US5123112A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air-to-ground communication system
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
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Filing: 1990-08-02
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Granted: 1992-06-16
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Expires: 2010-08-02
Abstract
Abstract An air-to-ground communications system is described for controlling multiple two way radiotelephone conversations between a large number of aircraft (53) and a network of base stations (51) that are capable of being interconnected to landline telephone networks (54, 116). Plural base station controllers (90) of the system, each dedicated to control one base station (51), are in turn controlled by a single central processor (52). Means are provided for matching each aircraft with an optimal base station to afford it the strongest available communication signals, and for dynamically allocating communication channels between the base stations. The central processor (52) is designed to manage the system by recording and recognizing usage patterns (525-530) and allocating channels to most efficiently use the available radio spectrum among all the aircraft (517, 519).
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard K. Choate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 01:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/18502; H04B7/18506; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of operating one of a plurality of mobile radio units in a system for conducting communications between said plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of base stations, said method operating to conserve frequency spectrum available for said communications, and said method comprising the steps of: detecting a first signal which occurs periodically within a pilot frequency channel; identifying a first one of a predetermined number of time slots within which said first signal periodically occurs; detecting a second signal which occurs periodically within said pilot frequency channel; identifying a second one of said predetermined number of time slots within which said second signal periodically occurs, said first and second time slots differing from one another; obtaining, from said first and second signals, data descriptive of voice frequency channels available for use by said one radio unit; and establishing a voice communication link over one of said voice frequency channels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of operating one of a plurality of mobile radio units in a system for conducting communications between said plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of base stations, said method operating to conserve frequency spectrum available for said communications, and said method comprising the steps of: detecting a first signal which occurs periodically within a pilot frequency channel; identifying a first one of a predetermined number of time slots within which said first signal periodically occurs; detecting a second signal which occurs periodically within said pilot frequency channel; identifying a second one of said predetermined number of time slots within which said second signal periodically occurs, said first and second time slots differing from one another; obtaining, from said first and second signals, data descriptive of voice frequency channels available for use by said one radio unit; and establishing a voice communication link over one of said voice frequency channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second signals is encoded to communicate synchronization data, and said method additionally comprises the step of synchronizing operation of said one mobile radio unit to one of said predetermined number of time slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of: monitoring signal strength and doppler shift of said first and second signals; and comparing said signal strengths and doppler shifts of said first and second signals to select only one of said first and second signals as a pilot for upcoming communications.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second signals originate from first and second ones, respectively, of said base stations and are encoded to communicate first and second data, respectively, describing fractions of total numbers of frequency channels allocated to said first and second base stations, respectively, and said method additionally comprises the step of comparing said first and second data to select said one of said first and second signals as a pilot for upcoming communications.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 additionally comprising the step of selecting, when said monitored signal strength and doppler shift of said first and second signals are roughly equivalent, said one of said first and second signals which is indicated by said first and second data to have the greatest fractional availability of allocated frequency channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the step of tuning a transceiver portion of said one mobile radio unit to said one of said voice frequency channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said establishing step comprises the steps of: monitoring said one voice frequency channel for existing communication activity; and keying a transmitter portion of said transceiver so long as said monitoring step fails to detect said existing communication activity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of operating one of a plurality of mobile radio units in a system for conducting communications between said plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of base stations, said method operating to conserve frequency spectrum available for said communications, and said method comprising the steps of: receiving first and second pilot signals transmitted from first and second ones, respectively, of said base stations; obtaining, from said first and second pilot signals, data descriptive of communication channels associated with said first and second base stations, respectively, and currently idle so that said channels may be used by said one radio unit; obtaining, from said first and second pilot signals, first and second data, respectively, describing fractions of total numbers of frequency channels available for use at said first and second base stations, respectively; selecting one of said first and second base stations with which to establish communication, said selecting being based upon said first and second pilot signals and upon a comparison of said first and second data; and adjusting a transceiver within said one mobile radio unit to operate within one of said communication channels associated with said selected one of said first and second base stations and described by said data.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of operating one of a plurality of mobile radio units in a system for conducting communications between said plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of base stations, said method operating to conserve frequency spectrum available for said communications, and said method comprising the steps of: receiving first and second pilot signals transmitted from first and second ones, respectively, of said base stations; obtaining, from said first and second pilot signals, data descriptive of communication channels associated with said first and second base stations, respectively, and currently idle so that said channels may be used by said one radio unit; obtaining, from said first and second pilot signals, first and second data, respectively, describing fractions of total numbers of frequency channels available for use at said first and second base stations, respectively; selecting one of said first and second base stations with which to establish communication, said selecting being based upon said first and second pilot signals and upon a comparison of said first and second data; and adjusting a transceiver within said one mobile radio unit to operate within one of said communication channels associated with said selected one of said first and second base stations and described by said data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said selecting step comprises the steps of: monitoring signal strength and doppler shift of said first and second pilot signals; and comparing said signal strengths and doppler shifts of said first and second pilot signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said selecting step additionally comprises the step of choosing, when said monitored signal strength and doppler shift of said first and second pilot signals are roughly equivalent, said one of said first and second base stations which is indicated by said first and second data to have the greatest fractional availability of idle frequency channels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 additionally comprising the step of establishing a communication link through said one communication channel with said selected one of said base stations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said establishing step comprises the steps of: monitoring said one communication channel for existing communication activity; and keying a transmitter portion of said transceiver if said monitoring step fails to detect said existing communication activity.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
