Abstract:
A communications apparatus comprises of one or more Active Antenna Units (AAUs) collocated in the same sector, and a processor. The processor de-multiplexes a data packet stream into at least two sub-streams, each sub-stream is transmitted on a different medium path. Each medium path is comprised of frequency channels, antenna polarizations and AAUs. A scheduler assigns data packets to different medium paths. The apparatus transmits on at least one frequency band, each frequency band is divided into a set of one or more frequency channels, at least one frequency channel of a frequency band is assigned to at least one AAU. A frequency channel is assigned to only one or to both antenna polarizations of the same AAU. The apparatus determines if an extraneous signal is present on a frequency channel and stops transmitting on the entire or part of the frequency channel where extraneous signal is detected.
Abstract:
A User Equipment (UE) measures the signal quality of a dedicated downlink reference signal transmitted by a Base Station (BS) to the UE. If the signal quality is below a threshold, the UE initiates a measurement procedure to determine a target handover BS. The UE sequentially transmits an uplink reference signal on each of UE's beams. The BSs estimate the Angle of Arrival (AoA) of any received uplink reference signal, form a dedicated downlink beam pointed toward the AoA and transmit an acknowledgment to the UE on the corresponding beam. The UE estimates the signal quality of the received acknowledgements on the different UE beams, and transmits a handover message on the UE beam on which the acknowledgement with the highest signal quality is received. The uplink reference signal may comprise of a single preamble. The acknowledgement may comprise of a preamble, or a preamble followed by a small payload.
Abstract:
An air interface for a terrestrial communications network for providing broadband internet access to aerial platforms is described. In some embodiments, systems and methods are described for efficient retransmission of data packets that are not received correctly. In other embodiments, systems and methods are described for determining the modulation constellation and error correction code rate used in transmitting a data packet to maximize data rates. In another set of embodiments, the retransmission scheme and modulation constellation and error correction code rate determination are jointly optimized to maximize data rates.
Abstract:
An automated method of determining a location of an aerial platform is described. The method includes: transmitting, from the aerial platform, a first pilot signal; receiving, at a set of ground devices, the first pilot signal; determining a first set of values based on measurements associated with the first pilot signal; and calculating a position of the aerial platform based at least partly on the first set of values. An automated method adapted to determine a location of a ground device includes: transmitting, from the ground device, a first pilot signal; receiving, at each aerial platform in a set of aerial platforms, the first pilot signal; determining a first set of values based on measurements associated with the first pilot signal; and calculating a position of the ground device based at least partly on the first set of values. A system adapted to provide location information is described.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are described that use the downlink and uplink frequency bands of the fixed satellite service (FSS) and direct broadcast service (DBS) systems to provide broadband access to aerial platforms including aircraft, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as balloons. The secondary service aerial platform transmitters are configured to avoid interference into the primary satellite service receivers. The aerial platform may be able to detect and connect to the cell site with the strongest signal. The aerial platform may be able to handoff from one cell site to another. Systems and methods are described that provide broadband access to ground terminal via aerial platforms such as drones and UAVs such as balloons.
Abstract:
An air to ground (ATG) broadband access system is described. The system includes: a plurality of cell sites that together form a service coverage area, each cell site adapted to generate a local coverage area, each sell site including: multiple antenna fixtures situated at a lower corner of the local coverage area, where the local coverage area includes multiple sectors and each antenna fixture is associated with a different sector than each other antenna fixture; and a radio sub-system connected to each antenna fixture, the radio sub-system including a transmitter capable of modulating and transmitting signals through the antenna fixture and a receiver capable of demodulating and decoding signals received through the antenna fixture; and at least one aerial platform including: at least one antenna fixture capable of forming beams toward the cell site; and a radio sub-system capable of modulating and transmitting signals and demodulating and decoding signals.
Abstract:
A communication system is described. The system includes: at least one gateway able to provide broadband connectivity, a set of ground terminals, and a set of aerial platforms, where at least one aerial platform is able to communicate with at least one gateway using radio frequencies, each aerial platform is able to communicate with ground terminals using radio frequencies, and each aerial platform is able to communicate with each other aerial platform using radio frequencies. An automated method for determining a beam direction for communication among UAVs includes: dividing a space around the UAV into multiple sub-regions, and, iteratively: selecting a sub-region from among the multiple sub-regions; pointing a signal toward the sub-region; and determining whether a signal is received from another UAV, until all sub-regions from among the multiple sub-regions have been selected.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are described that use the downlink and uplink frequency bands of the fixed satellite service (FSS) and direct broadcast service (DBS) systems to provide broadband access to aerial platforms including aircraft, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as balloons. The secondary service aerial platform transmitters are configured to avoid interference into the primary satellite service receivers. The aerial platform may be able to detect and connect to the cell site with the strongest signal. The aerial platform may be able to handoff from one cell site to another. Systems and methods are described that provide broadband access to ground terminal via aerial platforms such as drones and UAVs such as balloons.
Abstract:
In a synchronous application to control forward link (FL) data rates in a satellite system, user equipment (UE) repeatedly transmits a quality control measurement (QCM) index during a QCM period. During this QCM period, the data rate cannot change. The associated satellite transmits at a new rate corresponding to the QCM index. The UE knows that it will begin receiving new data at the new rate after a QCM delay. In an asynchronous application, a satellite transmits a rate change signal over a FL rate indication channel (RICH). A UE monitors the FL RICH for this signal. When the signal quality is to be low, the satellite sends only a single bit of the QCM index over a first orthogonal channel. When the signal quality is not low, the satellite transmits each bit of the QCM index in a separate orthogonal channel of the FL RICH.
Abstract:
Techniques are provided which may be implemented in various methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture for use by a device that is operable in a plurality of modes, including “higher power mode” and a “lower power mode”. A timing circuit may be set based, at least in part, on a phase value obtained from a signal from a ground-based transmitter, and operation of the device may be selectively transitioned to a lower power mode wherein the device uses the timing circuit. In certain example implementations, operation of the device to the lower power mode may be selectively transition and based, at least in part, on a determination that one or more attribute values satisfy a profile test indicating that the electronic device is likely to be within a characterized environment, and/or a determination that the electronic device is likely to be in a constrained motion state.