公开(公告)号：US20160156405A1

公开(公告)日：2016-06-02

申请号：US15013850

申请日：2016-02-02

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Eric Teller ,  Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B7/185

CPC classification number: H04B7/18502 ,  H04B10/118 ,  H04L41/12 ,  H04L67/303 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/026 ,  H04W40/38 ,  H04W52/18

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments may help an aerial vehicle network to provide substantially continuous service in a given geographic area. An example method may be carried out at an aerial vehicle that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in an aerial network that includes a plurality of geographic areas. The balloon may determine that it should update its vehicle-state in accordance with a vehicle-state profile for the first geographic area. Then, in response, the balloon may determine the vehicle-state profile for the first geographic area, which may include one or more state parameters for balloons operating in the first geographic area. The balloon may then operate according to the vehicle-state profile for the first geographic area.

Abstract translation: 公开的实施例可以帮助空中客车网络在给定的地理区域中提供基本上连续的服务。 示例性方法可以在与包括多个地理区域的空中网络中的与第一地理区域相关联的位置处的飞行器执行。 气球可以确定它应当根据第一地理区域的车辆状态轮廓来更新其车辆状态。 然后，作为响应，气球可以确定第一地理区域的车辆状态轮廓，其可以包括在第一地理区域中操作的气球的一个或多个状态参数。 然后，球囊可以根据第一地理区域的车辆状态轮廓进行操作。

公开(公告)号：US20140252163A1

公开(公告)日：2014-09-11

申请号：US14286070

申请日：2014-05-23

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: B64B1/62

CPC classification number: B64B1/62 ,  B64B1/60 ,  G05D1/042

Abstract: A balloon having an envelope, a gas contained within the envelope, a payload connected to the envelope, wherein the envelope has a first portion that has a first absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, and a second portion that has a second absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope where the second absorptive or reflective property is different than the first absorptive or reflective property, wherein the second portion is provided with a darkly colored surface that allows more solar energy to be transferred through the envelope to the gas within the envelope than the first portion, and wherein the envelope is rotatable to allow a preferred ratio of the first and second portions of the envelope to be positioned facing the sun.

Abstract translation: 一种具有封套的气囊，包含在外壳内的气体，连接到外壳的有效载荷，其中该封套具有第一部分，该第一部分具有第一吸收性或反射性，以使太阳能转移到外壳内的气体 以及具有第二吸收或反射性质的第二部分，其相对于允许太阳能转移到第二吸收或反射性质不同于第一吸收或反射性质的封套内的气体，其中第二部分是 具有暗色表面，其允许更多的太阳能通过信封传送到封套内比第一部分的气体，并且其中信封可旋转以允许信封的第一和第二部分的优选比率为 定位面向太阳。

公开(公告)号：US09584214B2

公开(公告)日：2017-02-28

申请号：US15013850

申请日：2016-02-02

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Eric Teller ,  Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B7/185 ,  G06F15/173 ,  H04B10/118

CPC classification number: H04B7/18502 ,  H04B10/118 ,  H04L41/12 ,  H04L67/303 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/026 ,  H04W40/38 ,  H04W52/18

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments may help an aerial vehicle network to provide substantially continuous service in a given geographic area. An example method may be carried out at an aerial vehicle that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in an aerial network that includes a plurality of geographic areas. The balloon may determine that it should update its vehicle-state in accordance with a vehicle-state profile for the first geographic area. Then, in response, the balloon may determine the vehicle-state profile for the first geographic area, which may include one or more state parameters for balloons operating in the first geographic area. The balloon may then operate according to the vehicle-state profile for the first geographic area.

Abstract translation: 公开的实施例可以帮助空中客车网络在给定的地理区域中提供基本上连续的服务。 示例性方法可以在与包括多个地理区域的空中网络中的与第一地理区域相关联的位置处的飞行器执行。 气球可以确定它应当根据第一地理区域的车辆状态轮廓来更新其车辆状态。 然后，作为响应，气球可以确定第一地理区域的车辆状态轮廓，其可以包括在第一地理区域中操作的气球的一个或多个状态参数。 然后，球囊可以根据第一地理区域的车辆状态轮廓进行操作。

公开(公告)号：US20140319271A1

公开(公告)日：2014-10-30

申请号：US14328212

申请日：2014-07-10

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver ,  Dan Piponi

IPC: B64B1/44

CPC classification number: B64B1/40 ,  B64B1/44 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G05D1/105 ,  H04B7/18504

Abstract: The positions of balloons in a communication network of balloons, such as a mesh network of high-altitude balloons, may be adjusted relative to one another in order to try to maintain a desired network topology. In one approach, the position of each balloon may be adjusted relative to one or more neighbor balloons. For example, the locations of a target balloon and one or more neighbor balloons may be determined. A desired movement of the target balloon may then be determined based on the locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the location of the target balloon. The target balloon may be controlled based on the desired movement. In some embodiments, the altitude of the target balloon may be controlled in order to expose the target balloon to ambient winds that are capable of producing the desired movement of the target balloon.

