Having A Signal Repeater Patents (Class 342/353)
  • Patent number: 11910424
    Abstract: A method of reducing interference in a mobile communication system is provided to reduce interference caused by a first user equipment, UE, device operating in a cell at a significantly higher altitude than other UE devices in the cell so as to cause interference. The method detects that the first UE device is operating at an altitude considered by the mobile communication system to be an extraordinary altitude and reduces interference caused by the first UE device operating at the extraordinary altitude by controlling the operation of the first UE device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: IPCom GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Schmidt, Maik Bienas, Martin Hans
  • Patent number: 11909126
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods provides for technology that generates, with a phased array of elements of an antenna system, an array element radiation pattern over a scan angle range, where the phased array of elements is spaced at a predetermined wavelength spacing. The technology reflects, with a reflector of the antenna system, the array element radiation pattern emitted from the phased array of elements to Earth, and establishes, based on a shape of the reflector, a predetermined magnification as a function of scan angle range so as to increase the field-of-view of the antenna system. The technology adjusts, based on the shape of the reflector, the array element radiation pattern, by increasing magnification relative to the scan angle range, to have a gain that increases with increases in scan angle relative to a boresight of the antenna system, and reflects, with the reflector, radiation from Earth to the phased array of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul Christian Werntz, Raenaurd Turpin, Daniel Francis Mathews, Charles Youngshiuk Park
  • Patent number: 11811492
    Abstract: Wireless communication method and apparatus to enable communications between a plurality of endpoints and a satellite or terrestrial gateway integrated with a plurality of oblong shaped antenna arrays. The wireless communication method leverages data symbols that are orthogonally modulated. The method permits the use of a plurality of compact oblong shaped antenna arrays to increase network capacity and reduce endpoint power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hubble Network Inc.
    Inventor: Ben Juda Wild
  • Patent number: 11546053
    Abstract: A method for multibeam coverage of a region of the surface of the Earth includes the generation, by a telecommunications payload embedded on a satellite, of a plurality of radiofrequency beams, called elementary beams; the formation of a plurality of radiofrequency beams, called composite beams, exhibiting footprints on the ground of different sizes, each the composite beam being obtained by the grouping of one or more elementary beams; and the transmission or the reception of data through the composite beams, identical data being transmitted or received through all the elementary beams forming one and the same composite beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Pierre Bosshard, Didier Le Boulc'h
  • Patent number: 11522605
    Abstract: A method for multibeam coverage of a region of the surface of the Earth includes the generation, by a telecommunications payload embedded on a satellite, of a plurality of radiofrequency beams, called elementary beams; the formation of a plurality of radiofrequency beams, called composite beams, exhibiting footprints on the ground of different sizes, each the composite beam being obtained by the grouping of one or more elementary beams; and the transmission or the reception of data through the composite beams, identical data being transmitted or received through all the elementary beams forming one and the same composite beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Pierre Bosshard, Didier Le Boulc'h
  • Patent number: 11405925
    Abstract: A method of reducing interference in a mobile communication system caused by a first user equipment, UE, device operating in a cell at a significantly higher altitude than other UE devices in the cell so as to cause interference, the method comprising detecting that the first UE device is operating at an altitude considered by the mobile communication system to be an extraordinary altitude; and reducing interference caused by the first UE device operating at the extraordinary altitude by controlling the operation of the first UE device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: IPCOM GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Schmidt, Maik Bienas, Martin Hans
  • Patent number: 11387928
    Abstract: A method and a user equipment (110) as well as a method and a radio transmitter (120) for managing positioning reference signals are disclosed. Moreover, a method and a network node (130) for configuring positioning reference signals are disclosed. The network node (130) sends (A050), to the user equipment (110), a reception configuration of positioning reference signals, wherein the reception configuration comprises a cell identity relating to the radio transmitter (120) and an identifier for determining of positioning reference signals. The network node (130) sends (A070), to the radio transmitter (120), a transmit configuration of positioning reference signals, wherein the transmit configuration comprises the cell identity and the identifier. The radio transmitter (120) determines (A090) the positioning reference signals based on the cell identity and the identifier. The radio transmitter (120) sends (A100) the positioning reference signals to the user equipment (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Henrik Rydén, Fredrik Gunnarsson, Sara Modarres Razavi, Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 11271640
