Title:
COMMUNICATION RELAY SYSTEM USING HIGH-ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT AND BEAM CONTROLLED GROUND-STATIONS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2001080356
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
This disclosure provides a communication system using a high-altitude aircraft traveling at relatively slow speeds, which can remain airborne for long periods of time. The communication system uses the airplane as a long term high altitude platform that relays signals between one or more ground-stations and/or satellites, aircraft, and the like. The ground-stations have narrow-beam antennas that are aimable, permitting the aircraft to maintain a larger station than would otherwise be possible using the narrow-beam antennas. The ground-stations adjust their aim based on information either gained by tracking the aircraft's signal, or transmitted by the aircraft to the ground-station.
Inventors:
MACCREADY PAUL B (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2001/012173
Publication Date:
February 07, 2002
Filing Date:
April 14, 2001
Export Citation:
Assignee:
AEROVIRONMENT INC (US)
MACCREADY PAUL B (US)
MACCREADY PAUL B (US)
International Classes:
H04B7/26; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/28; H01Q3/18; H01Q3/20; H04B7/185; (IPC1-7): H01Q3/18; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/28; H01Q3/20; H04B7/185
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2000014902A2 | 2000-03-16 |
Foreign References:
| US5810284A | 1998-09-22 | |||
| US5579018A | 1996-11-26 | |||
| EP0930669A2 | 1999-07-21 | |||
| EP0978898A1 | 2000-02-09 |
Other References:
MARTIN J N ET AL: "BROADBAND WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS VIA STRATOSPHERIC HALO TM AIRCRAFT", MILCOM '98. IEEE MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. BOSTON, MA, OCT. 19 - 21, 1998, IEEE MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE, NEW YORK, NY: IEEE, US, vol. 1, 19 October 1998 (1998-10-19), pages 45 - 49, XP000830504, ISBN: 0-7803-4507-X
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