Patent · US Expired

Wireless communication system, apparatus and method using an atmospheric platform having a wideband trunkline

US6781968B1 · kind B1 · utility

64Cited by
22References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 2000
Grant dateAug 24, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 28, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B7/18504
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method provide wireless communications to a geographical area. The system includes at least one atmospheric platform serving as a central relay or node using a star network topology for the geographic area. The atmospheric platform carries a payload that comprises communications equipment. The system further includes a plurality of user equipment units located within the geographic area and at least one ground station or gateway for providing an information pathway between the user equipment units. The gateway has network processing and switching equipment for routing the information between the users. A wireless trunkline carries signals between the gateway and the atmospheric platform. The apparatus and method comprise gateway and payload uplink portions and downlink portions. The downlink portions aggregates and de-aggregates user generated information from the platform to the gateway. The uplink portions de-aggregate and aggregate the information and route the information with the network switching equipment to intended user equipment units, from the gateway to the platform. The gateway may also provide information pathways from the platform to user equi…

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