Airborne Or Aircraft Patents (Class 455/431)
  • Patent number: 11972691
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, apparatus, and computer program product for managing an autonomous aerial vehicle. A copy of a mission plan is stored in a mission work queue. The mission plan is located in the autonomous aerial vehicle and comprises mission components that define tasks performed by the autonomous aerial vehicle. A change to the mission components in the copy of the mission plan in the mission work queue is received to form a modified mission component in the copy of the mission plan. A determination is made as to whether the copy of the mission plan including the modified mission component can be executed by the autonomous aerial vehicle. The copy of the mission plan including the modified mission component is synchronized with the mission plan in the autonomous aerial vehicle such that the mission plan includes the modified mission component. The autonomous aerial vehicle executes the mission plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Stefan Manuel Neis, Sebastian Michael Sprengart, Robert Lowell Rosenau
  • Patent number: 11941992
    Abstract: A method for reporting flight path information includes: determining content of flight path information of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including at least one of a path positioning point of the UAV, the flight speed of the UAV and the flight altitude of the UAV, the reporting time of the flight path information of the UAV, and the position and altitude of the UAV when the flight path information of the UAV is reported; and reporting, through radio resource control (RRC) signalling, the flight path information of the UAV to the base station. By determining the content of the flight path information of the UAV, and reporting the flight path information of the UAV to the base station by means of RRC signalling, the base station can determine flight-related information according to the content so as to prepare for handover in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei Hong
  • Patent number: 11936439
    Abstract: A control device acquires quality information indicating a correspondence relationship between a position and a communication quality related to wireless communication at the position, and route information indicating a scheduled moving route of a terminal device, specifies an area including at least a part of the scheduled moving route among areas in which the communication quality is determined to be lower than a predetermined communication quality on a basis of the quality information and the route information, and executes control for moving a mobile base station to a position where a wireless communication service can be provided in the specified area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11876594
    Abstract: A beamforming control module including processing circuitry may be configured to receive fixed position information indicative of a fixed geographic location of a base station, receive dynamic position information indicative of a three dimensional position of at least one mobile communication station, determine an expected relative position of a first network node relative to a second network node based on the fixed position information and the dynamic position information, and provide instructions to direct formation of a steerable beam from an antenna array of the second network node based on the expected relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SMARTSKY NETWORKS LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Hyslop
  • Patent number: 11823579
    Abstract: A flight management system is configured to manage the flight of a flight vehicle in communication with a user terminal operated by a user. The flight management system includes a receiver configured to receive from the user terminal the flight application information including the identification information of the flight vehicle, a flight path preferred by the user, and a flight time preferred by the user; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not to permit utilization of predetermined radio waves with the flight vehicle to fly along the flight path at the flight time based on the flight application information; and a transmitter configured to transmit the flight information instructing the flight vehicle to fly along the flight path to the flight vehicle identified by the identification information on the condition that the determination unit determines to permit utilization of predetermined radio waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KDDI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sou Yamazaki, Takaya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11817936
    Abstract: A GSM satellite communication system is in communication with a first satellite having a first field of view including a first plurality of cells in which a plurality of active User Equipment (UEs) are located. The plurality of active UEs are in direct communication with the first satellite. The satellite communication system includes a first feeder link and a first tracking antenna configured to communicate with the plurality of active UEs via the first satellite directly serving the first plurality of cells; a first processing device configured to communicate with the plurality of active UEs; and a second processing device configured to normalize delay for a plurality of beam centers of the first plurality of cells, and provide the normalized delay to the first processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AST & Science, LLC
