Adaptive communication mode switching
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting data, the method comprising:
- (i) providing a first communication module on a vehicle, wherein the first communication module is capable of establishing a direct communication link with a remote terminal, wherein said direct communication link is configured for transmitting downlink data to the remote terminal and receiving uplink data from the remote terminal;
(ii) providing a second communication module on a vehicle, wherein the second communication module is capable of establishing an indirect communication link with the remote terminal, wherein said indirect communication link is configured for transmitting downlink data to the remote terminal and receiving uplink data from the remote terminal;
(iii) determining, with aid of one or more processors, whether a prospective data transmission is an uplink data transmission or a downlink data transmission; and
when the prospective data transmission is an uplink data transmission, wherein the uplink data transmission comprises control data for varying an orientation of a payload of the vehicle relative to an orientation of the vehicle,(A) assessing, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet a first criterion;
(B) selecting, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the uplink data transmission is to occur over (1) the direct communication link provided by the first communication module, (2) the indirect communication link provided by the second communication module, or (3) both the direct communication link and the indirect communication link simultaneously, based on the assessment of whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet the first criterion; and
(C) performing the data transmission in accordance with the selected option of (1), (2), or (3) of step (B); and
when the prospective data transmission is a downlink data transmission,(D) assessing, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet a second criterion;
(E) selecting, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the downlink data transmission is to occur over (1) the direct communication link provided by the first communication module, (2) the indirect communication link provided by the second communication module, or (3) both the direct communication link and the indirect communication link simultaneously, based on the assessment whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet the second criterion; and
(F) performing the data transmission in accordance with the selected option of (1), (2), or (3) of step (E),wherein the uplink data transmission comprises control data for varying an orientation of a payload of the vehicle relative to an orientation of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, method, and devices are provided for transmitting data. In one aspect, a method includes providing a plurality of communication modules, each of the plurality of communication modules configured to transmit data using a different communication method; establishing, with the plurality of communication modules, a plurality of simultaneous respective communication links to a remote terminal; selecting, based on a switching criterion, at least one of the plurality of simultaneous respective communication links to be used to transmit data; and transmitting data via said at least one of the plurality of simultaneous respective communication links selected based on the switching criterion.
26 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting data, the method comprising:
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(i) providing a first communication module on a vehicle, wherein the first communication module is capable of establishing a direct communication link with a remote terminal, wherein said direct communication link is configured for transmitting downlink data to the remote terminal and receiving uplink data from the remote terminal; (ii) providing a second communication module on a vehicle, wherein the second communication module is capable of establishing an indirect communication link with the remote terminal, wherein said indirect communication link is configured for transmitting downlink data to the remote terminal and receiving uplink data from the remote terminal; (iii) determining, with aid of one or more processors, whether a prospective data transmission is an uplink data transmission or a downlink data transmission; and when the prospective data transmission is an uplink data transmission, wherein the uplink data transmission comprises control data for varying an orientation of a payload of the vehicle relative to an orientation of the vehicle, (A) assessing, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet a first criterion; (B) selecting, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the uplink data transmission is to occur over (1) the direct communication link provided by the first communication module, (2) the indirect communication link provided by the second communication module, or (3) both the direct communication link and the indirect communication link simultaneously, based on the assessment of whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet the first criterion; and (C) performing the data transmission in accordance with the selected option of (1), (2), or (3) of step (B); and when the prospective data transmission is a downlink data transmission, (D) assessing, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet a second criterion; (E) selecting, with aid of the one or more processors, whether the downlink data transmission is to occur over (1) the direct communication link provided by the first communication module, (2) the indirect communication link provided by the second communication module, or (3) both the direct communication link and the indirect communication link simultaneously, based on the assessment whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet the second criterion; and (F) performing the data transmission in accordance with the selected option of (1), (2), or (3) of step (E), wherein the uplink data transmission comprises control data for varying an orientation of a payload of the vehicle relative to an orientation of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle for transmitting or receiving data, said vehicle comprising:
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a first communication module comprising one or more transmitters and one or more receivers, wherein the first communication module is capable of establishing a direct communication link with a remote terminal, wherein said direct communication link is configured for transmitting downlink data to the remote terminal and receiving uplink data from the remote terminal; a second communication module comprising one or more transmitters and one or more receivers, wherein the second communication module is capable of establishing an indirect communication link with the remote terminal, wherein said indirect communication link is configured for transmitting downlink data to the remote terminal and receiving uplink data from the remote terminal; and one or more processors configured to determine whether a prospective data transmission is an uplink data transmission or a downlink data transmission, wherein when the prospective data transmission is an uplink data transmission, (A) the one or more processors are configured to assess whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet a first criterion; (B) the one or more processors are configured to select whether the uplink data transmission is to occur over (1) the direct communication link provided by the first communication module, (2) the indirect communication link provided by the second communication module, or (3) both the direct communication link and the indirect communication link simultaneously, based on the assessment of whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet the first criterion; and (C) the vehicle is configured to perform the data transmission in accordance with the selected option of (1), (2), or (3) of step (B); and wherein when the prospective data transmission is a downlink data transmission, (D) the one or more processors are configured to assess whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet a second criterion; (E) the one or more processors are configured to select whether the downlink data transmission is to occur over (1) the direct communication link provided by the first communication module, (2) the indirect communication link provided by the second communication module, or (3) both the direct communication link and the indirect communication link simultaneously, based on the assessment whether the direct communication link and/or the indirect communication link meet the second criterion; and (F) the vehicle is configured to perform the data transmission in accordance with the selected option of (1), (2), or (3) of step (E), wherein the uplink data transmission comprises control data for varying an orientation of a payload of the vehicle relative to an orientation of the vehicle.
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Specification