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for robust scheduling of beam switching patterns in satellite communications systems. Embodiments operate in context of a hub-spoke satellite communications architecture having a number of gateway terminals servicing large numbers of user terminals over a number of spot beams. The satellite includes switching subsystems that distribute capacity to the user beams from multiple of the gateway terminals in a shared manner according to a beam group switching pattern. The beam group switching pattern is robustly formulated to continue distributing capacity during gateway outages (e.g., when one or two gateway terminals are temporarily non-operational due to rain fade, equipment failure, etc.). For example, the beam group switching pattern can be formulated to minimize worst-case degradation of capacity across user beams, to prioritize certain beams or beam groups, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: VIASAT, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hai O'Neill, Donald W. Becker, Mark J. Miller
  • Patent number: 11245185
    Abstract: Systems and methods can support a portable aperture array antenna system having a support structure of a substantially hemispherical geometry formed of a plurality of rigid linear elements. A membrane may be positioned upon an outer surface of the support structure. A plurality of antenna elements may be positioned coplanar to the membrane. A radio frequency transmission assembly may operate to couple output signals from the antenna elements into one or more signal-processing modules. The signal-processing modules may be configured to model the motion of two or more satellites, focus electromagnetic beams in the respective directions of the satellites, and steer the electromagnetic beams from horizon to horizon to follow the satellites simultaneously without motion of physical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MILES SPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Wesley Faler, Alex Wingeier, Frank Fomby, Charles Bucher
  • Patent number: 11187778
    Abstract: A system for estimating a location of a source transmitting a spectral-diversity signal having a known form but at least one unknown parameter is disclosed. The system comprises signal receiving circuits, each receiving the spectral-diversity signal and computing, for each signal carrier component in the spectral-diversity signal, a cross-ambiguity function based on the known form and on the received spectral-diversity signal. A central processor circuit estimates the location of the source, by calculating an extremum of an objective function constructed from all the cross-ambiguity functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hoopo Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Avitzour
  • Patent number: 11175655
    Abstract: A carrier aerial vehicle system includes a propulsion component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to be in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a retention mechanism configured to allow a plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles to be coupled to the retention mechanism and released from the retention mechanism while the carrier aerial vehicle system is in flight. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a communication component configured to enable the carrier aerial vehicle system to wireless communicate with the plurality of parasite deployable aerial vehicles. The carrier aerial vehicle system further includes a processor configured to determine a position on the retention mechanism for each deployable parasite aerial vehicle of the plurality of deployable parasite aerial vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Skyfront Corp.
    Inventor: Troy Mestler
  • Patent number: 11152698
    Abstract: Present invention is a wireless device comprising a Van Atta array, said Van Atta array comprising a plurality of antenna pairs, each of said antenna pairs comprising two antenna elements electrically coupled by a signal path of pre-determined length. The wireless device further comprises a measurement unit, said measurement unit is adapted to perform electrical measurements between two measurement points. One of said two measurement points is located at a first pre-determined location on the signal path of one of the antenna pairs, and the other of said two measurement points is located on a second pre-determined location on the signal path of one of the other antenna pairs. The present invention is also a method for retro-reflection of an incident wave using a plurality of antenna pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Norbit ITS
    Inventor: Steffen Kirknes
  • Patent number: 11022670
    Abstract: Methods and systems adapted for providing a dynamically updated geolocation system. The geolocation system measures a signal, samples the signal, and applies a cross-ambiguity function to the sampled data to calculate the location of a signal source. The sampling operation and cross-ambiguity function are updated opportunistically and adaptively based on available channel resources between a plurality of sensors and a central processing location in the system. These update methods allow control of the data rate when channel resources are impacted by the physical environment where the geolocation system is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Giallorenzi, Radivoje Zarubica, N. Thomas Nelson, Philip M. Hirz, Andrew L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10873136
    Abstract: An antenna array system comprises a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an antenna array in a geometric shape. The antenna array system further includes a first sub-array that forms an interior of the antenna array and a second sub-array that forms an exterior of the antenna array. In addition, the first sub-array is a subset of the second sub-array. A number of antenna elements in the first sub-array is greater than a number of antenna elements in the second sub-array. The antenna array system determines an exact satellite location of a satellite within a solid angle of ambiguity using a first virtual pattern and a second virtual pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TIONESTA, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Struhsaker, Paul Posner, Shayan Mohajer Hamidi, Amir Keyvan Khandani
  • Patent number: 10727970