    Inventors: Zhi Zhong Yu, Federico Pedro Fawzi, Abel Avellan
  • Patent number: 11777604
    Abstract: A system and method for updating and maintaining an onboard entertainment server on an aircraft includes a gate LiFi access point positioned in a gate area of an airport, the gate LiFi access point having a removable server. An aircraft LiFi receiver is positioned in the aircraft, the aircraft LiFi receiver and the removable server capable of line-of-sight transmission of updated data and a content loader receives the updated data in the onboard entertainment server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark W. Schwartz, George J. Guffey, Michael Kuehn
  • Patent number: 11743795
    Abstract: A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells may include a receiver station disposed on an aircraft in flight, a plurality of base stations, each base station defining a corresponding radiation pattern such that the base stations are spaced apart from each other to define at least partially overlapping coverage areas, and a control module in communication with at least one of the base stations. The control module may be configured to receive information indicative of an altitude of the aircraft and select a frequency for communication between the at least one of the base stations and the receiver station based on the altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTSKY NETWORKS LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Hyslop
  • Patent number: 11716334
    Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating information are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving information at a first device based on a first protocol. The information can be translated, at the first device, for communication to a second device based on a second protocol. A determination can be made as to whether the information matches a criterion associated with a transportation device. The information can be provided to the second device based on the second protocol and a determination that the information matches the criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Federal Express Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Yerger, Ted McFann, Joseph W. Slavinsky, Joshua Beckman Kendrick, Scot A. Struminger
  • Patent number: 11665517
    Abstract: An aviation-related communication network includes a plurality of base stations configured to communicate with in-flight aircraft, a plurality of aviation-related communication network radios disposed on selected aircraft where the aviation-related communication network radios are configured to communicate with base stations of the aviation-related communication network via aviation-related communication network communication links using a first communication standard, and a first wireless access point on each of the selected aircraft to define a first wireless local area network on each of the selected aircraft. At least some of the selected aircraft include a second wireless local area network that defines a priority access network. Devices of the priority access network may be provided with priority access to bandwidth supplied by the aviation-related communication network relative to devices of the first wireless local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTSKY NETWORKS, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Natwick
  • Patent number: 11614987
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to system(s) and method(s) for verifying data loading requirements of an avionics unit. The system receives a request for data loading. The request comprises file data, and data loading requirements associated with the avionics unit. Further, the system obtains target file from a repository based on an analysis of the request. The system further generates valid data set and invalid data set in the target file based on an analysis of the data loading requirements. Upon generation, the system verifies predefined data loading requirements of the avionics unit using the invalid data set from the target file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HCL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Jignesh Jagdishbhai Trivedi, Sourav Dey
  • Patent number: 11613378
    Abstract: A cockpit suitable for being installed in a pilot's cabin of an aircraft, the cockpit comprising a floor, a plurality of interior furniture items and a dashboard configured to receive a plurality of devices for commanding and/or controlling the aircraft, the cockpit comprising a securing system which connects the dashboard solely to the floor and/or to the plurality of interior furniture items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS ATLANTIC
    Inventors: Christian Bergeret, Gilles Andrieu, Alexandre Branco
  • Patent number: 11606754
    Abstract: An aviation connectivity gateway module for remote access to an aircraft's systems and remotely offloading its aircraft data. The module broadly comprises a CPU, a first set of communication elements, a second set of communication elements, a memory, a battery, an IMU, a GPS module, and a number of antennas. The module responds to remote prompts and offloads aircraft data when the aircraft is powered off. An aviation connectivity gateway module for complete BVLOS cellular network connectivity broadly comprises a CPU, a set of electronic connectors, a memory, an IMU, a GPS module, a first cellular connectivity element, a second cellular connectivity element, and a number of antennas. The module switches between the first cellular communication element and the second communication element based a status of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Appareo Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Matt Dondoneau, Johan Wiig, Ross Eickhoff, Andy Stromme, Justin Koob
