Flight data assisted active antenna system for air-to-ground applications

US11677458B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY · FI

Inventors

• Dirk Wiegner · Schwaikheim, DE
• Wolfgang Tempi · Sersheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 20, 2018
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2023
• Expiry date: Nov 20, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B7/18526
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for controlling radio resources of radio units in air-to-ground mobile communications systems that include at least an aircraft carrying a transceiver station and a ground basestation, apt to communicate with each other. The radio units are provided with beamforming and/or massive MEM antenna systems, and are controlled by the apparatuses using control data. The apparatuses are configured to receive flight data related to the aircraft, estimate a timed trajectory and a required data rate, as a function of the flight data. Then the apparatuses determine a sequence of control data for said antenna systems to form radio beams and/or connectivity spots directed towards said transceiver station, respectively to the ground basestation, while the allocated data rate is at least equal to the required data rate. The sequence of control data is then provided to respective antenna systems.