    Abstract: A method and a user equipment (110) as well as a method and a radio transmitter (120) for managing positioning reference signals are disclosed. Moreover, a method and a network node (130) for configuring positioning reference signals are disclosed. The network node (130) sends (A050), to the user equipment (110), a reception configuration of positioning reference signals, wherein the reception configuration comprises a cell identity relating to the radio transmitter (120) and an identifier for determining of positioning reference signals. The network node (130) sends (A070), to the radio transmitter (120), a transmit configuration of positioning reference signals, wherein the transmit configuration comprises the cell identity and the identifier. The radio transmitter (120) determines (A090) the positioning reference signals based on the cell identity and the identifier. The radio transmitter (120) sends (A100) the positioning reference signals to the user equipment (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Henrik Rydén, Fredrik Gunnarsson, Sara Modarres Razavi, Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 10696426
    Abstract: A menu-type design method based on optimized information fusion applied to a GEO satellite control system is provided, which includes: configuring four long-life inertial attitude sensor gyroscopes for a long-life GEO satellite control system; configuring sensors capable of measuring three-axis attitude according to a menu-type design requirement on hardware, where the long-life inertial attitude sensor gyroscopes and the sensors capable of measuring three-axis attitude are combined to form three types of Kalman filters; autonomously sorting, by the satellite-borne computer application software, the Kalman filters; and in a case where an FDIR module detects a fault, autonomously generating, by the FDIR module, an alarm corresponding to the fault, and autonomously performing, by a currently selected Kalman filter, reduced-order filtering, and in a case where the fault is not eliminated within a set time period, issuing, by the FDIR module, a macro instruction sequence to perform autonomous reorganization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: CHINA ACADEMY OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Zhicheng Zhou, Baoxiang Sun, Qiang Wei, Guixing Cao, Xiaodong Han, Tingrong Guo, Zhenjiang Cui, Jianjun Gong
  • Patent number: 10575955
    Abstract: A surgical navigation module comprising: (a) a microcomputer; (b) a tri-axial accelerometer; (c) a tri-axial gyroscope; (d) at least three tri-axial magnetometers; (e) a communication module; (f) an ultrawide band transceiver; and, (g) at least four ultrawide band antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Mohamed R. Mahfouz
  • Patent number: 10555236
    Abstract: A beam former processor receives a group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the group of signals is less than a total number of feeds in an antenna array. The beam former processor determines terrestrial regions for transmitting the group of signals. The beam former processor identifies a subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the terrestrial regions. The beam former processor controls the switching circuitry to route the group of signals from the plurality of amplifiers to the subset of feeds through the switching circuitry, such that the subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the terrestrial regions based on the group of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: RKF Engineering Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Freedman, Scott Conrad Markley, Erik Halvorson, Arnold Berman
  • Patent number: 10551475
    Abstract: A method of detecting abnormality in an unmanned aircraft control system that allows an unmanned aircraft including a first transceiver and a first directional antenna, and a ground facility including a second transceiver and a second directional antenna, to transmit and receive a signal to and from each other, the method including: calculating an inter-antenna distance from the first directional antenna to the second directional antenna; calculating respective transmission performances of the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna; calculating respective reception performances of the first directional antenna and the second directional antenna; estimating a reception level of a radio wave at each of the first transceiver and the second transceiver; and determining occurrence of abnormality in each of the first transceiver and the second transceiver when a difference between the estimated reception level and an actual reception level is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Onomura, Yu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10506515
    Abstract: In one implementation, satellite coverage provisioning for a service area may be performed by updating power consumption states for satellites in a constellation of satellites and determining whether each satellite of the constellation is required to be in the minimal power consumption mode based on its updated power consumption state. For satellites that are not required to be in the minimal power consumption mode, a power consumption score may be calculated and these satellites may be sorted according to their respective power consumption scores. Based on the sorted order, it may be determined whether at least some of these satellites can be put into a reduced power consumption mode based on their respective power consumption scores and coverage of the service area. Then it may be determined if each of the satellites that are in the reduced power consumption mode can be put into the minimal power consumption mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Aireon LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Garcia, Boris Veytsman, Jay Minnix
  • Patent number: 10418702
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for performing mispointing correction operations that can provide very accurate pointing of an antenna towards a satellite. In particular, mispointing correction operations described herein can reduce or avoid pointing errors due to atmospheric scintillation effects. As a result, the mispointing correction operations described herein can improve resource efficiency of communication systems using such antennas and help ensure compliance with interference requirements of other satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas J Merrell
  • Patent number: 10367254
    Abstract: A space-based phased antenna array provides one- or two-dimensional beam steering, yet is compact upon launch and does not require gravity to maintain its shape or orientation. An exemplary antenna array includes a central satellite and at least three peripheral satellites. Each peripheral satellite is mechanically connected to the central satellite by an extendible tether. At launch, the tethers are retracted, so the peripheral satellites are close to, or within, the central satellite. Once in position, the central satellite rotates and extends the tethers, thereby deploying the peripheral satellites in a planar radial pattern. Multiple antenna elements, some disposed on each tether, collectively form a planar phased array that can be electronically beam steered in two dimensions. The antenna array may relay signals, such as between local companion satellites or planet-based stations, and earth. Linear versions, with as few as two tethered satellites, are beam steerable in one dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Greenbaum, Bradley A. Moran, Robert D. Tingley
  • Patent number: 10348787
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the method for a streaming flight data from an aircraft involves transmitting, from a flight data unit(s), the flight data to a flight data recorder streaming (FDRS) server. The method further involves determining, by the FDRS server, at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data. Also, the method involves generating, by the FDRS server, an antenna selection signal according to the antenna(s) to use for streaming. In addition, the method involves transmitting, by the FDRS server, an antenna selection signal to an antenna switch unit. Additionally, the method involves selecting, by the antenna switch unit, the antenna(s) to use for streaming according to the antenna selection signal. Further, the method involves streaming, by the antenna(s) to use for streaming, the flight data to a satellite(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Siobvan M. Nyikos, Amy Reiss, Michael de La Chapelle
  • Patent number: 10178624
    Abstract: In one implementation, satellite coverage provisioning for a service area may be performed by updating power consumption states for satellites in a constellation of satellites and determining whether each satellite of the constellation is required to be in the minimal power consumption mode based on its updated power consumption state. For satellites that are not required to be in the minimal power consumption mode, a power consumption score may be calculated and these satellites may be sorted according to their respective power consumption scores. Based on the sorted order, it may be determined whether at least some of these satellites can be put into a reduced power consumption mode based on their respective power consumption scores and coverage of the service area. Then it may be determined if each of the satellites that are in the reduced power consumption mode can be put into the minimal power consumption mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Aireon LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Garcia, Boris Veytsman, Jay Minnix
  • Patent number: 10067908
    Abstract: An apparatus for calculating a reception time of a wireless communication signal is disclosed. The apparatus includes a downconverted signal generator configured to generate a downconverted signal, a baseband signal, by downconverting a frequency of a signal received from a transmission source, a modulated signal generator configured to generate a modulated signal by multiplying the downconverted signal by a randomly generated reference signal, a time difference calculator configured to calculate a time difference between the modulated signal and the reference signal by cross-correlating the modulated signal and the reference signal, and a reception time calculator configured to calculate a reception time of the signal received from the transmission source using a point in time at which the reference signal is generated and the time difference between the modulated signal and the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chung Sup Kim, Kanghee Kim, Sang-Won Kim, Ki Cheol Tae, Heung Yong Kang, Yong-Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 10039085
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for wireless transmission using multiple uplink carriers are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may transmit via a primary uplink carrier data, pilot and control channels for uplink transmissions on both uplink carriers, and transmit a data channel and a pilot channel via a secondary uplink carrier. Alternatively, the WTRU may transmit via a primary uplink carrier data, pilot, and control channels for uplink transmission on the primary uplink carrier, and transmit via a secondary uplink carrier data, pilot, and control channels for uplink transmissions on the secondary uplink carrier. Each uplink carrier may be associated with at least one specific downlink carrier such that the WTRU applies control information received on a downlink carrier to uplink transmissions on an uplink carrier associated with the downlink carrier on which the WTRU receives the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Marinier, Diana Pani, Christopher Cave, Benoit Pelletier
  • Patent number: 9894158
    Abstract: Techniques for autonomously establishing, maintaining, and repairing of a wireless communication network among multiple autonomous mobile nodes (AMN) are provided. The multiple AMNs are flown towards a first node. A tentacle is established with the first node and extended to cover a second node over a distance, thereby establishing a wireless communication network between the first node and the second node via the multiple AMNs. Any damage to the established wireless communication network or tentacle may be autonomously detected and repaired by using spare AMNs. Further, the communication network may be used to enable autonomous detection, tracking of the second node, as well as autonomous detection of a contamination area, based on data received from one or more sensors onboard the AMNs deployed in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: EPISYS SCIENCE, INC.