  • Patent number: 11582774
    Abstract: There are provided mechanisms for sharing channels in a wireless communications system among wireless devices that use a plurality of different access technologies. First and second wireless devices are operable to share a channel in the wireless communication system with each other. The first wireless device is operable to provide an indication to the second wireless device that the first wireless device is using a first access technology to access the channel. The second wireless device is operable to receive the indication and determine, based on the indication, that the first wireless device is using a first access technology to access the channel. Accordingly, the second wireless device can determine, based on compatibility of its access technology with that of the first wireless device, whether to refrain from using the channel or to share the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Stefano Sorrentino, Erika Tejedor
  • Patent number: 11574547
    Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing an ad-hoc collaboration between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are provided. A method includes: configuring intent data of a first UAV using a controller of the first UAV; configuring a collaboration plan for the first UAV and a second UAV based on a determination of a shared intent between the first UAV and the second UAV; executing the collaboration plan by flying the first UAV and gathering data using the first UAV based on the collaboration plan; and sharing the gathered data with an operator of the second UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Clifford A. Pickover, Dana L. Price, Aaron J. Quirk
  • Patent number: 11562073
    Abstract: A system configured to perform software load verification. The system includes a memory, a network interface, and a processor. The memory is configured to store first data indicating expected load events. The network interface is configured to receive load verification data and a cryptographic signature from a software update target device. The load verification data is descriptive of particular load events related to loading software at the software update target device. The processor is configured to authenticate that the load verification data is received from the software update target device based on the cryptographic signature. The processor is also configured to, responsive to authenticating that the load verification data is received from the software update target device, performing a comparison of the particular load events and the expected load events. The processor is further configured to perform a response action based on results of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jake Daniel Hertenstein
  • Patent number: 11520054
    Abstract: A position measuring system includes: a connection destination candidate selecting unit which selects a connection destination candidate for each of a plurality of route coordinates on a route included in route information, on the basis of the distance between each of the plurality of route coordinates and reference stations included in a reference station list; and a connection destination information generating unit which determines a connection destination for which to acquire the correction information, on the basis of prescribed determining criteria, from among the connection destination candidates selected by the connection destination candidate selecting means, and generates and outputs connection destination information relating to the determined connection destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Maho Kashiwagi, Ryo Miyamoto, Yuka Kanda
  • Patent number: 11508025
    Abstract: A data updating system for computing devices included in an aircraft, wherein one computing device in a first group of computing devices is, and one other computing device in a second group of computing devices is not, when the data of the computing device is updated, liable to affect the safety of the operator carrying out the maintenance on the aircraft. The system includes a data loading device, a connection connecting the data loading device with the computing device in the second group, and a data router connected to the data loading device, the data router transferring updating data to the computing devices in the first group only when a command by an operator in the cockpit of the aircraft is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Denis Delville, Louis Théophile Thirion
  • Patent number: 11492100
    Abstract: An information apparatus includes a schedule obtainment unit that obtains flight schedule information transmitted from terminals. Allocation unit allocates an airspace and a permitted flight period to drone based on the obtained flight schedule information. If there is a predetermined commonality in the airspaces and the flight directions of multiple drones, allocation unit causes those multiple drones to share the airspace under the condition that formation flight in which distances therebetween are controlled is performed. Allocation unit determines an arrangement in which multiple drones are aligned in the order in which drones withdraw from formation flight as the arrangement of multiple drones during formation flight. Also, allocation unit determines an arrangement in which drone that does not include a formation flight function is in front and drone that includes formation flight function follows therebehind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Hidetoshi Ebara, Youhei Oono, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11477704
    Abstract: Provided is a method for determining access permission for a beamforming computing device communicating with a beamforming transceiver. The method includes obtaining, at an inter-zone sensor, location information from the beamforming computing device, wherein the inter-zone sensor is configured to monitor a location of the beamforming computing device; determining, by the inter-zone sensor, the location for the beamforming computing device based on the location information as the beamforming computing device nears a boundary between a first access zone and a second access zone; providing, by the inter-zone sensor, the location to a central control system; obtaining, by the inter-zone sensor, a command by the central control system that instructs the inter-zone sensor to communicate access instructions to a beamforming transceiver in the second access zone; and providing the access instructions to the beamforming transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Aziz Yousif, Anil Kumar, David A. Bush
  • Patent number: 11424927
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating avionic data to a non-avionic device situated outside of the cockpit of an aircraft are provided. A method may comprise the steps of receiving a request, aimed at receiving avionic data from avionic systems, from a non-avionic client device; determining the distance between the non-avionic device and the cockpit of the aircraft; and adjusting the sending of data in response to the request depending on the determined distance. Developments of the invention describe the use of a wireless access point associated with a secure gateway determining the access rights to the avionic data for the non-avionic device, various sending and/or display adjustments depending notably on the distance, threshold management, various indoor positioning techniques, unilateral or bilateral communications, various notifications, the use of lightweight connected clients (for example earpiece, watch, glasses, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Laurent Castet, Renaud Erba, Frédéric Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11382014
    Abstract: A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells may include a receiver station disposed on an aircraft in flight, a plurality of base stations, each base station defining a corresponding radiation pattern such that the base stations are spaced apart from each other to define at least partially overlapping coverage areas, and a control module in communication with at least one of the base stations. The control module may be configured to receive information indicative of an altitude of the aircraft and select a frequency for communication between the at least one of the base stations and the receiver station based on the altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SMARTSKY NETWORKS, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Hyslop
  • Patent number: 11374752
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for performing secure transactions in an aircraft are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosed technology enable low cost carriers to provide payment verification for on-board purchases via the in-flight entertainment system. An exemplary method for performing secure transactions in an aircraft includes transmitting, by a user device in the aircraft using a wireless protocol, a first authentication factor and a request for one or more on-board services; receiving, from an on-board transceiver using the wireless protocol, an authentication token (a) comprising a one-time code and (b) encrypted using an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm; transmitting, using the asymmetric cryptographic algorithm, a second authentication factor comprising (a) the authentication token and (b) a text message transmitted from the user device; and receiving a confirmation of a delivery of the one or more on-board services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideo Nakano
  • Patent number: 11349618
    Abstract: A method and user equipment for transmitting a sounding reference signal (SRS) of a user equipment in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes calculating an SRS transmission count based on at least one of a numerology, an SRS periodicity, a number of SRS symbols, and an SRS repetition factor, and transmitting the SRS based on the SRS transmission count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Cheol Kyu Shin, Jeong Ho Yeo, Young Woo Kwak, Hoon Dong Noh, Hyun Il Yoo
  • Patent number: 11349558
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an antenna system for a high-altitude platform (HAP). The antenna system may include a central panel including a first set of antenna elements. The antenna system may also include a plurality of auxiliary panels arranged around the central panel and at an angular offset from the central panel. Each auxiliary panel of the set of auxiliary panels may include a second plurality of antenna elements. The first plurality of antenna elements may be configured to provide network coverage within a first area having a first radius and each of the second sets of antenna elements are configured to provide network coverage within a second area beyond the first radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SoftBank Corp.
