Multi-antenna satellite system with wireless interface to vehicle

• US 7,974,571 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Pateros, Charles N., Miller, Mark J., Dankberg, Mark D., Das, Aniruddha
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US11/818,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 455/427, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/13.3, 455/12.1, 455/430, 455/501, 455/504, 455/502, 455/11.1, 455/3.02, 455/428, 455/458, 455/517, 455/552.1, 455/569.2, 370/321, 370/280
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18534 for enhancing link reliablility, e.g. satellites diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1858 Arrangements for data transmission on the physical system, i.e. for data bit transmission between network components

Abstract

A wireless satellite communication device is provided according to one embodiment of the invention. The wireless satellite communication device may include one or more satellite antennas, one or more local antennas and circuitry. A satellite antenna may be configured to communicate with one or more satellites. The local antenna may be configured to communicate with one or more wireless user devices within the vicinity of the wireless satellite communication device. The local antennas may include a local antenna. The circuitry may be coupled with the satellite antenna and the local antenna and may be configured to receive data from the satellite antenna and transmit the data with the local antenna. The wireless satellite communication device may also include a solar panel configured to provide electrical power to at least the satellite antenna, the local antenna, and the circuitry.

Claims

1. A wireless satellite communication device providing a satellite communication link for wireless devices within a vehicle, comprising:

one or more satellite antennas coupled with the vehicle and configured to communicate with one or more satellites;

one or more local antennas coupled with the vehicle and configured to communicate with at least one or more wireless user devices within the vehicle;

circuitry coupled with the satellite antenna and the local antenna, wherein the circuitry is configured to receive data from the satellite antenna and transmit the data with the local antenna; and

a battery configured to provide power to at least the satellite antenna, the local antenna, and the circuitry,

wherein the circuitry is configured to receive data from a satellite through the satellite antenna with a first channel access protocol and transmit the data with the local antenna with a second channel access protocol.

2. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless satellite communication device includes at least two antennas in communication with at least two satellites and the wireless satellite communication device communicates with the satellites using MIMO techniques.

3. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more satellite antennas are configured to communicate with one or more satellites and one or more non-orbital repeaters.

4. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 3, wherein the wireless satellite communication device includes at least two antennas in communication with at least one satellite and at least one non-orbital repeater, and the wireless satellite communication device communicates with the satellite and the non-orbital repeater using MIMO techniques.

5. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to receive data from the local antenna and transmit the data to a satellite through the satellite antenna.

6. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 5, wherein the circuitry is configured to receive data from the local antenna with the second channel access protocol and transmit the data to the satellite through the satellite antenna with a first channel access protocol.

7. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second channel access protocol utilizes an IEEE 802.11 standard.

8. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one attachment member configured to couple the wireless satellite communication device with the exterior of the vehicle.

9. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 8, wherein the attachment member comprises one or more magnets.

10. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the local antenna is coupled with the exterior of a vehicle.

11. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the local antenna is coupled with the interior of a vehicle.

12. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery.

13. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the local antenna comprises a patch antenna.

14. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless satellite communication device comprises a spoiler.

15. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, wherein the local antenna is configured to provide increased gain within the interior of the vehicle.

16. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a spoiler on the exterior of the vehicle.

17. A method for providing satellite communication with wireless devices within a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving data from one or more satellites through one or more satellite antennas coupled with the vehicle using a first channel access protocol; and

transmitting the data to one or more wireless user devices within the vehicle through at least one local antenna coupled with the vehicle using a second channel access protocol.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising receiving data from one or more non-orbital receivers through the one or more satellite antennas coupled with the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the data is received from the one or more satellites using MIMO techniques.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the local antenna is coupled with the exterior of the vehicle.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the local antenna is coupled with the interior of the vehicle.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the the second channel access protocol utilizes an IEEE 802.11 standard.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a second set of data from the one or more wireless user devices through at least one local antenna; and

transmitting the second set of data to the one or more satellites through one or more satellite antennas.

24. A wireless satellite communication device providing a satellite communication link for wireless devices within a vehicle, comprising:

one or more satellite antennas coupled with the vehicle and configured to communicate with one or more satellites;

one or more local antennas coupled with the vehicle and configured to communicate with at least one or more wireless user devices within the vehicle;

circuitry coupled with the satellite antenna and the local antenna, wherein the circuitry is configured to receive data from the satellite antenna and transmit the data to the wireless user devices with the local antenna; and

at least one solar panel configured to convert solar radiation to electric power and the solar panel is coupled with the satellite antenna, the local antenna, and the circuitry

wherein the circuitry is configured to receive data from a satellite through the satellite antenna with a first channel access protocol and transmit the data with the local antenna with a second channel access protocol.

25. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 24, wherein the one or more satellite antennas are configured to communicate with one or more satellites and one or more non-orbital repeaters.

26. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 24, further comprising a battery coupled with the satellite antenna, the local antenna, and the circuitry and configured to store electrical power from the solar panel.

27. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 24, wherein the second channel access protocol utilizes an IEEE 802.11 standard.

28. The wireless satellite communication device according to claim 24, wherein the circuitry is configured to receive data from the local antenna with the second channel access protocol and transmit the data to a satellite through the satellite antenna with the first channel access protocol.