Terrestrial based high speed data communications mesh network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016197668-A1
Application number	US-201615068783-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2016
Priority date	Aug 18, 2005
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A network for providing high speed data communications may include multiple terrestrial transmission stations that are located within overlapping communications range and a mobile receiver station. The terrestrial transmission stations provide a continuous and uninterrupted high speed data communications link with the mobile receiver station employing a wireless radio access network protocol.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An airborne communication node configured to receive high speed data communications on an in-flight aircraft, comprising:
a receiver station disposed on the in-flight aircraft, the receiver station configured to communicate with at least one of a plurality of ground transmission stations, the ground transmission stations being located such that at least some of the ground transmission stations are within overlapping communications range of respective other ones of the ground transmission stations, the ground transmission stations being configured to communicate with the receiver station to provide a high speed data communications link continuous and uninterrupted in time with the receiver station employing a wireless radio access network protocol, wherein the high speed data communications link is maintained continuous and uninterrupted in time while the in-flight aircraft is within a coverage area provided by one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and as the in-flight aircraft moves from the coverage area provided by the one of the plurality of ground transmission stations to a coverage area provided by another of the plurality of ground transmission stations.

2 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein the receiver station employs communication bands in about a 2 GHz to about a 6 GHz range utilizing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

3 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein the high speed data communications link employs Long Term Evolution (LTE) terrestrial radio access network protocols.

4 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein the high speed data communications link is provided between one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and the receiver station as a direct link between the one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and a passenger terminal comprising the receiver station.

5 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein the high speed data communications link is provided between one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and the receiver station as a direct link between the one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and an on-board aircraft server comprising the receiver station.

6 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein the receiver station comprises an on-board aircraft server configured to provide service to a plurality of passenger terminals on the in-flight aircraft based on data received via the high speed data communications link, and wherein the receiver station is configured to poll the passenger terminals for bandwidth requests individually or in groups.

7 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein a frame structure utilized for the high speed data communications link provides dynamically assignable uplink and downlink burst profiles based on link conditions.

8 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein multiple media access control protocol data units are linkable to a single burst.

9 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein the high speed data communications link provides internet access, streaming video, or voice-over IP to the receiver station.

10 . The airborne communication node of claim 1 , wherein the high speed data communications link transfers security data communications comprising video surveillance from the aircraft to one of the plurality of ground stations.

11 . A terrestrial network configured to provide high speed data communications to an in-flight aircraft, comprising:
a plurality of ground transmission stations, the ground transmission stations being located such that at least some of the ground transmission stations are within overlapping communications range of respective other ones of the ground transmission stations, the ground transmission stations being configured to communicate with a receiver station located on board the in-flight aircraft to provide a high speed data communications link continuous and uninterrupted in time with the receiver station employing a wireless radio access network protocol, wherein the high speed data communications link is maintained continuous and uninterrupted in time while the in-flight aircraft is within a coverage area provided by one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and as the in-flight aircraft moves from the coverage area provided by the one of the plurality of ground transmission stations to a coverage area provided by another of the plurality of ground transmission stations.

12 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein the ground transmission stations employ communication bands in about a 2 GHz to about a 6 GHz range utilizing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

13 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein the high speed data communications link employs Long Term Evolution (LTE) terrestrial radio access network protocols.

14 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein the high speed data communications link is provided between one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and the receiver station as a direct link between the one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and a passenger terminal comprising the receiver station.

15 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein the high speed data communications link is provided between one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and the receiver station as a direct link between the one of the plurality of ground transmission stations and an on-board aircraft server comprising the receiver station.

16 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein the receiver station comprises an on-board aircraft server configured to provide service to a plurality of passenger terminals on the in-flight aircraft based on data received via the high speed data communications link, and wherein the receiver station is configured to poll the passenger terminals for bandwidth requests individually or in groups.

17 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein a frame structure utilized for the high speed data communications link provides dynamically assignable uplink and downlink burst profiles based on link conditions.

18 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein multiple media access control protocol data units are linkable to a single burst.

19 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein the high speed data communications link provides internet access, streaming video, or voice-over IP to the receiver station.

20 . The terrestrial network of claim 11 , wherein the high speed data communications link transfers security data communications comprising video surveillance from the aircraft to one of the plurality of ground stations.

Assignees

• Smartsky Networks LLC

Inventors

• Alcorn Donald

Classifications

• H04B7/1851

  Systems using a satellite or space-based relay (H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576) · CPC title

• H04W84/005

  Moving wireless networks · CPC title

• H04W84/06

  Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) · CPC title

• H04B7/18506 Primary

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

• H04L27/2601

  Multicarrier modulation systems · CPC title