Balloon network with free-space optical communication between super-node balloons and RF communication between super-node and sub-node balloons

• US 8,718,477 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SOFTBANK Corporation (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: DeVaul, Richard Wayne, Teller, Eric, Biffle, Clifford L., Weaver, Josh
• Primary Examiner(s): Bello, Agustin
• Application Number:
  US13/346,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20130177321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 398115-131
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1129 Arrangements for outdoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments may involve hierarchical balloon networks that include both optical and radio frequency links between balloons. An exemplary network system may include: (a) a plurality of super-node balloons, where each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) a plurality of sub-node balloons, where each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency communication system that is operable for data communications. Further, at least one super-node balloon may further include an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one sub-node balloon, where the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is further operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one super-node balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a plurality of sub-node balloons configured as sub-nodes in a balloon network, wherein each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency (RF) communication system that is operable for data communications; and

a plurality of super-node balloons configured as super-nodes in a balloon network, wherein each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system that is operable for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons via an optical link, and wherein at least one of the super-node balloons comprises both;

(a) the free-space optical communication system that is operable for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) an RF communication system that is operable for data communications with at least one of the sub-node balloons via an RF link;

wherein the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is operable to transmit the data received from the at least one of the super-node balloons to at least one ground-based station.

2. The network system of claim 1, wherein both the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons are high-altitude balloons.

3. The network system of claim 1, wherein at least the super-node balloons are collectively operable as a mesh network.

4. The network system of claim 3, wherein the mesh network comprises optical links between super-node balloons.

5. The network system of claim 1, wherein the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons are collectively operable as a mesh network, and wherein the mesh network comprises optical links between super-node balloons and RF links between super-node balloons and sub-node balloons.

6. The network system of claim 1, wherein the free-space optical communication system of one or more of the super-node balloons comprises one or more ultra-bright light-emitting diodes that are operable to transmit a free-space optical signal.

7. The network system of claim 1, wherein the free-space optical communication system of one or more of the super-node balloons comprises a receiver that is operable to receive a free-space optical signal.

8. The network system of claim 1, wherein the free-space optical communication system of one or more of the super-node balloons comprises a laser system that is operable to transmit a free-space optical signal.

9. The network system of claim 1, further comprising at least one downlink balloon, wherein the at least one downlink balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system that is operable to:

(a) communicate with one or more of the super-node balloons and (b) communicate with at least one ground-based station.

10. The network system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the super-node balloons and one or more of the sub-node balloons each comprise an altitude-control system that is operable to adjust altitude.

11. The network system of claim 10, wherein the altitude-control system in each of the one or more super-node balloons and the one or more of the sub-node balloons is operable to change the altitude of the respective balloon via adjustments to at least one of:

(a) gas density of the respective balloon and (b) gas volume of the respective balloon.

12. The network system of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more of the super-node balloons and the one or more of the sub-node balloons is further operable to:

use altitudinal wind data to determine a target altitude having wind that corresponds to a desired lateral movement of the respective balloon; and

cause the altitude-control system to initiate altitudinal movement of the respective balloon towards the target altitude in an effort to cause the desired horizontal movement of the respective balloon.

13. The network system of claim 1, wherein the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons are collectively operable as a mesh network, and wherein each balloon is further operable to determine the desired horizontal movement of the respective balloon based on a desired topology of the mesh network.

14. The network system of claim 1, wherein the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons are in substantially continuous motion, and wherein the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons use altitudinal adjustments to move so as to conform with station-keeping parameters.

15. The network system of claim 1, the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons move based on one or more station-keeping parameters, wherein the station-keeping parameters are based on a desired network topology.

16. The network system of claim 15, wherein the one or more station-keeping parameters comprise an acceptable distance range between any two of the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons.

17. The network system of claim 15, wherein the one or more station-keeping parameters comprise one or more of:

(a) an acceptable distance range between adjacent super-node balloons, (b) an acceptable distance range between adjacent sub-node balloons, and (c) an acceptable distance range between a super-node balloon and an adjacent sub-node balloon.

18. The network system of claim 15, wherein the one or more station-keeping parameters comprise an acceptable amount of deviation from a desired density of the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons.

19. The network system of claim 15, wherein the one or more station-keeping parameters comprise one or more of:

(a) an acceptable amount of deviation from a desired density of super-node balloons and (b) an acceptable amount of deviation from a desired density of sub-node balloons, and (c) an acceptable distance range between a super-node balloon and an adjacent sub-node balloon.

20. The network system of claim 15, wherein the station-keeping parameters comprise a first set of station-keeping parameters for the super-node balloons and a second set of station-keeping parameters for the sub-node balloons.

21. The network system of claim 15, wherein the balloon network provides coverage in a plurality of defined geographic areas, and wherein station-keeping parameters are separately determined for each defined geographic area.

22. The network system of claim 1, wherein the super-node balloons collectively provide a backbone of the balloon network, and wherein the sub-node balloons provide one or more access networks for the balloon network.

23. The network system of claim 1, wherein station-keeping functionality of the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons is supported, at least in part, by a centralized control system, wherein the centralized control system comprises one or more ground-based systems.

24. The network system of claim 23, wherein the centralized control system comprises a central control system and one or more regional control systems.

25. The network system of claim 1, wherein station-keeping functionality of each of the super-node balloons and the sub-node balloons is carried out, at least in part, by the respective balloon.

26. A network system comprising:

a plurality of balloons that collectively operate as a hierarchical balloon network, wherein the plurality of balloons comprise at least a plurality of first balloons and a plurality of second balloons;

wherein each of the second balloons comprises a radio-frequency (RF) communication system that is operable for data communications;

wherein each of the first balloons comprises a free-space optical communication system that is operable for packet-data communication with one or more other first balloons, and wherein at least one of the first balloons comprises both;

(a) the free-space optical communication system that is operable for packet-data communication with one or more other first balloons and (b) an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one second balloon; and

wherein the RF communication system of the at least one second balloon is operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one first balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station.

27. The network system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of balloons that collectively operate as the hierarchical balloon network further comprise one or more other types of balloons, in addition to the first and second balloons.

28. The network system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of balloons that collectively operate as the hierarchical balloon network are high-altitude balloons.

29. The network system of claim 26, wherein at least the first balloons are collectively operable as a mesh network.

30. The network system of claim 29, wherein the mesh network comprises optical links between super-node balloons.

31. The network system of claim 26, wherein the hierarchical balloon network is a hierarchical mesh network, and wherein the hierarchical mesh network comprises optical links between the first balloons and RF links between the first balloons and the second balloons.

32. The network system of claim 26, wherein one or more of the first balloons and one or more of the second balloons each comprise an altitude-control system that is operable to adjust altitude.

33. The network system of claim 32, wherein each of the one or more first balloons and the one or more second balloons that comprises an altitude-control system is further operable to:

use altitudinal wind data to determine a target altitude having wind that corresponds to a desired lateral movement of the respective balloon; and

cause the altitude-control system to initiate altitudinal movement of the respective balloon towards the target altitude in an effort to cause the desired horizontal movement of the respective balloon.