Patents Assigned to SkyPilot Network, Inc.
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Patent number: 7053853Abstract: A planar antenna that facilitates directional communication to a mesh network. The antenna is housed in a relatively small, planar package that can easily be attached to a window pane to enable the antenna to communicate with a neighboring rooftop mounted node of the mesh network. The package contains an M by N element phased array, where M and N are integers greater than one. The array is driven by microwave signals supplied from a P-angle phase shifting circuit, where P is an integer greater than one. Thus, the antenna synthesizes a single main beam and the antenna's main beam can be electrically “pointed” in one of P directions. In one embodiment of the invention, the array comprises 40 physical elements (8×5 elements) and has three selectable directions (i.e., the phase shifters provide +90, 0 and ?90 degree shifts that move the beam left 45 degrees, center and right 45 degrees).Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2003Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Merenda, Mark J. Rich
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Publication number: 20040263390Abstract: A planar antenna that facilitates directional communication to a mesh network. The antenna is housed in a relatively small, planar package that can easily be attached to a window pane to enable the antenna to communicate with a neighboring rooftop mounted node of the mesh network. The package contains an M by N element phased array, where M and N are integers greater than one. The array is driven by microwave signals supplied from a P-angle phase shifting circuit, where P is an integer greater than one. Thus, the antenna synthesizes a single main beam and the antenna's main beam can be electrically “pointed” in one of P directions. In one embodiment of the invention, the array comprises 40 physical elements (8×5 elements) and has three selectable directions (i.e., the phase shifters provide +90, 0 and −90 degree shifts that move the beam left 45 degrees, center and right 45 degrees).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Merenda, Mark J. Rich
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Publication number: 20020181427Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a wireless mesh network and network node are described. More particularly, a network having network node neighborhoods is described. A node comprises a multi-sectored antenna and a transceiver controller. Nodes are configured for installation without antenna pointing and without pre-coordination with the network. Software architecture for the node is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Robert H. Sparr, William G. Olsen, Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich, Michael R. Franceschini, Joseph T. Merenda
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Publication number: 20020176390Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a wireless mesh network and network node are described. More particularly, a network having network node neighborhoods is described. A node comprises a multi-sectored antenna and a transceiver controller. Nodes are configured for installation without antenna pointing and without pre-coordination with the network. Software architecture for the node is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Robert H. Sparr, William G. Olsen, Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich, Michael R. Franceschini, Joseph T. Merenda
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Publication number: 20020176440Abstract: Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich
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Publication number: 20020176396Abstract: Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich
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Publication number: 20020176381Abstract: Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich
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Publication number: 20020154622Abstract: Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2002Publication date: October 24, 2002Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich