System and Methods for Wireless Broadband Delivery of Data

• US 20110034191A1
• Filed: 07/04/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TruePath Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: TruePath Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Leabman, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/501
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2611 Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A system and method for wireless data delivery is provided. The communication may be between the antenna arrays of an airborne platform (such as aircraft) and a surface base station. The antenna arrays may generate a plurality of directional synchronization beams directed in at a plurality of corresponding spatial directions. Other antenna arrays receive the directional synchronization beam and respond in kind, providing the original antenna array a way to determine directionality of the other antenna arrays. The antenna arrays may then receive a training beam. The training beam includes known data, such as a Fourier Matrix, which may then be utilized to generate weights. Weights may then be utilized to modify either of the phase or amplitude of a base signal which is then sent to each of the elements of the antenna array in order to achieve directionality of the signal propagation. Thus, a directional beam may be formed which is oriented toward the source of the training beam, which may be a base station or the like. It may also be desirable to identify sources of interference. Interference sources are all non-desired sources of radiation within the target frequency range. Lastly, the system may steer one or more nulls in order to substantially attenuate the sources of interference.

Claims

1. A method for attenuating sources of interference during wireless communication between an airborne platform and a surface base station, the method comprising:

forming a directional beam towards a base station, wherein the directional beam is spatially oriented signal propagation originating from the airborne platform, and wherein the directional beam receives a signal from the surface base station;

identifying at least one source of interference; and

forming at least one null to substantially attenuate the at least one source of interference.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one null is formed to substantially reduce the signal to interference ratio.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one null is generated utilizing the airborne platform.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one null is formed substantially below the airborne platform.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising modulating the formed at least one null over time, utilizing a time tail, in order to reduce the signal to interference ratio.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

generating a plurality of directional synchronization beams, wherein the plurality of directional synchronization beams are directed in at a plurality of corresponding spatial directions; and

receiving a response to at least one of the plurality of generated directional synchronization beams thereby determining direction of a base station from the response.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the directional synchronization beams are generated by introducing at least one of randomized and deterministic perturbations to at least one of phase and amplitude of signal provided to at least one antenna in an antenna array.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the generating the plurality of directional synchronization beams includes transmitting the plurality of directional synchronization beams sequentially.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the generating the plurality of directional synchronization beams includes transmitting the plurality of directional synchronization beams simultaneously.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a training beam including a known data;

generating weights from the received known data;

utilizing the generated weights to modify at least one of phase and amplitude of a base signal, and wherein the modifying of the at least one of phase and amplitude determine directionality of the formed directional beam.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the known data includes a column from at least one of a Walsh, a Golay, a Hadamard, and a Fourier matrix.

12. A system for wireless communication between an airborne platform and a surface base station, the system comprising:

an antenna array at an airborne platform configured to;

generate a plurality of directional synchronization beams, wherein the plurality of directional synchronization beams are directed in at a plurality of corresponding spatial directions; and

receive a response to at least one of the plurality of generated directional synchronization beams thereby determining directionality of a base station from the response

receive a training beam including a known data;

generate weights from the received known data;

form a directional beam towards a base station, wherein the directional beam is spatially oriented signal propagation originating from the airborne platform, and wherein the directional beam receives signals from the surface base station; and

wherein the directional beam is formed using a modified base signal, and wherein the modifying the base signal includes modifying at least one of phase and amplitude using the generated weights;

identify at least one source of interference by flagging all radiating sources, identifying at least one inbound beamform, removing the radiating sources which are generating the at least one inbound beamform from the flagged radiating sources, and setting remaining flagged radiating sources as interference sources; and

form at least one null to substantially attenuate the at least one source of interference.

13. A method for synchronizing wireless communication between an airborne platform and a surface base station, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of directional synchronization beams, wherein the plurality of directional synchronization beams are directed in at a plurality of corresponding spatial directions; and

receiving a response to at least one of the plurality of generated directional synchronization beams thereby determining directionality of a base station from the response.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the directional synchronization beams are generated by introducing at least one of randomized and deterministic perturbations to at least one of phase and amplitude of signal provided to at least one antenna in an antenna array.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the generating the plurality of directional synchronization beams includes transmitting the plurality of directional synchronization beams in series.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the generating the plurality of directional synchronization beams includes transmitting the plurality of directional synchronization beams simultaneously.

17. A method for training wireless communication between an airborne platform and a surface base station, the method comprising:

receiving a training beam including a known data;

generating weights from the received known data;

utilizing the generated weights to modify at least one of phase and amplitude of a base signal, and wherein the modifying of the at least one of phase and amplitude determine directionality of the formed directional beam.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the known data includes a column from at leak one of a Walsh, a Golay, a Hadamard, and a Fourier matrix.