Communication system using multiple link terminals for aircraft

• US 7,167,704 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Donald C. D., Lim, Wah L., Chang, Ming U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US11/389,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66.1, 455/431, 455/428, 455/427, 455/13.2, 455/13.3, 455/12.1, 455/432.2, 455/59, 455/430, 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/424, 455/425, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/452.1, 455/452.2, 455/456.2, 455/464, 455/3.01, 455 302- 306, 370/316, 370/338, 370/317, 370/321, 370/325, 370/326, 370/511, 370/358, 370/352, 370/353, 370354-355, 370/343, 725/39, 725/143, 725 74- 76, 725/81, 725/62, 725/63, 725/105, 725/86, 725121-123, 725/134, 725/77, 704/270.01, 709/227
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

A communication system has a communication infrastructure and a gateway station communicating a communication signal to the communication infrastructure. An airplane having an antenna coupled to a processing circuit for establishing a plurality of multiple communication links corresponding to the communication infrastructure is used. The gateway station generates multiple datagrams from the television signal and transmits the multiple datagrams through the multiple dynamic links. The antenna receives the datagrams from the infrastructure and the processing circuit and reassembles the datagrams into the communication signal.

Claims

1. A television broadcast system comprising:

a television feed system generating a television signal;

a first gateway station coupled to said feed system forming a first plurality of datagrams from the television signal;

an airplane having an antenna coupled to a processing circuit;

a communication infrastructure communicating the plurality of datagrams through a plurality of communication links to the antenna;

said processing circuit comprising a demultiplexer, said processing circuit reassembling said datagrams into the television signal prior to demultiplexing the television signal; and

a server;

a plurality of user locations within the airplane, said server directing the television signal to said plurality of user locations.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of datagrams comprises a header and data area.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the multiple datagrams comprise a header and data area.

4. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of dynamic links have independently varying data rates.

5. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a router circuit for routing uplink datagrams through the plurality of communication links.

6. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 5 wherein the router circuit receives the datagrams and rearranges the datagrams in a predetermined sequence.

7. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a multiple beam antenna capable of simultaneously generating the plurality of communication links.

8. A television broadcast system comprising:

a television feed system generating a television signal;

a first gateway station coupled to said feed system forming a first plurality of datagrams from the television signal;

an airplane having an antenna coupled to a processing circuit; and

a communication infrastructure comprising a satellite directing the plurality of datagrams through a plurality of communication links to the antenna;

said processing circuit comprising a demultiplexer, said processing circuit reassembling said datagrams into the television signal prior to demultiplexing the television signal.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the plurality of datagrams comprises a header and data area.

10. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the plurality of communication links comprises a plurality of dynamic links.

11. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 8 wherein the plurality of dynamic links have independently varying data rates.

12. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 8 further comprising a router circuit for routing uplink datagrams through the plurality of communication links.

13. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 12 wherein the router circuit receives the datagrams and rearranges the datagrams in a predetermined sequence.

14. A television broadcast system as recited in claim 8 wherein the antenna comprises a multiple beam antenna capable of simultaneously generating the plurality of communication links.