    Inventors: Sharath Ananth, Cyrus Behroozi, Sergey Vichik
  • Patent number: 11342957
    Abstract: A switching system comprises a three-way radio switch for an onboard radio system. The radio switch includes a manual standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency input by a user; an automated standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency automatically input by the system; and an active frequency switch that shows a currently selected frequency. The active frequency switch receives and displays the frequency from the manual standby frequency switch, or receives and displays the frequency from the automated standby frequency switch. A processor is operative to monitor frequencies of the radio system in real-time; compare the frequencies of the radio system with frequencies from a database containing regional radio frequencies; trigger an alert when the frequencies of the radio system do not match the frequencies from the database; and send an updated standby radio frequency to the automated standby frequency switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Katarina Alexis Morowsky, Aaron J Gannon, Ivan Sandy Wyatt, Avery Burns, Balaji Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11327740
    Abstract: A method and a device for managing software configurations of equipment of an aircraft, comprising a device for managing software configurations of equipment of the aircraft. The device for managing software configurations of equipment of the aircraft detects the availability of a communication link between a server on the ground and the aircraft, checks whether a configuration file is available and importing the configuration file, imports, from the server on the ground, one or more software updates identified in the configuration file and storage of the software update or updates in a temporary memory space; determines the instant as from which each update can be implemented, and demands the modification of the software configuration of the item or items of equipment with the software update or updates corresponding to the item or items of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Denis Delville, Louis Théophile Thirion, Thomas Monot
  • Patent number: 11297691
    Abstract: Embodiments of interference coordination for aerial vehicle user equipment (UE) are described. In some embodiments, a base station (BS) is configured to select a subset of time-frequency resources dedicated for use in serving aerial vehicle UEs and communicate with the aerial vehicle UEs via the subset of time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the BS may transmit signaling to a neighbor BS that indicates the BS has dedicated the subset of time-frequency resources for serving aerial vehicle UEs and the subset of time-frequency resources to be used. The BS may receive an indication from the neighbor BS that a neighbor BS is to dedicate the subset of time-frequency resources to serve aerial vehicle UE, and based on the indication, the BS may reduce transmission activities in the subset of time-frequency resources, including refraining from transmitting or reducing an amount of information or power level of signaling to the aerial vehicle UEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Sergeev, Seunghee Han, Feng Xue, Alexei Davydov, Gregory Morozov
  • Patent number: 11290175
    Abstract: A communication system comprising a plurality of ground stations, each including a plurality of directional antennae arranged around a center axis, each directional antenna having a beam width associated with a particular area around the ground station; for each ground-based directional antenna, at least one software defined radio coupled to the directional antenna in such a manner as to enable the ground-based directional antenna to transmit radio frequency signals generated by the software defined radio and to provide to the software defined radio frequency signals received by the ground-based directional antenna; for each ground station, at least one control unit; wherein the control unit of a first ground station is configured to enable a transmission of a signal from a first directional antenna of the first ground station; wherein the control unit of a second ground station is configured to enable the reception of the signal from a first directional antenna of the second ground station; and wherein the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Holloway H. Frost
  • Patent number: 11283686
    Abstract: A system for off-board communication includes data storage configured to store one or more data objects. A data object includes data of an application. The data object indicates a data object priority and one or more acceptable communication links associated with the application. The system also includes one or more processors configured to retrieve communication link status from a memory. The communication link status indicates available communication links with available bandwidth. The processors are also configured to retrieve the data object from the data storage based on the data object priority and acceptable communication links of the data object including the available communication links. The processors are further configured to generate, based on the available bandwidth of the available communication links, sub-data objects of the data object. The processors are also configured to initiate concurrent transmission of the sub-data objects via the available communication links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Guillermo De Vivero, Aziz Yousif, Anil Kumar, Timothy William Anstey, Arun Ayyagari
  • Patent number: 11206553
    Abstract: A maintenance base controls a plurality of mobile robots providing a radio coverage area. The maintenance base instructs a mobile robot of the plurality of mobile robots to maintain a formation with the other mobile robots in the plurality of mobile robots such that the radio coverage area is provided, and instructs the mobile robot to rotate positions within the formation to maintain the radio coverage area as a further mobile robot in the formation leaves the formation and another mobile robot enters the formation. The mobile robot acts in accordance with the instructions of the maintenance base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Branko Djordjevic, Torsten Dudda, Wojciech Potentas
