Abstract: A ground station antenna is described herein including a moving feed plate with a first power transfer unit arranged on the moving feed plate. The ground station antenna also includes a fixed plate. The moving feed plate is configured to rotate with respect to the fixed plate. The fixed plate has a second power transfer unit. The first power transfer unit and the second power transfer unit are configured to transmit and receive modulated power signals between one another through a charging link. The modulated power signals comprise wireless charging power and data signals.

Abstract: An air to ground communication system provides internet access to aircraft from ground based stations. The air to ground system shares spectrum with uplink portions of a satellite communication spectrum. Interference mitigation techniques are employed to avoid interference between the ground based communications and satellite communications. Fade mitigation techniques are employed to provide communication to aircraft at low angles of elevation in the presence of rain.

Abstract: A method for ground to air communication includes receiving a first pilot signal on a first wide beam from a first ground base station by a first antenna element covering a first range of azimuth angles from an aircraft. Data is received on a directed data beam from the first ground base station by the first antenna element. A second pilot signal is received on a second wide beam from a second ground base station by a second antenna element covering a second range of azimuth angles different than the first range of azimuth angles. A signal strength of the second pilot signal is compared with a signal strength of the first pilot signal. Data reception is switched from the first antenna element to the second antenna element if the signal strength of the second pilot signal is greater than the signal strength of the first pilot signal.

Abstract: A ground station antenna including a torus shaped reflector having multiple feed points along a focal arc in front of the reflector. The ground station antenna includes transceiver feeds having their electrical phase centers located on the focal arc and supported by a rotating feed platform. The transceiver feeds are configured to simultaneously track rising and falling satellites when the platform rotates. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless power receiver coupled to the transceiver feeds to power the transceiver feeds. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless signal interface coupled to the transceiver feeds to communicate signals with a base unit to perform subsequent processing.

Abstract: A ground station antenna is described herein including a moving feed plate with a first power transfer unit arranged on the moving feed plate. The ground station antenna also includes a fixed plate. The moving feed plate is configured to rotate with respect to the fixed plate. The fixed plate has a second power transfer unit. The first power transfer unit and the second power transfer unit are configured to transmit and receive modulated power signals between one another through a charging link. The modulated power signals comprise wireless charging power and data signals.

Abstract: A method for air to ground communication interference mitigation within an aircraft equipped with a multi-beam array antenna includes adjusting a modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction of an aircraft receiver interface in response to detected interference from an interferer. The method further includes reducing a data rate of the aircraft receiver interface when the adjusting of the modulation symbol interleaving and/or forward error correction does not mitigate the detected interference. Another method for interference mitigation may include performing antenna beam-steering away from a geographic (GEO) arc during an aircraft turn. This method further includes reducing an aircraft transmitter transmit power when a signal quality of a forward link is within a predetermined range of a signal quality threshold.

Abstract: A method for real-time calibration of an air to ground two-way communication system. The method includes calibrating a ground base station antenna array according to forward link calibration coefficients received from an aircraft as part of a communication signaling protocol during operation of the air to ground two-way communication system. The method may also includes communicating between the ground base station antenna array and the aircraft over a narrow beam.

Abstract: A ground station antenna including a torus shaped reflector having multiple feed points along a focal arc in front of the reflector. The ground station antenna includes transceiver feeds having their electrical phase centers located on the focal arc and supported by a rotating feed platform. The transceiver feeds are configured to simultaneously track rising and falling satellites when the platform rotates. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless power receiver coupled to the transceiver feeds to power the transceiver feeds. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless signal interface coupled to the transceiver feeds to communicate signals with a base unit to perform subsequent processing.

Abstract: Aspects describe utilizing the Internet capability in mobile devices/networks to deliver broadcast multimedia to a device. The broadcast can be video, audio, and so forth. Initially the broadcast multimedia is transmitted at high data rates (and in unicast mode) in order for a buffer associated with mobile device to be built to a very long buffer length. When the long buffer length is reached, the multimedia can be delivered at real-time rates. The multimedia delivered at real times rates can be unicast mode or in multicast mode. If the buffer is depleted, a mobile device that is part of a multicast group can autonomously disassociated from the group until the buffer length is restored.

Abstract: A method for ground to air communication includes receiving a first pilot signal on a first wide beam from a first ground base station by a first antenna element covering a first range of azimuth angles from an aircraft. Data is received on a directed data beam from the first ground base station by the first antenna element. A second pilot signal is received on a second wide beam from a second ground base station by a second antenna element covering a second range of azimuth angles different than the first range of azimuth angles. A signal strength of the second pilot signal is compared with a signal strength of the first pilot signal. Data reception is switched from the first antenna element to the second antenna element if the signal strength of the second pilot signal is greater than the signal strength of the first pilot signal.

