Optimizing the location of an antenna system in a low latency/low data bandwidth link used in conjunction with a high latency/high bandwidth link

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020366367-A1
Application number	US-202015929247-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 1, 2020
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Nov 19, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A communication system uses multiple communications links that may include a high latency/high bandwidth link using a fiber-optic cable configured to carry large volumes of data but having a high latency. The communications links may include a low latency/low bandwidth link using skywave propagation of radio waves and configured to carry smaller volumes of data with a lower latency. The low latency/low bandwidth link employs a transmitting antenna system where aspects such as antenna height, type of ground, and typography of the surrounding area at the transmitting site are adjusted to optimize the direction and angle of propagation. Controlling these and other aspects increases the predictability and reliability of the wireless link by managing the number of hops and skip distance between the transmitting and receiving antennas. The two communications links may be used together to coordinate various activities such as the buying and selling of financial instruments.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
a communication link having an optic fiber passing between a transmitting station and a receiving station, wherein the communications link is configured to send command data between the transmitting station and the receiving station using the optic fiber, the command data including one or more commands; a transmitting antenna coupled to the transmitting station and located at a transmitting site; a receiving antenna coupled to the receiving station, the receiving antenna located remote from the transmitting antenna; wherein the transmitting antenna is positioned where ground slopes downwardly away from the transmitting antenna and in the direction of the receiving antenna; wherein the transmitting station and the receiving station communicate via skywave propagation; wherein the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna are separated by at least one skip zone; wherein the transmitting station is configured to wirelessly send triggering data from the transmitting station to the receiving station; wherein the triggering data includes an identifier identifying at least one of the one or more commands; and wherein the command data is defined by a first collection of data, wherein the first collection of data has a first overall size, wherein the triggering data is defined by a second collection of data, wherein the second collection of data has a second overall size, and the first overall size is greater than or equal to the second overall size.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are at least one skip zone apart at a predetermined frequency and propagation angle.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the downward slope angles down about 3 degrees from the horizontal.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the downward slope ends in a body of water with a salinity of between about 30 and about 40 parts per thousand.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting antenna is mounted on a tower, and wherein the tower is operable to raise or lower to adjust the height of the transmitting antenna above the ground.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting antenna is mounted on a tower that is surrounded by water.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the tower is mounted to a flotation device positioned in a body of water with a salinity of between about 30 and about 40 parts per thousand.

Assignees

• Skywave Networks Llc

Inventors

• Babich Kevin J

Classifications

• H04B7/22 Primary

  Scatter propagation systems {, e.g. ionospheric, tropospheric or meteor scatter} · CPC title

• H04W40/06

  based on characteristics of available antennas · CPC title

• H04W56/0005

  synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks · CPC title

• H04W40/22

  using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point · CPC title

• H04B7/24

  for communication between two or more posts (wireless communication networks H04W) · CPC title