  • Patent number: 11196479
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of aircrafts, each of which has an antenna for forming a communication area on the ground to provide a radio communication service to a user terminal in the communication area, and a management device for managing the plurality of aircrafts. The management device includes a signal transmitting unit that transmits a remote operation signal to an aircraft selected as the remote operation target from the plurality of aircrafts. Each of the plurality of aircrafts includes a remote operation flying control unit that, when an aircraft is selected as the remote operation target, causes the aircraft to fly based on the remote operation signal received from the management device, and a tuned flying control unit that, when the aircraft is not selected as the remote operation target, causes the aircraft to fly in tune with other aircraft selected as the remote operation target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: HAPSMobile Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsushi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 11190952
    Abstract: The present disclosure has an object to provide a specific communication technology for realizing effective communication with a flying object in a communication apparatus including the flying object. The communication apparatus includes a first base station, a flying object including a second base station, and a mobile terminal to communicate with the second base station. The first base station notifies flying object specification information that is information indicating that the second base station is included in the flying object. When the flying object specification information is received, the mobile terminal sets a direction of a beam for detecting the second base station to a second direction that is a direction vertically upward compared to a first direction that is the direction of the beam in a case where the flying object specification information is not received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kuniyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11178550
    Abstract: A multi-tenant system is provided for coordinating spectrum allocation of a plurality of high-altitude networks (HANs) so that at least one high-altitude platform (HAP) in one of the plurality of HANs is controlled to avoid interfering with a HAP in at least one other HAN of the plurality of HANs. The multi-tenant system comprises a database including: 1) a first interface, 2) a second interface, 3) at least one service module, and 4) a data storage device. The multi-tenant system further comprises a communication controller coupled to the database, the communication controller configured to control various characteristics of HAPs in their respective HANs and links therebetween based on data maintained in the data storage device of the database. The data includes regulatory and coordination constraints provided via the first interface and non-regulatory and external coordination information provided via the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SOFTBANK CORP.
    Inventors: Brian Barritt, Daniel Holle
  • Patent number: 11172240
    Abstract: A content distribution apparatus onboard a vehicle periodically travelling within direct communicative range of other content distribution apparatuses onboard respective other vehicles has a storage interface to a local content data repository, and a mesh network interface establishing mesh network data communications links with the content distribution apparatuses. A comparator is in communication with the local content data repository over the storage interface, and a missing content segments list is generated by the comparator based upon an evaluation of a master content list against a local inventory of the segments of content data. The missing content data is retrieved from one or more upstream source content distribution apparatuses over a first mesh network data communications link. The content data in the local inventory is also transmitted to a downstream requestor content distribution apparatus over a second mesh network data communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC AVIONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Amir Ali Mirmirani
  • Patent number: 11146326
    Abstract: An air-to-ground communication system including: a plurality of ground stations, where each ground station includes a plurality of ground-based directional antennae having a beam width associated with a particular area of the sky above the ground station and for each ground-based directional antenna, a least one software defined radio coupled to the directional antenna to enable the ground-based directional antenna to transmit radio frequency signals generated by the software defined radio and to provide to the software defined radio frequency signals received by the ground-based directional antenna and a plurality of air stations, each including a number of air-based directional antennae and an air station control unit, each air-based directional antenna having a beam width associated with a particular area of the sky below the air station; for each air-based directional antenna, a least one software defined radio coupled to the air-based directional antenna in such a manner as enable the air-based direction
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Holloway H. Frost
  • Patent number: 11139885