215 words
A method for efficiently utilizing a predetermined number of frequency channels to simultaneously conduct communications between a plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of spaced apart base radio units, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting, from a first one of said base radio units, a first pilot signal configured to communicate data descriptive of a first group of said frequency channels through which said first base radio unit can communicate with one of said mobile radio units; transmitting, from a second one of said base radio units, a second pilot signal configured to communicate data descriptive of a second group of said frequency channels through which said second base radio unit can communicate with one of said mobile radio units; dynamically allocating a first portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said first base radio unit and a second portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said second base radio unit; and monitoring, at said first one of said base radio units, a fraction of said first portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels being used to conduct communications; and requesting allocation of additional ones of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said first one of said base radio units in response to said monitored fraction.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
215 words
A method for efficiently utilizing a predetermined number of frequency channels to simultaneously conduct communications between a plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of spaced apart base radio units, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting, from a first one of said base radio units, a first pilot signal configured to communicate data descriptive of a first group of said frequency channels through which said first base radio unit can communicate with one of said mobile radio units; transmitting, from a second one of said base radio units, a second pilot signal configured to communicate data descriptive of a second group of said frequency channels through which said second base radio unit can communicate with one of said mobile radio units; dynamically allocating a first portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said first base radio unit and a second portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said second base radio unit; and monitoring, at said first one of said base radio units, a fraction of said first portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels being used to conduct communications; and requesting allocation of additional ones of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said first one of said base radio units in response to said monitored fraction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 additionally comprising the steps of: monitoring, at said second one of said base radio units, a fraction of said second portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels being used to conduct communications; configuring said first pilot signal to communicate data descriptive of said fraction of said first portion; and configuring said second pilot signal to communicate data descriptive of said fraction of said second portion.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of operating one of a plurality of mobile radio units in a system for conducting communications between said plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of base stations, said method operating to conserve frequency spectrum available for said communications, and said method comprising the steps of: receiving pilot signals broadcast from ones of said plurality of base stations which are within range of said mobile unit; analyzing said received pilot signals to identify said ones of said plurality of base stations which are within range of said mobile unit, said identified base stations together defining a radio horizon; selecting one of said base stations with which to conduct communications; analyzing said received pilot signal from said selected one of said base stations to identify a frequency channel available for use within said radio horizon; and tuning a transceiver portion of said one mobile radio unit to said frequency channel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of operating one of a plurality of mobile radio units in a system for conducting communications between said plurality of mobile radio units and a plurality of base stations, said method operating to conserve frequency spectrum available for said communications, and said method comprising the steps of: receiving pilot signals broadcast from ones of said plurality of base stations which are within range of said mobile unit; analyzing said received pilot signals to identify said ones of said plurality of base stations which are within range of said mobile unit, said identified base stations together defining a radio horizon; selecting one of said base stations with which to conduct communications; analyzing said received pilot signal from said selected one of said base stations to identify a frequency channel available for use within said radio horizon; and tuning a transceiver portion of said one mobile radio unit to said frequency channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 additionally comprising the step of analyzing said received pilot signal from said selected one of said base stations to detect data descriptive of said radio horizon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said identified frequency channel is associated with said data descriptive of said radio horizon in said pilot signal.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for efficiently utilizing a predetermined number of frequency channels to simultaneously conduct communications between a plurality of airborne mobile radio units and a plurality of spaced apart base radio units, said system comprising: means, coupled to one of said base radio units, for transmitting a pilot signal from said one of said base radio units, said pilot signal being configured to communicate data descriptive of a first radio horizon which includes said one base radio unit and data descriptive of a second radio horizon which includes said one base radio unit; means, coupled to said one base radio unit, for dynamically allocating a first portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said first radio horizon and a second portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said second radio horizon.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for efficiently utilizing a predetermined number of frequency channels to simultaneously conduct communications between a plurality of airborne mobile radio units and a plurality of spaced apart base radio units, said system comprising: means, coupled to one of said base radio units, for transmitting a pilot signal from said one of said base radio units, said pilot signal being configured to communicate data descriptive of a first radio horizon which includes said one base radio unit and data descriptive of a second radio horizon which includes said one base radio unit; means, coupled to said one base radio unit, for dynamically allocating a first portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said first radio horizon and a second portion of said predetermined number of frequency channels to said second radio horizon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said transmitting means is configured so that: said pilot signal communicates data descriptive of a first portion of said channels in connection with said first radio horizon; and said pilot signal communicates data descriptive of a second portion of said channels in connection with said second radio horizon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 additionally comprising: second means, coupled to a second one of said base radio units, for transmitting a second pilot signal from said second one of said base radio units, said second pilot signal being configured to communicate data descriptive of a third radio horizon which includes said second base radio unit and said first base radio unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said data descriptive of said first radio horizon includes data identifying a first set of said base radio units, and said data descriptive of said second radio horizon includes data identifying a second set of said base radio units.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-16 | 1995-12-16 | 1996-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-16 | 1999-12-16 | 2000-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-16 | 2003-12-16 | 2004-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |