The Boeing Company

Hughes Aircraft Company

Other

Michael De La Chapelle

David S Parkman

Christopher John McLain

Hui-Pin Hsu

Edward Joseph Vertatschitsch

Anthony D Monk

Gregory L Abbas

James G Bull

Paulus J Martens

Jeffrey Paul Harrang

Kevin M O'Brien

Robert Paul Higgins

Bernard J Lamberty

George W Fitzsimmons

Douglas Allan Pietila

Ronald Steven Carson

Gary V Stephenson

William R Richards

Geoffrey O White

Charles R Porter

Greg A Bengeult

Daniel F Miller

Russell Berkheimer

Arthur F Morrison

Michael G Lynch

Richard D Williams, Ii

Daniel J Gregoire

Amit Madanlal Patel

Barbara A Capron

Leonard Jon Quadracci

John A Bell

Ioan Leuca

Gib F Lewis

David Lee Mohoric

Kenneth J Friedenthal

David W Bogart

Joseph W Niesen

John E Mantele

Siobvan M Nyikos

Charles R Hargraves

Ira J Clue

Amy Reiss

Terry L Raubenstine

Charles C Barclay

Dave W Bogart

Richard E Bryan

Clark D Brenneise

J Doyle McClure

Frank A Wilhelmi

Thomas R Ott

David C Morse

Timothy A Olcott

Loan Leuca

Russel Berkheimer

Michael Gabriel Lynch

George Fitzsimmons

Greg Alan Bengeult

Paulus Johannes Martens

Richard D Ii Williams

Christopher J Mclain

William J Jones

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).

Flight data recorder streaming (FDRS) solution

A phased array antenna for a mobile platform combines transmit and receive antennas within a common, low profile enclosure. Transmit and receive functions, a power supply, up and down frequency converters, and an antenna controller are integrated into closely packaged layers within the enclosure.

Integrated low profile phased array antenna system

A method and apparatus for electronically steering an antenna system. The apparatus comprises a dielectric substrate, a plurality of radiating spokes, and a number of surface wave feeds. The plurality of radiating spokes is arranged radially with respect to a center point of the dielectric substrate. Each radiating spoke in the plurality of radiating spokes forms a surface wave channel configured to constrain a path of a surface wave. Each of the number of surface wave feeds couples at least one corresponding radiating spoke in the plurality of radiating spokes to a transmission line that carries a radio frequency signal.

Two-dimensionally electronically-steerable artificial impedance surface antenna

A method of providing a communication link for a mobile platform. The method may involve generating a single beam and controlling the single beam to simultaneously generate first and second communication lobes from the single beam, with the first communication lobe being steered to communicate with a first base transceiver station (BTS). The method may further involve simultaneously using the second communication lobe to communicate with the second BTS and fading out the first lobe so that communication with the mobile platform is transferred to the second BTS.

Soft handoff method and apparatus for mobile vehicles using directional antennas

A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system. A local area network (LAN) receives the remaining data content and provides same to individual users on the mobile platform in accordance with previously submitted programming requests or data input by the users at access stations associated independently with each user. The transmit antenna is used to transmit data content from laptop computers, PDAs or other user electronic devices coupled to the access stations back to the designated satellite transponder. The satellite transponder then transponds the data back to the antenna of the ground-based control segment.

Method and apparatus for providing bi-directional data services and live television programming to mobile platforms

A system and method for selectively enabling and disabling wireless connectivity between cellular or PDA users on-board commercial aircraft having a shielded fuselage, and remotely located wireless access points, while the aircraft is at an airport or airfield. The system and method does not require access to an on-board LAN system of the aircraft. The system includes one or more antennae disposed in the cabin area of the aircraft that are coupled via an RF switch with an exterior antenna mounted on an exterior of the fuselage. The RF switch is controlled by a switch control subsystem, and enables or disables communication between the interior antennae and the exterior antenna. The exterior antenna is connected to the switch via a conductor that extends through the shielding of the aircraft. When the RF switch is in the closed position, cellular or PDA users can connect through the interior antennae and the exterior antenna directly to remotely located wireless access points.

RF signal feed through method and apparatus for shielded aircraft fuselage

A method and apparatus for creating an antenna system. A configuration for a plurality of antenna cells is selected for an antenna in the antenna system. Each antenna cell in the plurality of antenna cells comprises a plurality of antenna elements having a symmetric arrangement. A portion of antenna elements in the plurality of antenna elements for each antenna cell in the plurality of antenna cells on a substrate is selected to transmit electromagnetic waves.

Phased array antenna using identical antenna cells

A blower system to remove precipitation from an antenna may include a blower air plenum extending substantially completely along one side of the antenna. A vent is in communication with the blower air plenum and extends substantially completely along the one side of the antenna to direct an airstream across a surface of the antenna to remove precipitation from the antenna. The vent may include a contour to conform to a contour of the one side of the antenna. The blower system may also include an air compressor to force air into the blower air plenum and out the vent to form the airstream flowing across the surface of the antenna.

Antenna and blower system to remove precipitation from the antenna

A satellite communications method for communicating information from a base station, via a satellite, to one or more user terminals via a single channel of a forward link.

System and method for adaptive information rate communication

A system and method for managing access to a satellite-based transponder by a plurality of aircraft each having a mobile radio frequency (RF) system. The system employs a ground-based, central control system for managing access to the satellite-based transponder so that the aggregate power spectral density (PSD) of the RF signals of all the mobile systems does not exceed, at any time, limits established by regulatory agencies to prevent interference between satellite systems. This is accomplished by a dual control loop arrangement for monitoring the signal-to-noise ratio (Eb/No) of the RF signal transmitted by the satellite-based transponder. A ground-based control loop is used whereby a ground-based central controller monitors the Eb/No and transmits commands to the aircraft (via the satellite transponder) to maintain the Eb/No of the transmitted signal within a predetermined range. A fast scan angle compensation is used by the mobile system of the aircraft to implement another control loop to further adjust the transmit power. This control loop maintains the Eb/No of the signal transmitted to the satellite-based transponder at the commanded level inbetween updates from the ground-based central controller.

Return link design for PSD limited mobile satellite communication systems

A method is provided for providing communication and surveillance services to a mobile platform. The method includes substantially simultaneously communicating between a plurality ground based antennas and a plurality of satellites. Particularly, each ground based antenna communicates with a related one of the satellites. The method additionally includes substantially simultaneously communicating between each of the satellites and at least one multi-faceted electronically scanned antenna included in a mobile platform communication system onboard a mobile platform.

Low data rate mobile platform communication system and method

A communications system and method for providing a cellular communications link between a user traveling on a mobile platform (or at a remote location) and a terrestrial based segment. The system and method uses a radio access segment located on board the mobile platform (or at the remote location) to interface with the user's personal communications device. The bearer terminal facilitates the transmission of information to and from the radio access segment, via an off-platform system, to the terrestrial segment. The terrestrial segment manages the communications link between one or more cellular service providers who are accessing the terrestrial segment and the mobile platform (or a remote site). The system does not limit access to the terrestrial segment to only one cellular service provider but instead allows virtually any number of cellular service providers to access the terrestrial segment and to participate in providing a cellular link to the mobile platform (or a remote site).

System and method for providing voice and data communications between persons onboard a mobile platform and a cellular base station

A method and apparatus for identifying which one of a plurality of mobile terminals in communication with a ground-based base station, via a transponded satellite, is causing interference with a non-target satellite orbiting in a vicinity of the transponded satellite. The method involves using the base station to sequentially check each of the mobile terminals to identify which one is causing the interference. The check is made by the base station commanding each mobile terminal to modulate the power level of its transmitted signals and then checking with an operator of the interfered with non-target satellite to see if the interference condition has changed. Once the mobile terminal causing the interference condition is identified, the base station can command the mobile terminal to reduce its transmit power accordingly.

Method and apparatus using variations in power modulation to determine an interfering mobile terminal

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Michael De La Chapelle