    Abstract: The invention concerns a network creation process for the provision of internet and/or television type data signals across the complete land surface, Linking through a digital wireless link at least one aircraft (300) with the earth station (200) on one hand, and on the other hand, with at least one means of emission and receipt, whether fixed or borne by at least one user (400), moving to an altitude lower than or equal to ten kilometers above the global land surface, and being equipped with one or several payloads powered by the energy of the aircraft (300) in such a way as to use emission and receipt relays for the provision of at least one type of signal on the global land surface. The said process is remarkable in that the power of signals (radiation) emitted by the payload is modulated to vary according to the altitude of the aircraft (300) and can thus vary from 0% on earth to 100% during cruising. The invention also concerns the payload and the aircraft that enable implementing the said process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: PRODOSE
    Inventor: Morou Boukari
  • Patent number: 11134526
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, storage media, and computer programs that support communication in a movable object environment. In one embodiment, information for a set of communication parameters is provided, a modified value for at least one of the set of communication parameters is obtained from an affiliated device; and a connection established between the movable object and the affiliated device is configured based on the modified value. In another embodiment, a connection between a movable object and an affiliated device is established, wherein the connection uses a set of communication parameters, values of which are set to default values; a modified value for at least one of the set is obtained, based on values for the set of communication parameters provided by the movable object and values for the set of communication parameters provided by the affiliated device, and the connection is configured based on the modified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chaobin Chen, Xi Chen
  • Patent number: 11102647
    Abstract: A method for establishing a data connection between a mobile terminal and a server includes sending a request for data connection to the server, generating a random password, transmitting the random password to the server for storing in the server, establishing the data connection between the mobile terminal and the server, and encrypting data to be transmitted through the communication connection using the random password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi Zhou, Zhun Ding, Yongsen Chen, Ming Gong
  • Patent number: 11080972
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering alerts, notifications and messages, to and, if configured, responses from one to many users wearing technology designed for single and/or multiple media types, utilizing one to many non-primary communication pathways enabled are contemplated in which (a) a primary communication channel pathway, (b) a primary or non-primary control channel(s) is established, by wireless receiver and/or wired connection to a group of users, that (b) then allows an activation method type to provide an alert/notification/message method to one-to-many persons (i.e., users) and/or, one-to-many devices in an addressable manner that establishes a non-primary communication channel path that is parallel and unknown to the primary communication channel path. The overall method consists of a router function and media delivery routing technology) that are actively listening on a primary communication/control pathway or a non-primary control channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Darryl Dwight Brayton
  • Patent number: 11057784
    Abstract: A data communication system able to provide a speedy response to a user equipment transmitting data includes a base station and a data center. The base station is disposed adjacent to the data center, the base station is coupled between the data center and the user equipment, and the base station transmits data provided by the user equipment to the data center. The data center processes first data from the user equipment, and transmits a second data to the user equipment through the base station. Therefore, the data transmission time between the data center and the user equipment is shortened, and the data can be quickly fed back to the user equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONGFUJIN PRECISION ELECTRONICS(TIANJIN)CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Ting Chang, Chao-Ke Wei, Tze-Chern Mao, Li-Wen Chang, Hui-Hsuan Wang
  • Patent number: 11055931
    Abstract: A system for managing the data of an aircraft includes a device of avionics type installed in the aircraft, the installed device being: connectable to an electrical power source of avionics type; connectable to the avionics data bus; comprising a docking support; a removable device of non-avionics type being able to be fixed onto the docking support, the removable device comprising computation and storage resources for the processing of avionics data and, optionally, wireless communication. Developments of the invention describe electrical isolation mechanisms, the facility to cut any wireless communication, in particular cellular, of the removable device, the control and/or the updating of the removable device by ground teams. Method and software aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventor: RĂ©mi Huynh
  • Patent number: 11031997
    Abstract: An air-to-ground communication system including: a plurality of ground stations, where each ground station includes a plurality of ground-based directional antennae having a beam width associated with a particular area of the sky above the ground station and for each ground-based directional antenna, a least one software defined radio coupled to the directional antenna to enable the ground-based directional antenna to transmit radio frequency signals generated by the software defined radio and to provide to the software defined radio frequency signals received by the ground-based directional antenna and a plurality of air stations, each including a number of air-based directional antennae and an air station control unit, each air-based directional antenna having a beam width associated with a particular area of the sky below the air station; for each air-based directional antenna, a least one software defined radio coupled to the air-based directional antenna in such a manner as enable the air-based direction
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Holloway H. Frost
