Networking with HAPs and additional ground-based nodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11211997-B2
Application number	US-201916715775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2019
Priority date	Dec 16, 2019
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provide for determining a network configuration. For instance, a system may include a controller including one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to receive information from each of a plurality of available nodes within a network, the plurality of available nodes including at least one aerial vehicle; determine a plurality of constraints for a future point in time, each one of the plurality of constraints including one or more minimum service requirements for a geographic area; attempt to determine a first network configuration for each of the plurality of available nodes that satisfies all of the constraints; when unable to determine the first network configuration, determine a second network configuration for the plurality of available nodes and at least one additional ground-based node that satisfies all of the constraints; and send instructions in order to affect the second network configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of determining a network configuration, the method comprises:
receiving, by one or more processors, information from each of a plurality of available nodes within a network, wherein the plurality of available nodes includes at least one high-altitude platform;
determining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of constraints for a future point in time, each one of the plurality of constraints for the future point in time including one or more minimum service requirement for a geographic area;
attempting, by the one or more processors, to determine a first network configuration for each of the plurality of available nodes that satisfies all of the constraints for the future point in time;
when unable to determine the first network configuration, sending, by the one or more processors, a signal to a fleet management system remote from the one or more processors;
in response to sending the signal, receiving, by the one or more processors, information identifying at least one additional ground-based node;
determining, by the one or more processors, a second network configuration for the plurality of available nodes based on the received information including the identified at least one additional ground-based node, wherein the second network configuration satisfies all of the plurality of constraints; and
sending, by the one or more processors, instructions in order to affect the second network configuration at the future point in time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second network configuration includes a communication link between the at least one high-altitude platform and the identified at least one additional ground-based node.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second network configuration includes using location information for the identified at least one ground-based additional node as well as information about geographic locations the ground-based additional node is able to reach over one or more given periods of time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second network configuration includes using information about an altitude at which the identified at least one ground-based additional node is deployable.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second network configuration includes using information about communication capabilities of the identified at least one ground-based additional node.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second network configuration includes limiting a number of any ground-based additional nodes used in the second network configuration.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the instructions in order to affect the second network configuration at the future point in time includes sending a signal identifying the second network configuration to a fleet management system including one or more processors.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising, in response to receiving, by the fleet management system, the signal, sending a second signal to cause the at least one additional ground-based nodes to be dispatched.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising, determining, by the fleet management system, a flight map for the at least one high-altitude platform.

10. A system for determining a network configuration, the system comprising:
a controller including one or more processors configured to:
receive information from each of a plurality of available nodes within a network, the plurality of available nodes including at least one high-altitude platform;
determine a plurality of constraints for a future point in time, each one of the plurality of constraints for the future point in time including one or more minimum service requirements for a geographic area;
attempt to determine a first network configuration for each of the plurality of available nodes that satisfies all of the constraints for the future point in time;
when unable to determine the first network configuration, send a signal to a fleet management system remote from the one or more processors;
in response to sending the signal, receive information identifying at least one additional ground-based node;
determine a second network configuration for the plurality of available nodes based on the received information including the identified at least one additional ground-based node, wherein the second network configuration satisfies all of the plurality of constraints for the future point in time; and
send instructions in order to affect the second network configuration at the future point in time.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second network configuration includes a communication link between the at least one high-altitude platform and the identified at least one additional ground-based node.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the second network configuration by using location information for the identified at least one ground-based additional node as well as information about geographic locations the ground-based additional node is able to reach over one or more given periods of time.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the second network configuration by using information about an altitude at which the identified at least one ground-based additional node is deployable.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the second network configuration by using information about communication capabilities of the identified at least one ground-based additional node.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to send the instructions in order to affect the second network configuration at the future point in time by sending a signal identifying the second network configuration to a fleet management system.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising the fleet management system, and wherein the fleet management system includes one or more processors.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors of the fleet management system are configured to, in response to receiving the signal, send a second signal to cause the at least one additional ground-based nodes to be dispatched.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the fleet management system is further configured to determine a flight map for the at least one high-altitude platform.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Barritt Brian
• De Oliveira Filho Mauro

Classifications

• G08G5/26

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations · CPC title

• G08G5/727

  from a ground station · CPC title

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title

• H04B7/18506 Primary

  Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service · CPC title

• H04B10/118

  specially adapted for satellite communication · CPC title