Using predicted movement to maintain optical-communication lock with nearby balloon
    1.
    发明授权
    Using predicted movement to maintain optical-communication lock with nearby balloon 有权
    使用预测的运动来保持邻近气球的光通信锁定

    公开(公告)号:US08634974B2

    公开(公告)日:2014-01-21

    申请号:US13346654

    申请日:2012-01-09

    摘要: 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.

    摘要翻译: 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。

    "> Location-Aware
    2.
    发明申请
    Location-Aware "Ghost" Profiles in a Balloon Network 有权
    位置感知气球网络中的“Ghost”配置文件

    公开(公告)号:US20130238784A1

    公开(公告)日:2013-09-12

    申请号:US13485514

    申请日:2012-05-31

    IPC分类号: G06F15/173

    摘要: Disclosed embodiments may help a balloon network to provide substantially continuous service in a given geographic area. An example method may be carried out at a balloon that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in a balloon network that includes a plurality of geographic areas. The balloon may determine that it should update its balloon-state in accordance with a balloon-state profile for the first geographic area. Then, in response, the balloon may determine the balloon-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 balloon-state profile for the first geographic area.

    摘要翻译: 公开的实施例可以帮助气球网络在给定的地理区域中提供基本上连续的服务。 可以在包括多个地理区域的气球网络中的与第一地理区域相关联的位置处的气球执行示例性方法。 气球可以确定它应该根据第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓更新其气球状态。 然后,作为响应,气球可以确定第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓,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。 气球然后可以根据第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓进行操作。

    Establishing Optical-Communication Lock with Nearby Balloon
    3.
    发明申请
    Establishing Optical-Communication Lock with Nearby Balloon 审中-公开
    与附近气球建立光通讯锁

    公开(公告)号:US20130177322A1

    公开(公告)日:2013-07-11

    申请号:US13346645

    申请日:2012-01-09

    IPC分类号: H04B10/10

    CPC分类号: H04B10/1129 H04B7/18504

    摘要: 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 positioning system could be configured to acquire a first location, which could be based on the location of the balloon. A controller could be configured to acquire a second location, which could be based on a location of the correspondent balloon. The controller may determine an approximate target axis based on the first location and the second location. The controller may control the pointing axis of the optical-communication component within a scanning range based on the approximate target axis to establish the free-space optical link with the correspondent balloon.

    摘要翻译: 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。 定位系统可以被配置为获取可以基于气球的位置的第一位置。 控制器可以被配置为获取第二位置,其可以基于相应气球的位置。 控制器可以基于第一位置和第二位置来确定近似目标轴。 控制器可以基于近似目标轴来控制在扫描范围内的光通信部件的指向轴,以建立与对应气球的自由空间光学链路。

    Virtual pooling of local resources in a balloon network
    5.
    发明授权
    Virtual pooling of local resources in a balloon network 有权
    在气球网络中虚拟汇集本地资源

    公开(公告)号:US08996024B1

    公开(公告)日:2015-03-31

    申请号:US13555299

    申请日:2012-07-23

    IPC分类号: H04W72/00 H04W72/04 H04W16/24

    CPC分类号: H04W16/24 H04W84/06

    摘要: Disclosed embodiments relate to virtual pooling of a local resource in a balloon network. In an example, a balloon network has geographic zones, including at least a first and a second geographic zone. Further, each balloon has a sustainable utilization rate for a local resource. Each balloon utilizes the local resource according to a respective first utilization rate when located in the first geographic zone and utilizes the local resource according to a second utilization rate when located in the second geographic zone. For one or more of the balloons, the sustainable utilization rate is less than the respective first utilization rate and greater than the respective second utilization rate. However, the balloons are operable to move between the geographic zones such that the first utilization rate is substantially continuous in first geographic zone.

    摘要翻译: 公开的实施例涉及气球网络中的本地资源的虚拟池。 在一个示例中,气球网络具有包括至少第一和第二地理区域的地理区域。 此外,每个气球对于本地资源具有可持续的利用率。 当位于第一地理区域时,每个气球根据相应的第一利用率利用本地资源,并且当位于第二地理区域时,根据第二利用率利用本地资源。 对于一个或多个气球,可持续利用率小于相应的第一利用率并且大于相应的第二利用率。 然而,气球可操作以在地理区域之间移动,使得第一利用率在第一地理区域中基本上是连续的。

    Balloon Altitude Control Using Density Adjustment and/or Volume Adjustment
    6.
    发明申请
    Balloon Altitude Control Using Density Adjustment and/or Volume Adjustment 有权
    使用密度调整和/或音量调节的气球高度控制

    公开(公告)号:US20140014769A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-01-16

    申请号:US13546806

    申请日:2012-07-11

    IPC分类号: B64B1/62

    CPC分类号: B64B1/62 B64B1/40 B64B1/56

    摘要: A balloon having an envelope and a payload positioned beneath the envelope. The envelope comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion allows more solar energy to be transferred to gas within the envelope than the second portion. The balloon may operate in a first mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by rotating the envelope to change an amount of the first portion that faces the sun and an amount of the second portion that faces the sun, and wherein the control system is further configured to cause the balloon to operate in a second mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by moving a lifting gas or air into or out of the envelope.