    Inventors: Nadeesha Oliver Ranasinghe, Bong Kyun Ryu, Wei-Min Shen
  • Patent number: 9854408
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a system that includes an autonomous vehicle (referred to herein as a drone) which is controlled by a self-organizing network (SON) to expand the capabilities of a cellular network in real time. In one embodiment, the SON monitors the cellular network and identifies congestion or capacity issues where the cell towers covering the geographic region may be unable to satisfy the large number of requests for data by the users in the region. Once a congestion or capacity issue is detected, the SON determines whether dispatching a drone access point (AP) may improve or resolve the issue. In one example, the drone AP is an autonomous vehicle that includes a radio that permits the drone to serve as a mobile cell site for the cellular network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Om Prakash Suthar, Baljit Singh
  • Patent number: 9853356
    Abstract: The present application includes systems and methods for determining pointing error of a satellite antenna. In one aspect a method for determining pointing error of a satellite antenna includes receiving, at a receiving station, a pointing error signal formed by the antenna and transmitted from a satellite, wherein the pointing error signal includes a first beacon (reference) signal and a modulated second beacon (error) signal. The receiving station may demodulate the received pointing error signal to recover the second beacon signal with respect to the first beacon signal, and based at least in part on the demodulated beacon signal, the receiving station may determine the pointing error of the satellite antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huiwen Yao, George Case
  • Patent number: 9846243
    Abstract: A method for calibrating spatial errors induced by phase biases having a detrimental effect on the measurements of phase differences of radio signals received by three unaligned receiving antennas of a vehicle. An inter-satellite angular deviation of a pair of satellites is estimated in two different ways: on the basis of the respective positions of the vehicle and of the satellites to obtain a theoretical inter-satellite angular deviation; and on the basis of the respective directions of incidence of the satellites relative to the vehicle, which are determined from phase measurements, to obtain an estimated inter-satellite angular deviation. The space errors are estimated on the basis of said theoretical and estimated inter-satellite angular deviations. Also, a method and system for estimating the attitude of a vehicle, in particular a spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS, CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES CNES
    Inventors: Renaud Broquet, Bernard Polle, Johan Montel
  • Patent number: 9848459
    Abstract: A method for establishing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) network among a plurality of UAVs that is programmed to communicate packet data, wherein the plurality of UAVs comprises a first UAV and creating a first wireless connection between the first UAV of the plurality of UAVs and a second UAV. The method includes receiving a first signal indicating that the second UAV has been added to the plurality of UAVs and transmitting a second signal to the second UAV that causes the second UAV to generate a wireless coverage area that extends a wireless range of the UAV network. The method includes calculating a plurality of link cost values for one or more wireless connections to or from each particular UAV to one or more other UAVs in the plurality of UAVs; and determining whether to realign the plurality of UAVs based on the plurality of link cost values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Darrow, Biren Gandhi
  • Patent number: 9848370
    Abstract: A beam former processor receives a group of signals for transmission through the plurality of amplifiers, wherein the group of signals is less than a total number of feeds in an antenna array. The beam former processor determines terrestrial regions for transmitting the group of signals. The beam former processor identifies a subset of feeds that are configured to form beams covering the terrestrial regions. The beam former processor controls the switching circuitry to route the group of signals from the plurality of amplifiers to the subset of feeds through the switching circuitry, such that the subset of feeds are enabled to form beams that cover the terrestrial regions based on the group of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: RKF Engineering Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Freedman, Scott Conrad Markley, Erik Halvorson, Arnold Berman
  • Patent number: 9793977
    Abstract: A communications system for providing recovery communication service to users in a coverage area affected by an emergency disruption of normal communication services. The system comprises a ground hub serving as a gateway to terrestrial networks including a dispatch center and configured to communicate with at least three mobile airborne platforms roving over the coverage area via respective feeder-links in a Ku or Ka band. A first mobile airborne platform communicates in a first frequency band with emergency workers that are working in the coverage area and associated with the dispatch center. A second mobile airborne platform communicates, in place of at least one disrupted base station in the coverage area, with user mobile phones in mobile phone frequency bands or user personal devices in WiFi bands located in the coverage area. A third mobile airborne platform generates real-time imaging of surfaces located in the coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. D. Chang
