Abstract: A CDMA cellular communications network (400, FIG. 4) includes one or more aircraft (410), which relay pilot channel and control channel signals between base transceiver stations (BTS's 406, 413) and subscriber units (401). Over the control channel, the BTS transmits a handoff candidate list to the subscriber units. The handoff candidate list identifies candidate BTS's to which the subscriber unit, theoretically, could hand off. In addition, the list indicates at which offsets the subscriber units should search for short codes transmitted by the candidate BTS's over the pilot channel. Based on the path length between the BTS, aircraft, and subscriber unit, the candidate BTS's actually generate their short codes at an offset that is equal to or earlier than the offset reported to the subscriber unit by some delta. In addition, the BTS's can impose a variable delay on the generated short code bits to compensate for variations in the path delay as the aircraft flies in its flight pattern.

Abstract: A method of locating a billing area associated with a cell phone call initiated in an airborne cellular communications system enables service providers to more accurately identify system user locations within the system's area of coverage. In operation, propagation delay and beam number location of an initiated call are identified to determine a current handset radial beam location. The propagation delay is then mapped to a stored closest corresponding radial geographic billing location, and the call is then associated with the closest corresponding radial geographic billing location. Additional system accuracy may be provided by determining azimuthal position within a beam footprint by determining a handoff location of a signal from a first beam to a second beam, and then mapping handoff information to a closest corresponding azimuthal geographic billing location. Both the closest corresponding radial and azimuthal geographic billing locations are then used to identify a current handset location.

Abstract: Network nodes (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 40) of a communication network (100) determine whether the queue position (56, 57) of a data packet (60) exceeds a threshold (55). Data packets which are placed in a queue that has a depth greater than the threshold, and therefore will experience increased delay at this node, are remarked to a higher priority for expedited handling at the next hop. The next hop network node which handles that data packet will put it in a higher priority queue (51) such that it will experience less delay at the that node. In this way, a negative correlation in node-to-node delay is achieved and overall delay variation is reduced.

Abstract: An RF power fairness method (26) receives a request for supplemental channel resources (160). If sufficient supplemental channel resources (time slots and data rates) are not available, the original request is modified (166). If there is multiple call activity on the supplemental channel, RF power is calculated for each of the simultaneous calls on the shared channel (202, 208). If successful time slots and data rates are found, a grant message is returned from the time slot manager (26) to the base station (164, 170, 180). If insufficient time slots and data rate power are determined, a deny request message is transmitted to the base station (184).

Abstract: A method (30) schedules the utilization of the supplemental channel of a base station transceiver (20-25). This scheduling includes time slot assignment as well as data transfer rate per time slot. One method simply selects the next time slot with a maximum rate for the primary base station transceiver (130). The method then selects the same time slot for each of the secondary links with the secondary base stations (132). The data is then simply sent to each of the BTSs (20-25) for transmission to the mobile station (10). In another alternative, a request is made for a supplemental channel usage for the primary link (144). Then secondary links are selected for transmission to the mobile station (10) only if they provide additional diversity gain (148) and resources are available at the secondary link BTSs.

Abstract: A method of increasing satellite communication quality by using a MEO satellite constellation (12) and a LEO satellite constellation (14) in combination with a decision algorithm which selects the appropriate constellation to route a communication signal through. The decision algorithm can be embodied in three ways: gateway based (18), individual subscriber unit based (22) and satellite based (12, 14). The MEO constellation (12) and LEO (14) constellation may be cross-linked, allowing for switching of service between satellites, as needed, during a communication session.

Abstract: The present invention corrects for Doppler shift in both forward and reverse links in a cellular communications system including an airborne repeater. A reverse link pilot reference signal in a band similar to a communications signal band is received at a reverse link processor, and the Doppler shift in the reverse feeder link is corrected based on the reverse link pilot reference signal. The Doppler shift in the forward feeder link is also corrected based on the reverse link pilot reference signal prior to the forward feeder link being affected by the Doppler shift. The present invention also compensates for signal strength variations due to changing flight pattern positions of the repeater. Pre-compensation for forward feeder link path losses due to movement of the airplane is performed to cause communications signals transmitted to and from the cellular communications system repeater to have identical strength before the signals are transmitted to the system user cell phones within the area of coverage.

Abstract: An airborne repeater antenna array (70) in which beams transmitted from multiple antenna elements (80) of the array to form terrestrial communications. cells are shaped according to predetermined system parameters. At least one of airplane telemetry data (58) indicating an airplane flight pattern location, adjacent cellular system beam footprint data, and call distribution load within a terrestrial cell are received, and a complex gain is dynamically computed for each of the multiple antenna elements based on such data to thereby output a plurality of beams that form desired geographic communications coverage cells (100, 102, 104, 108).

Abstract: Network nodes (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 40) of a communication network (100) determine whether the queue position (56, 57) of a data packet (60) exceeds a threshold (55). Data packets which are placed in a queue that has a depth greater than the threshold, and therefore will experience increased delay at this node, are remarked to a higher priority for expedited handling at the next hop. The next hop network node which handles that data packet will put it in a higher priority queue (51) such that it will experience less delay at the that node. In this way, a negative correlation in node-to-node delay is achieved and overall delay variation is reduced.

Abstract: A cellular communications network (200, FIG. 2) includes one or more aircraft (210), which provide communication channels to cellular communications units, and also communicate with one or more base transceiver stations (206) and a control center (214). The control center receives (502, 602) telemetry and flight parameter information from the aircraft, and calculates (510, 606) network parameters based on the information. The control center transmits (512, 608) messages to the cellular network, including the aircraft, based on the calculated network parameters, and the aircraft and cellular network controls (612) its operations according to information within these messages.

Abstract: In a satellite communications system (100), system capacity is improved using a satellite (110 and 120) that includes a main mission antenna (MMA) (310 FIG. 3), antenna subsystem (320), and controller (350). Antenna subsystem (320) comprises a beamformer and associated software to optimize the beam shape and cell position with respect to the satellite's location. In one example, beam optimization is performed using a location based on latitude. Satellite (110 and 120) determines its spatial position and determines its latitudinal location based on this position information. The satellite determines the number of cells, the cell sizes, and the beam steering angles required at this latitudinal location. In other cases, beam optimization is performed using a location based on latitude and longitude, system loading, and satellite health and status.

Abstract: A method and system for antenna pattern synthesis based on geographical distribution of subscribers allows more efficient use of satellite power resources in order to provide communications services to terrestrial-based subscribers (FIG. 1, 105, 115, 125, and 135). The method entails the grouping of terrestrial-based subscribers into communication beams (FIG. 5, 530) where gain is maximized (550) at the centroid of each beam. Additionally, gain in the directions of interfering emitters is minimized (540). A processor (FIG. 7, 740), which can be resident within a satellite (200), can perform the necessary processing to synthesize communication beams which service the terrestrial-based subscribers (105, 115, 125, and 135).