  • Patent number: 11006281
    Abstract: A method for planning a high altitude platform-based communication network includes aggregating data from at least one data source, wherein the data includes environmental data. Based on the aggregated data, a plurality of network expansion potential scores are computed according to geographic location. A visual output is generated based on the computed plurality of network expansion potential scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: LOON LLC
    Inventors: Salvatore J. Candido, Wanda Hung
  • Patent number: 10998961
    Abstract: An air-to-ground communication system including: a plurality of ground stations, where each ground station includes a plurality of ground-based directional antennae having a beam width associated with a particular area of the sky above the ground station and for each ground-based directional antenna, a least one software defined radio coupled to the directional antenna to enable the ground-based directional antenna to transmit radio frequency signals generated by the software defined radio and to provide to the software defined radio frequency signals received by the ground-based directional antenna and a plurality of air stations, each including a number of air-based directional antennae and an air station control unit, each air-based directional antenna having a beam width associated with a particular area of the sky below the air station; for each air-based directional antenna, a least one software defined radio coupled to the air-based directional antenna in such a manner as enable the air-based direction
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Holloway H. Frost
  • Patent number: 10999378
    Abstract: Systems and methods for combining operational data transmission (statistics about device health, connected device information, and the like) and keep alive packets (ping type packets which expect a reply back within predetermined amount of time to indicate network connections can pass traffic bi-directionally) are described. Embodiments provide an onboard aircraft communication equipment, in which the onboard aircraft communication equipment is deployed on an operational aircraft and transmits keep-alive packets to a ground network. Embodiments generate operational data from the aircraft, construct a bi-directional keep-alive packet with keep-alive data for transmission between the onboard aircraft communication equipment and the ground network, combine the operational data with the bi-directional keep-alive packet into a combined keep-alive request transmission, and transmit the combined keep-alive request transmission from the onboard aircraft communication equipment to the ground network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Satcom Direct, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Bantoft, Adam Wayte
  • Patent number: 10985831
    Abstract: In one example, a system for a preventing unauthorized access to operational aircraft data is provided. The system includes a server configured to be positioned on an aircraft. The server configured to communicate with a portable electronic device and a plurality of aircraft systems, wherein the server is configured to unidirectionally communicate with the plurality of aircraft systems, wherein the server is configured to receive avionic operational data from the plurality of aircraft systems. The server is further configured to implement security measures to prevent unauthorized electronic devices from accessing the avionic operational data produced by the plurality of aircraft systems. The server is further configured to control dissemination of avionic operational data to electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Anthony Zulch, III, Thomas D. Judd, Stephen Otis Hickman
  • Patent number: 10897716
    Abstract: A method is for establishing one or more links for an integrated access and backhaul for millimeter wave network. The network includes a high-altitude platform (HAP) as a first node and a terrestrial node as a second node. The method includes obtaining location information of the HAP in the network, determining that the HAP can be used to provide an additional access link or an additional backhaul link in the network in connection with the terrestrial node, controlling one or more transceivers of the terrestrial node to point towards the HAP according to the location information, and establishing the additional access link or the additional backhaul link between the HAP and the terrestrial node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: LOON LLC
    Inventors: Sharath Ananth, Brian Barritt
  • Patent number: 10897303
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an antenna system for a high-altitude platform (HAP). The antenna system may include a central panel including a first set of antenna elements. The antenna system may also include a plurality of auxiliary panels arranged around the central panel and at an angular offset from the central panel. Each auxiliary panel of the set of auxiliary panels may include a second plurality of antenna elements. The first plurality of antenna elements may be configured to provide network coverage within a first area having a first radius and each of the second sets of antenna elements are configured to provide network coverage within a second area beyond the first radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: LOON LLC
    Inventors: Sharath Ananth, Cyrus Behroozi, Sergey Vichik
  • Patent number: 10880800
    Abstract: A base station and a method by the base station for supporting mobility of a terminal in a beamforming-based wireless communication system are provided. The method includes generating beam-related information for a plurality of terminals from beam measurements result received respectively from the plurality of terminals, detecting a path in a coverage area of the base station according to the beam-related information, and transmitting a message to the terminal determined to move along the path for supporting mobility based on the beam-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Namryul Jeon, Seungil Oh, Daejoong Kim, Seungbo Yoo