  • Patent number: 9766343
    Abstract: A system and method to determine the location of an interfering signal source within a few meters. Three or more networked GNSS receivers are located at known locations and used to simultaneously collect and time-stamp data samples at L1 and L2. The data samples are passed over the network to a server which identifies samples associated with an interfering signal, cross correlates associated samples from pairs of receivers, and applies a discriminator function to significantly improve the accuracy of a computed time difference of arrival (TDOA) for the interfering signal, thereby significantly improving the accuracy of the location determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: NovAtel Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Schleppe, Patrick C. Fenton
  • Patent number: 9745083
    Abstract: A method for thermally stabilizing a communication satellite in orbit around the Earth relies on the discrete rotational symmetry of the pattern of antenna beams of the satellite. Exploiting the symmetry, the orientation of the satellite is changed from time to time by rotating the satellite through a symmetry angle of the rotational symmetry. Because of the symmetry, the beam pattern is unchanged after the rotation; but, because the rotation angle is less than 360°, a different side of the satellite is exposed to sunlight. The use of different thermal radiators and thermal shields on different sides of the satellite means that the thermal budget of the satellite is different after the rotation. By judiciously applying rotations as needed, as the orbit's orientation relative to the Sun evolves in time, it is possible to achieve effective control on the thermal budget of the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: WORLDVU SATELLITES LIMITED
    Inventors: Alexander D. Smith, Armen Askijian, Daniel W. Field, James Grossman
  • Patent number: 9698843
    Abstract: A method for extracting a parameter of a communication channel from a channel estimate that characterizes the communication channel in terms of a frequency response over time. The method includes generating a set of feature identifiers that characterize features of the channel, for example energy peaks or troughs and determining the parameter, for example time delay of a multipath signal or frequency offset of a multipath signal, dependent on the feature identifiers. Methods using the parameter are also described including methods to estimate the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cohda Wireless Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Dean Alexander, David Victor Lawrie Haley
  • Patent number: 9692549
    Abstract: Presented are methods that utilize wavefront multiplexing for enabling linearly-polarized terminals to access circularly-polarized satellite transponders. The methods disclosed herein feature (1) polarization formation capability that renders transmitted signal conditioned on circularly-polarized channels through multiple linearly-polarized feeds, and (2) polarization-conversion capability that compensate path differentials introduced by electromagnetic wave propagation channels. Data streams to be transmitted are pre-processed by a wavefront multiplexer into multiple wavefront components in linear polarization formats, where signals from respective data streams are replicated into linearly-polarized sub-channels. These replicated data streams are linked via a unique complex weighting vector (amplitude and phase or their equivalents), or “wavefront”, which are also linked by various spatially independent wavefronts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Juo-Yu Lee, Donald C. D. Chang, Tzer-Hso Lin
  • Patent number: 9569971
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system for the air-traffic control of flight objects (5, 6), which have transmitting units for emitting air-traffic control radio signals (ADS-B), wherein the air-traffic control radio signals (ADS-B) containing flight data concerning the respective aircraft (5, 6), the monitoring system comprising a plurality of receiving units (4a to 4c), which are designed to receive the emitted air-traffic control radio signals, wherein a plurality of satellites (1a to 1c) are provided, which each have communication means for forming a common satellite communication network and on each of which at least one of the receiving units (4a to 4c) is arranged, wherein the receiving units (4a to 4c) are connected to the communication means of the respective satellite (1a to 1c) and are designed to transmit the flight data contained in the air-traffic control radio signals to at least one ground station (3, 7) having a communication connection to the satellite communication network using a com
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft—und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Jorg Behrens, Klaus Werner, Lars-Christian Hauer, Toni Delovski
  • Patent number: 9464902