Abstract: A method for ground to air communication includes receiving a first pilot signal on a first wide beam from a first ground base station by a first antenna element covering a first range of azimuth angles from an aircraft. Data is received on a directed data beam from the first ground base station by the first antenna element. A second pilot signal is received on a second wide beam from a second ground base station by a second antenna element covering a second range of azimuth angles different than the first range of azimuth angles. A signal strength of the second pilot signal is compared with a signal strength of the first pilot signal. Data reception is switched from the first antenna element to the second antenna element if the signal strength of the second pilot signal is greater than the signal strength of the first pilot signal.

Abstract: An air to ground communication system provides internet access to aircraft from ground based stations. The air to ground system shares spectrum with uplink portions of a satellite communication spectrum. Interference mitigation techniques are employed to avoid interference between the ground based communications and satellite communications. Fade mitigation techniques are employed to provide communication to aircraft at low angles of elevation in the presence of rain.

Abstract: Synchronization of satellite and terrestrial broadcasts in a shared frequency arrangement is use in order to facilitate simultaneous reception of the broadcasts. A delay value is adjusted based on a synchronization between a first terrestrial broadcast and a satellite broadcast, and a delay value for a second terrestrial broadcast is adjusted based on a synchronization between the second terrestrial broadcast, the first terrestrial broadcast and the satellite broadcast. The adjustment of the relative delay values provides an improved reception pattern based on receipt of a shared frequency communication from multiple sources by improving a signal quality factor within at least selected regions of the coverage areas in which the relative delay values permit synchronization.

Abstract: A method for ground to air communication includes receiving a first pilot signal on a first wide beam from a first ground base station by a first antenna element covering a first range of azimuth angles from an aircraft. Data is received on a directed data beam from the first ground base station by the first antenna element. A second pilot signal is received on a second wide beam from a second ground base station by a second antenna element covering a second range of azimuth angles different than the first range of azimuth angles. A signal strength of the second pilot signal is compared with a signal strength of the first pilot signal. Data reception is switched from the first antenna element to the second antenna element if the signal strength of the second pilot signal is greater than the signal strength of the first pilot signal.

Abstract: A ground station antenna array includes a first array of antenna elements. A second array of antenna elements are vertically aligned with the first array of antenna elements. The first array of antenna elements and the second array of antenna elements are coupled to the digital beam forming circuitry and each cover a same sector of azimuth; the first array of antenna elements only covering a first elevation; the second array of antenna elements only covering a second lower elevation. The digital beam forming circuitry directs a radiation pattern of the first array of antenna elements in a first range of elevation angles, and directs a radiation pattern of the second array of antenna elements in a second range of elevation angles. The second array of antenna elements has higher gain than the first array. A respective transceiver is coupled to respective antenna elements of the first and second arrays.

Abstract: A method for real-time calibration of an air to ground two-way communication system. The method includes calibrating a ground base station antenna array according to forward link calibration coefficients received from an aircraft as part of a communication signaling protocol during operation of the air to ground two-way communication system. The method may also includes communicating between the ground base station antenna array and the aircraft over a narrow beam.

Abstract: Aspects describe utilizing the Internet capability in mobile devices/networks to deliver broadcast multimedia to a device. The broadcast can be video, audio, and so forth. Initially the broadcast multimedia is transmitted at high data rates (and in unicast mode) in order for a buffer associated with mobile device to be built to a very long buffer length. When the long buffer length is reached, the multimedia can be delivered at real-time rates. The multimedia delivered at real times rates can be unicast mode or in multicast mode. If the buffer is depleted, a mobile device that is part of a multicast group can autonomously disassociated from the group until the buffer length is restored.

Abstract: Synchronization of satellite and terrestrial broadcasts in a shared frequency arrangement is use in order to facilitate simultaneous reception of the broadcasts. A delay value is adjusted based on a synchronization between a first terrestrial broadcast and a satellite broadcast, and a delay value for a second terrestrial broadcast is adjusted based on a synchronization between the second terrestrial broadcast, the first terrestrial broadcast and the satellite broadcast. The adjustment of the relative delay values provides an improved reception pattern based on receipt of a shared frequency communication from multiple sources by improving a signal quality factor within at least selected regions of the coverage areas in which the relative delay values permit synchronization.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a wireless communication system in which a forward/uplink portion and a return/uplink portion are assigned within an available frequency bandwidth is disclosed. More particularly, a service area is divided into multiple regions. The assignment of the forward/uplink portion of the return/uplink portion is shuffled in the multiple regions. The apparatus and method may be implemented in a multi-beam wireless communication system.

Abstract: A method for reducing call dropping rates in a multi-beam communication system. The multi-beam communication system includes a user terminal, a gateway, and a plurality of beam sources, where each beam source projects a plurality of beams, and where a communication link between the user terminal and the gateway is established on one or more beams. The method according to the present invention relies on a messaging protocol between the gateway and the user terminal. Based on messages sent from the user terminal to the gateway, preferably on a preselected periodic basis, the gateway can determine the more desirable beam(s) for transmitting data or information to the user terminal. The messages sent from the user terminal to the gateway contain values representing beam strengths as measured at the user terminal. The gateway uses the user terminal measured beam strengths to select the beams that should be used for transmitting data or information to the user terminal.