Systems and method for providing in-flight broadband mobile communication services

US8848605B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Alcatel Lucent · FR

Inventors

• Michael Ohm · Stuttgart, DE
• Thorsten Wild · Stuttgart, DE
• Michael Schmidt · Holden, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 23, 2009
• Grant date: Sep 30, 2014
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B7/26
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a ground-based wireless cellular communication system providing in-flight broadband mobile communication services. The system includes at least one ground-based base station adapted for generating at least one cell defining a solid angle of space surrounding the base station. The ground-based base station includes an antenna array using two-dimensional-beamforming for generating at least one beam for serving at least one airplane in the space covered by the at least one cell using spatial-division multiple access (SDMA). The disclosure also relates to an airplane equipment for providing in-flight broadband mobile communication services. The airplane equipment includes an antenna for exchange of user data with the ground-based wireless cellular communication system, a transceiver unit connected to the antenna for handling the air-to-ground and ground-to-air communication with the ground-based wireless cellular communication system, and an inside-airplane communication system for distributing the user data to and from terminals within the airplane.