforms.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the target platform comprises identifying a high altitude platform for communication with the communication device and available communication channels for transmitting the communication signal at a communication time of the transmission of the modified communication signal from the communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a phased array antenna.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein establishing the communication connection between the target platform and the communication device comprises steering one or more array elements of the phased array antenna to move a corresponding communication beam.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a ground station or a source high altitude platform comprises the data processing hardware.

11. A communication system comprising:

a modem configured to;

receive a communication signal; and

modify the communication signal by multiplying the communication signal with a pseudo random noise spreading code; and

a phased array antenna system in communication with the modem, the phased array antenna system comprising;

a phased array antenna; and

data processing hardware configured to perform operations comprising;

identifying a target platform for communication with the phased array antenna;

establishing a communication connection between the target platform and the communication system;

identifying an available communication channel for communicating data between the target platform and the communication system, the communication signal being above a thermal noise of the available communication channel before the modifying of the communication signal, and a modified communication signal resulting from the modifying of the communication signal being below the thermal noise of the available communication channel; and

transmitting the modified communication signal from the phased array antenna to the target platform through the available communication channel, the modified communication signal being transmitted below the thermal noise of the available communication channel.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise, before modifying the communication signal, generating the communication signal.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise, before modifying the communication signal, receiving the communication signal.

14. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the pseudo random noise spreading code spreads the communication signal by a factor of 128.

15. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the modified communication signal is transmitted through the available communication channel in a Ku band.

16. The communication system of claim 11, wherein identifying the target platform comprises:

tracking global positions of high altitude platforms;

determining a collection of high altitude platforms and available communication channels for transmitting the communication signal at a communication time of the transmission of the modified communication signal from the phased array antenna; and

selecting the target platform from the collection of high altitude platforms.

17. The communication system of claim 11, wherein identifying the target platform comprises identifying a high altitude platform for communication with the phased array antenna and available communication channels for transmitting the communication signal at a communication time of the transmission of the modified communication signal from the phased array antenna.

18. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the phased array antenna comprises:

antennas disposed on a micro strip; and

a phase shifter connected to at least one of the antennas.

19. The communication system of claim 11, wherein establishing the communication connection between the target platform and the phased array antenna comprises steering one or more array elements of the phased array antenna to move a corresponding communication beam.

20. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the phased array antenna system is disposed on a ground station.