公开(公告)号：US20140319270A1

公开(公告)日：2014-10-30

申请号：US14328226

申请日：2014-07-10

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver ,  Dan Piponi

IPC: B64B1/40

CPC classification number: B64B1/40 ,  B64B1/44 ,  G05D1/104 ,  G05D1/105 ,  H04B7/18504

Abstract: The positions of balloons in a communication network of balloons, such as a mesh network of high-altitude balloons, may be adjusted relative to one another in order to try to maintain a desired network topology. In one approach, the position of each balloon may be adjusted relative to one or more neighbor balloons. For example, the locations of a target balloon and one or more neighbor balloons may be determined. A desired movement of the target balloon may then be determined based on the locations of the one or more neighbor balloons relative to the location of the target balloon. The target balloon may be controlled based on the desired movement. In some embodiments, the altitude of the target balloon may be controlled in order to expose the target balloon to ambient winds that are capable of producing the desired movement of the target balloon.

Abstract translation: 可以相对于彼此来调整气球通信网络中的气球的位置，例如高空气球的网状网络，以便尝试维持期望的网络拓扑。 在一种方法中，可以相对于一个或多个相邻气球来调节每个球囊的位置。 例如，可以确定目标气球和一个或多个相邻气球的位置。 然后可以基于一个或多个相邻气球相对于目标气球的位置的位置来确定目标气球的期望运动。 可以基于期望的运动来控制目标气球。 在一些实施例中，可以控制目标气球的高度，以便将目标气球暴露于能够产生目标气球的期望运动的环境风中。

公开(公告)号：US20160182140A1

公开(公告)日：2016-06-23

申请号：US15053024

申请日：2016-02-25

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B7/185 ,  H04B10/112

CPC classification number: H04B7/18504 ,  B64B1/40 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  H04B10/1123 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/118

Abstract: A balloon may include an optical-communication component, which may have a pointing axis. A pointing mechanism could be configured to adjust the pointing axis. The optical-communication component could be operable to communicate with a correspondent balloon via a free-space optical link. For example, the optical-communication component could include an optical receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. A controller could be configured to determine a predicted relative location of the correspondent balloon. The controller may control the pointing mechanism to adjust the pointing axis of the optical-communication component based on the predicted relative location so as to maintain the free-space optical link with the correspondent balloon.

Abstract translation: 气球可以包括可以具有指向轴的光通信部件。 可以配置指示机构来调整指向轴。 光通信部件可以通过自由空间的光学链路与对应的气球通信。 例如，光通信部件可以包括光接收器，发射器或收发器。 控制器可以被配置为确定相应气球的预测相对位置。 控制器可以基于预测的相对位置来控制指示机构来调整光通信部件的指向轴，以便保持与对应气球的自由空间光学链路。

公开(公告)号：US20160142996A1

公开(公告)日：2016-05-19

申请号：US15008274

申请日：2016-01-27

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Eric Teller ,  Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04W64/00 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04W28/02 ,  H04W4/02

CPC classification number: H04W64/003 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  H04B7/18506 ,  H04L67/12 ,  H04L67/18 ,  H04L67/2852 ,  H04L67/288 ,  H04L67/306 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/025 ,  H04W4/04 ,  H04W28/021 ,  H04W40/20 ,  H04W84/22

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein that may help to provide location-aware caching and/or location-specific service profiles in an aerial-vehicle network. An exemplary method may be carried out by an aerial vehicle that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in an aerial-vehicle network that includes a plurality of defined geographic areas, and may involve: (a) determining that a location-aware cache of an aerial vehicle should be updated with user-data associated with the first geographic area; and (b) in response to determining that the location-aware cache should be updated: (i) sending a location-aware cache-update request; (ii) receiving, as a response to the location-aware cache-update request, user-data that corresponds to the first geographic area; and (iii) storing the user-data that corresponds to the first geographic area in a location-aware cache of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract translation: 本文公开的方法和系统可以有助于在空中车辆网络中提供位置感知缓存和/或位置特定服务简档。 一种示例性方法可以由在包括多个确定的地理区域的空中交通工具网络中与第一地理区域相关联的位置处的飞行器执行，并且可以涉及：（a）确定位置感知 应使用与第一地理区域相关联的用户数据更新航空器的缓存; 以及（b）响应于确定所述位置感知缓存应当被更新：（i）发送位置感知高速缓存更新请求; （ii）作为对所述位置感知缓存更新请求的响应，接收对应于所述第一地理区域的用户数据; 以及（iii）将与第一地理区域对应的用户数据存储在飞行器的位置感知高速缓存中。

