Methods for providing distributed airborne wireless communications

• US 9,985,718 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunlight Aerospace Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sunlight Photonics Incorporated
• Inventors: Frolov, Sergey V., Cyrus, Michael, Bruce, Allan J., Moussouris, John Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Qun
• Application Number:
  US15/457,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20180123678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

Embodiments of methods for providing distributed airborne wireless communications are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of providing wireless communication services includes: receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from a first area by a distributed airborne communication payload, wherein the distributed airborne communication payload is comprised of sections located on respective ones of a plurality of airborne platforms; relaying the RF signal along the sections located on different airborne platforms; and transmitting the RF signal to a second area.

Claims

1. A method of providing wireless communication services, comprising:

providing a plurality of airborne platforms with predetermined payload power and weight capabilities;

dividing a total communication payload into smaller communication payload sections, wherein each communication payload section has power and weight requirements that can be satisfied by the capabilities of a single airborne platform;

mounting at least one communication payload section onto different ones of the airborne platforms and forming an airborne fleet with net communication payload capabilities of an airborne wireless communication node to define a distributed airborne communication payload;

receiving a wireless signal from a first area by the distributed airborne communication payload; and

relaying the received wireless signal along the communication payload sections located on the different ones of the airborne platforms to transmit the received wireless signal to a second area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein relaying the signal further comprises:

transmitting the signal between different airborne platforms of the plurality of airborne platforms.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first area or the second area is on the ground.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area and the second area are on the ground.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first area or the second area is in the air.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first area or the second area is on the ground and wherein the other of the first area or the second area is in the air.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the distributed airborne communication payload, transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a base station on the ground.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the distributed airborne communication payload, transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a cell tower.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the distributed airborne communication payload, transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a communication satellite.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein using the distributed airborne communication payload provides a single system image to end-user devices.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the wireless communication services for at least 24 hours.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the wireless communication services year-round.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing cell phone services using the distributed airborne communication payload.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing broadcasting services to the at least one of the first and second areas.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is an optical signal.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing equipment for air-to-air communications between individual airborne platforms, hardware and software for organizing and synchronizing operations of individual UAVs, and a node controller for regulating node operations.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

launching the airborne platforms into airspace, transporting the airborne platforms to a service area, and distributing the airborne platforms within at least one of the first and second areas.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing auto-pilot capabilities to at least one airborne platform and enabling at least one of;

cooperative flight patterns, collision avoidance, formation flights, or more efficient wind or solar energy harvesting.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subdividing at least one of the first and second areas into communication cells and producing an airborne cellular map;

assigning communication payload sections to respective communication cells, establishing communication links and providing communication services within the communication cells by respective payload sections; and

selecting frequency bands, channels and formats for communications within the communication cells to optimize performance of the communication link and minimize interference between neighboring communication cells.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

maintaining boundaries of the communication cells and controlling at least one of the number, size, shape, or position of one or more communication cells.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

supporting communication services within existing communication cells established by terrestrial wireless providers.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

flying the airborne platforms at a first distance from the first area, wherein the distance between at least two airborne platforms is substantially smaller than the first distance.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

flying the airborne platforms at a second distance from the second area, wherein the distance between at least two airborne platforms is substantially smaller than the second distance.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

flying at least two of the airborne platforms in a flight formation, wherein at least one of the airborne platforms flies in the wake of another airborne platform.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using renewable power resources to provide electrical power to the airborne platforms, including at least one of solar power, wind power, or thermal power.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using free space optical apparatus for communications between the airborne platforms.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing a number of airborne platforms in response to increase in demand for communication services.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decreasing a number of airborne platforms in response to decrease in demand for communication services.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using a piloted airborne platform to perform one of receiving signals, transmitting signals, or providing auxiliary power to other airborne platforms.