Patents Assigned to SkyPilot Network, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7053853
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Merenda, Mark J. Rich
  • Publication number: 20040263390
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Merenda, Mark J. Rich
  • Publication number: 20020181427
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Sparr, William G. Olsen, Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich, Michael R. Franceschini, Joseph T. Merenda
  • Publication number: 20020176390
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Sparr, William G. Olsen, Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich, Michael R. Franceschini, Joseph T. Merenda
  • Publication number: 20020176440
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich
  • Publication number: 20020176396
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich
  • Publication number: 20020176381
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich
  • Publication number: 20020154622
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: SkyPilot Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich