Multiple modem communication system and method for a mobile platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016337029-A1
Application number	US-201615223511-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2014
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system, method, and device to enable communication between a first and second satellite station and a controller of a mobile platform. The controller includes a processor, a first modem facilitating communication with the first satellite station via a first frequency over a first communication link, and a map of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station. The controller utilizes the map of the one or more networks of satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communicating with the controller. A second modem is coupled to the controller and facilitates communication with the second satellite station via a second frequency over a second communication link, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a time to handoff communication with the mobile communicator from the first communication link to the second communication link.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method of communicating between an end-user device positioned within a mobile platform and a pair of satellite stations included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the method comprising:
utilizing a first modem and establishing, via one or more processors, a first communication link between the end-user device and a first satellite station; utilizing one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations and determining, via the one or more processors, a second satellite station for communication with the end-user device; utilizing a second modem and establishing, via the one or more processors, a second communication link between the end-user device and the second satellite station; calculating, via the one or more processors, a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link; and, initiating the communication handoff, via the one or more processors, based on the calculated time.

2 . The method of communicating of claim 1 , further comprising:
terminating, via one or more processors, the first communication link; coupling, via one or more processors, an antenna to the second communication link; and positioning, via one or more processors, the antenna toward the second satellite station to improve communication over the second communication link.

3 . The method of communicating of claim 1 , wherein calculating a time to initiate communication handoff includes at least one of the following: determining a distance from the mobile communicator to the second satellite station; evaluating signal strength received at the first modem, evaluating signal strength received at the second modem, comparing signal strength of the first and second communication links, and comparing distance between the mobile platform and the first satellite station to distance between the mobile platform and the second satellite station.

4 . The method of communicating of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via one or more processors, one or more communication indicators; analyzing, via one or more processors, the one or more communication indicators, wherein calculating the time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link based on the analysis of the one or more communication indicators.

5 . The method of communicating of claim 4 , wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following: signal strength received at the first modem, signal strength received at the second modem, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first modem and the second modem, and the distance between the mobile communicator and the first and/or second satellite.

6 . The method of communicating of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second communication link includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

7 . A controller for facilitating communication between an end-user device and a first and second satellite station included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the controller attached to a mobile platform and comprising:
a first modem communicating with the first satellite station via a first frequency over a first communication link; one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station; a processor coupled to the first modem, the processor utilizing the one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communication with the end-user device; and a second modem coupled to the processor and communicating with the second satellite station via a second frequency over a second communication link, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

8 . The controller of claim 7 , wherein the calculated time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link is based on analysis by the processor of a communication indicator.

9 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following: signal strength received at the first modem, signal strength received at the second modem, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first modem and the second modem, and the distance between the mobile communicator and the first and/or second satellite.

10 . The controller of claim 7 , further comprising:
an antenna coupled to the first modem and positioned toward the first satellite station to facilitate communication with the first satellite station over the first frequency, wherein the processor is configured to position the antenna toward the second satellite station based on the calculated time to initiate communication handoff.

11 . The controller of claim 10 , wherein the antenna is enclosed within a radome affixed to or integral with the mobile platform.

12 . The controller of claim 7 , wherein the first frequency and/or second frequency includes at least a portion of a K u -band, K a -band, or L-band.

13 . The controller of claim 7 , wherein the first and/or second communication link includes a wireless local area network (WLAN).

14 . The controller of claim 7 , wherein the mobile platform is an air-based transport, a land-based transport, or a sea-based transport.

15 . The controller of claim 7 , further comprising a replaceable line unit attached to the mobile platform, wherein at least a portion of the controller is housed within the replaceable line unit.

16 . A mobile communicator enabling communication between an end-user device positioned on a mobile platform and a first and second satellite station included among one or more networks of satellite stations, the mobile communicator comprising:
a controller attached to the mobile platform, the controller including a processor, a first modem, a second modem, and a memory device operatively coupled together; a wireless local area network (WLAN) coupled to the first modem and the second modem; the first modem facilitating communication via a first communication link including the wireless local area network (WLAN) between the end-user device and the first satellite station; one or more maps of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station stored in the memory device, wherein the processor utilizes the one or more maps of the one or more satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communicating with the end-user device; and the second modem facilitating communication via a second communication link including the wireless local area network (WLAN) and between the end-user device and the second satellite station, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link.

17 . The mobile communicator of claim 16 , wherein the calculated time to initiate communication handoff from the first communication link to the second communication link is based on analysis by the processor of a communication indicator, wherein the communication indicator includes at least one of the following: signal strength received at the first modem, signal strength received at the second modem, comparative/relative signal strength received between the first modem and the second modem, and the distance between the mobile communicator and the first and/or second satellite.

Assignees

• Gogo Llc

Inventors

• Lauer Bryan Adrian

Classifications

• H04B7/18508

  with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service · CPC title

• H04B7/185 Primary

  Space-based or airborne stations; {Stations for satellite systems}(H04B7/204 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title

• H04B7/18541 Primary

  for handover of resources · CPC title

• H04W28/0268

  using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24) · CPC title