    Abstract: A system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle and an unmanned surface vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle has a memory storing a plurality of collection points and at least one sensor for collecting sensor data from each of the collection points. The unmanned surface vehicle is capable of moving to a plurality of locations. The unmanned aerial vehicle travels through the air between at least two collection points stored in the memory and the unmanned aerial vehicle is carried between at least two collection points stored in the memory by the unmanned surface vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Volkan Isler, David Mulla, Pratap Tokekar, Joshua Vander Hook
  • Patent number: 9431701
    Abstract: A system, methods, and apparatus for dual antenna transfer switching are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a dual antenna system includes antennas, antenna control units, a transfer switch, and a modem. For example, the transfer switch may transfer a connection between antennas based on changing satellite visibility, upon entering a preprogrammed blockage zone or an unexpected loss of satellite visibility. The transfer switch may receive GPS data from an external GPS unit and/or the antenna control units and buffer the GPS data to a modem. The transfer switch may provide a modem receive-lock signal to retarget a line of sight. The transfer switch may transfer the connection between the antennas based on satellite visibility including signal reception quality and/or a modem receive-lock status. The transfer switch may, based on a difference in antenna uplink transmission power, attenuate a higher power antenna to be balanced with a lower power antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: EMC SatCom Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Hassan Waqar Azeem Chaudhary, Claudio Pallais, Bernardo Ferro, Richard A Hadsall, Sr., Zafar Khan
  • Patent number: 9418225
    Abstract: A transmitting device that transmits data signals into a primary electricity grid, wherein the transmitting device connects to a power input of a computer system and overlays signals returned by the computer system into the primary electricity grid by modulating random data signals onto a line connected to the power input of the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Intellectual Property GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Höhnke
  • Patent number: 9379806
    Abstract: In one implementation, a minimum metric function with an output representing a metric of a satisfaction of transmission requirements for a satellite communications system configured to produce at least two beams may be generated. The minimum metric function may be a function of beam weight parameters including a first and second set of beam weight parameters representing output signals of high power amplifiers used to form a first and second beam, respectively. An output value of the minimum metric function may be calculated using initial values for the beam weight parameters. A direction to modify the values of the beam weight parameters may be determined based on the calculated output value. Updated values of the beam weight parameters may be determined based on maximizing the output value of the minimum metric function by moving the values of the beam weight parameters in the determined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: RKF Engineering Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mandell, Arnold Berman, Jeffrey Freedman, Erik Halvorson
  • Patent number: 9354297
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining position location information in a wireless network. In one embodiment, timing offset information is communicated between multiple transmitters and one or more receivers. Such information enables accurate position or location determinations to be made that account for timing differences throughout the network. In another embodiment, transmitter phase adjustments are made that advance or delay transmissions from the transmitters to account for potential timing differences at receivers. In yet another embodiment, combinations of timing offset communications and/or transmitter phase adjustments can be employed in the wireless network to facilitate position location determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Fuyun Ling, Gordon Kent Walker, Krishna Kiran Mukkavilli
  • Patent number: 9350437
    Abstract: A system may include at least one antenna for receiving a first receive signal having a first signal diversity property and a second receive signal having a second signal diversity property. A first signal path may include a first frequency converter for downconverting the first receive signal to a first intermediate frequency signal having a first intermediate frequency. A second signal path may include a second frequency converter for downconverting the second receive signal to a second intermediate frequency signal having a second intermediate frequency. A transducer module may route the first receive signal to the first signal path, and route the second receive signal to the second signal path. A first N-plexer may select the first intermediate frequency signal or the second intermediate frequency signal for transmission to a cable, and to provide a data signal based on a selected intermediate frequency signal to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Aviat U.S., Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Kennard
