Patent · US Expired

Elevated communication hub and method of operation therefor

US6151308A · kind A · utility

96Cited by
11References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 30, 1996
Grant dateNov 21, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 30, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S3/02
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating between wireless communication devices (120, 131, 140) uses a high-altitude communication platform (110) to provide an interface between the devices. The platform (110) enables multiple signals from multiple sources to be combined into one signal which is sent to a ground device (120). The ground device (120) can send a combined signal to the platform (110) which the platform (110) can then separate and send to multiple destinations. The platform (110) can be used as a bridge between satellites (1310, 1312) which are incapable of direct communication, thus enabling a fully connected network to exist without full coverage from satellites.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.