    摘要翻译: 一个气球,其中有一个信封和有效载荷,位于信封的下面。 信封包括第一部分和第二部分,其中第一部分允许更多的太阳能转移到封套内的气体比第二部分。 球囊可以在其中引起气球的高度运动的第一模式中起作用,至少部分地通过旋转信封来改变面对太阳的第一部分的量和面向太阳的第二部分的量 ,并且其中所述控制系统还被配置成使得所述气囊在所述气囊的高度运动被引起的第二模式中至少部分地通过将提升气体或空气移入或移出所述外壳而进行操作。

    Relative Positioning of Balloons with Altitude Control and Wind Data
    7.
    发明申请
    Relative Positioning of Balloons with Altitude Control and Wind Data 有权
    具有高度控制和风力数据的气球的相对定位

    公开(公告)号:US20130175391A1

    公开(公告)日:2013-07-11

    申请号:US13346637

    申请日:2012-01-09

    IPC分类号: B64B1/40 G05D1/00

    摘要: 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.

    摘要翻译: 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。

    Location-aware profiles in a balloon network
    8.
    发明授权
    Location-aware profiles in a balloon network 有权
    气球网络中的位置感知配置文件

    公开(公告)号:US09281896B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-03-08

    申请号:US13485514

    申请日:2012-05-31

    IPC分类号: G06F15/173 H04B10/118

    摘要: Disclosed embodiments may help a balloon network to provide substantially continuous service in a given geographic area. An example method may be carried out at a balloon that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in a balloon network that includes a plurality of geographic areas. The balloon may determine that it should update its balloon-state in accordance with a balloon-state profile for the first geographic area. Then, in response, the balloon may determine the balloon-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 balloon-state profile for the first geographic area.

    摘要翻译: 公开的实施例可以帮助气球网络在给定的地理区域中提供基本上连续的服务。 可以在包括多个地理区域的气球网络中的与第一地理区域相关联的位置处的气球执行示例性方法。 气球可以确定它应该根据第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓更新其气球状态。 然后,作为响应,气球可以确定第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓,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。 气球然后可以根据第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓进行操作。

    Altitude control via rotation of balloon to adjust balloon density
    9.
    发明授权
    Altitude control via rotation of balloon to adjust balloon density 有权
    通过气球旋转进行高度控制,以调整气球密度

    公开(公告)号:US08733697B2

    公开(公告)日:2014-05-27

    申请号:US13346620

    申请日:2012-01-09

    IPC分类号: B64B1/58

    CPC分类号: B64B1/62 B64B1/60 G05D1/042

    摘要: A balloon that includes an envelope with a gas contained within the envelope, as well as 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, 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.

    摘要翻译: 一种气囊,其包括具有包含在信封内的气体的信封,以及连接到信封的有效负载,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,以使太阳能转移到气体 以及具有第二吸收性或反射性的第二部分,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中,并且其中 信封可旋转以允许外壳的第一和第二部分的优选比例面向太阳定位。

    "> Location-Aware
    10.
    发明申请
    Location-Aware "Ghost" Caching in a Balloon Network 有权
    位置感知“Ghost”缓存在气球网络中

    公开(公告)号:US20140335895A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-11-13

    申请号:US14444100

    申请日:2014-07-28

    IPC分类号: H04W4/02 H04W40/20

    摘要: Methods and systems are disclosed herein that may help to provide location-aware caching and/or location-specific service profiles in a balloon network. An exemplary method may be carried out by a balloon that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in a balloon network that includes a plurality of defined geographic areas, and may involve: (a) determining that a location-aware cache of a balloon 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 balloon.

    摘要翻译: 本文公开的方法和系统可以帮助在气球网络中提供位置感知缓存和/或位置特定服务简档。 可以通过气球来执行示例性方法,所述气球位于与包括多个确定的地理区域的气球网络中的与所述第一地理区域相关联的位置处,并且可以包括:(a)确定位置感知高速缓存 应使用与第一地理区域相关联的用户数据更新气球; 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; 和(iii)将对应于第一地理区域的用户数据存储在气球的位置感知高速缓存中。