  • Patent number: 9229099
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to retrodirective radio-frequency systems wherein a transmit antenna array includes at least one row of N transmit elements and a receive antenna array includes at least one row of N receive elements that correspond one-to-one to the transmit elements and wherein the transmit and receive elements are located on spaced planes, and centered about a common axis and located at common transmit distance and a common receive distance, respectively. In some embodiments the one row of transmit and receive elements comprises “n” rows of elements, where “n” is an integer greater than one, thereby forming a two-dimensional array. In some embodiments the total transmit radiation pattern provides an azimuth coverage of 360 degrees. In other embodiments, it may provide less coverage but be operable as independent sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Physical Domains, LLC
    Inventors: Elliott R. Brown, Abraham Hartenstein
  • Patent number: 9083084
    Abstract: A passive electromagnetic wave reflector for measuring, from a satellite, local strain in a structure located on the Earth's surface, characterized in that it comprises a substantially vertical, relative to the Earth's surface, planar element, the planar element having a rectilinear side making contact with the structure the strain of which is to be measured, said element being aligned with the axis of the Earth's poles, and, fixed to the planar element, a mechanical structure having a first part located on a first side of the planar element and a second part located on a second side of the planar element, opposite the first side, the mechanical structure forming a rectilinear edge that, in combination with the rectilinear side of the planar element, forms a means for holding in position the reflector on the structure the strain of which is to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Philippe Loreaux, Guillaume Quin
  • Patent number: 9019155
    Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) and Doppler augmentation (GDAUG) end receiver (GDER) can include a GDAUG module. The GDAUG module can generate a GDER position using a time of flight (TOF) of a transponded GPS signal and a Doppler shift in a GDAUG satellite (GSAT) signal. The transponded GPS signal sent from a GSAT to the GDER can include a frequency shifted copy of a GPS signal from a GPS satellite to the GSAT. The GSAT signal can include a signal generated by the GSAT to the GDER.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Ian S. Robinson, Mark Skidmore
  • Patent number: 8995902
    Abstract: A method for Link 16-based geolocation of hostile jammers comprising the steps of collecting jamming noise I/Q samples at a plurality of locations, determining the relative time delay of reception between two or more of the locations, determining the first derivative of the time delay of reception between the two or more locations, and using the results calculated in the preceding step to determine the position of the hostile jammers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic System Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Joel D. Reiss
  • Patent number: 8938258
    Abstract: Determining referenced based location information for a wireless radio network is described. Referenced based location information can include determining location reference information and corresponding location offset information based on location information. In an aspect, location information can be timed fingerprint location information. Location offset information can be communicated in a wireless network at a lower operational cost than the associated location information. As such, use of referenced based location information for a wireless network can reduce bandwidth consumption as compared to location information communicated at similar intervals. This is particularly true in large wireless networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: AT&T Mobility II LLC, AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeremy Fix, Andrew G. Hume, Sheldon Kent Meredith
  • Patent number: 8897698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a data transfer method in a multi-hop relay system. The data transfer method comprises: a step for allowing a base station to receive from a first terminal the channel information (Hd,1) between the base station and the first mobile station, a step for making the base station generate an interference cancellation precoding matrix using Hd,1, a step for forcing the base station to transfer first data to a relay station, and a step for making the relay station transfer the first data to the first mobile station and forcing the base station to transfer second data to a second mobile station, wherein the second data is converted using the interference cancellation precoding matrix. According to the disclosed data transfer method in the multi-hope relay system, the base station transfers data to another mobile station efficiently when the relay station transfers data to a mobile station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Young Hyun Jeon, Tak Ki Yu, Jong Hyung Kwun, Chan Ho Min, Min Suk Kang, Hyu Dae Kim, Bang Chul Jung, Dong Won Lee