公开(公告)号：US09306668B2

公开(公告)日：2016-04-05

申请号：US14108542

申请日：2013-12-17

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B10/11 ,  G05D1/00 ,  H04B10/118 ,  H04B10/112 ,  B64B1/40

CPC classification number: H04B7/18504 ,  B64B1/40 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  H04B10/1123 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/118

Abstract: A balloon may include an optical-communication component, which may have a pointing axis. A pointing mechanism could be configured to adjust the pointing axis. The optical-communication component could be operable to communicate with a correspondent balloon via a free-space optical link. For example, the optical-communication component could include an optical receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. A controller could be configured to determine a predicted relative location of the correspondent balloon. The controller may control the pointing mechanism to adjust the pointing axis of the optical-communication component based on the predicted relative location so as to maintain the free-space optical link with the correspondent balloon.

Abstract translation: 气球可以包括可以具有指向轴的光通信部件。 可以配置指示机构来调整指向轴。 光通信部件可以通过自由空间的光学链路与对应的气球通信。 例如，光通信部件可以包括光接收器，发射器或收发器。 控制器可以被配置为确定相应气球的预测相对位置。 控制器可以基于预测的相对位置来控制指向机构来调整光通信部件的指向轴，以便保持与对应气球的自由空间光学链路。

公开(公告)号：US08955973B2

公开(公告)日：2015-02-17

申请号：US13631594

申请日：2012-09-28

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Hayes Solos Raffle ,  Thad Eugene Starner ,  Josh Weaver ,  Edward Allen Keyes

IPC: A61B3/14 ,  A61B3/113 ,  G01B11/25 ,  G01B11/16 ,  A61F9/008 ,  G06F3/01

CPC classification number: A61B3/113 ,  A61F2009/00846 ,  G01B11/167 ,  G01B11/25 ,  G01B11/2513 ,  G06F3/013 ,  G06K9/00604 ,  G06K9/2036

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems help provide for tracking an eye. An exemplary method may involve: causing the projection of a pattern onto an eye, wherein the pattern comprises at least one line, and receiving data regarding deformation of the at least one line of the pattern. The method further includes correlating the data to iris, sclera, and pupil orientation to determine a position of the eye, and causing an item on a display to move in correlation with the eye position.

Abstract translation: 示例性的方法和系统有助于跟踪眼睛。 示例性方法可以包括：将图案投影到眼睛上，其中图案包括至少一条线，并且接收关于图案的至少一条线的变形的数据。 该方法还包括将数据与虹膜，巩膜和瞳孔取向相关联以确定眼睛的位置，并使得显示器上的物体与眼睛位置相关地移动。

公开(公告)号：US09407362B2

公开(公告)日：2016-08-02

申请号：US14223826

申请日：2014-03-24

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B10/00 ,  H04B10/11 ,  H04B10/112 ,  H04W84/00 ,  H04B7/185 ,  H04B10/2575

CPC classification number: H04B10/11 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/2575 ,  H04W84/005

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may involve hierarchical balloon networks that include both optical and radio frequency links between balloons. An exemplary network system may include: (a) a plurality of super-node balloons, where each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) a plurality of sub-node balloons, where each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency communication system that is operable for data communications. Further, at least one super-node balloon may further include an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one sub-node balloon, where the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is further operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one super-node balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station.

Abstract translation: 示例性实施例可以涉及分级气球网络，其包括气球之间的光学和射频链路两者。 示例性网络系统可以包括：（a）多个超级节点气球，其中每个超级节点气球包括用于与一个或多个其他超级节点气球进行数据通信的自由空间光通信系统，以及（b）多个 的子节点气球，其中每个子节点气球包括可操作用于数据通信的射频通信系统。 此外，至少一个超级节点气球可以进一步包括RF通信系统，其可操作以将数据发送到至少一个子节点气球，其中所述至少一个子节点气球的RF通信系统进一步可操作以接收 所述数据由所述至少一个超级节点气球发送并且将所接收的数据发送到至少一个基于地面的站。