Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/14—Relay systems
  • H04B7/15—Active relay systems
  • H04B7/185—Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
  • H04B7/18502—Airborne stations
  • H04B7/18504—Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B7/00—Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field
  • H04B7/14—Relay systems
  • H04B7/15—Active relay systems
  • H04B7/185—Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems
  • H04B7/18502—Airborne stations

Definitions

• This invention relates to a telecommunications system, and more particularly to a telecommunications system that is operative at the sub-orbital level and provides for increased efficiency and increased utilization of available telecommunica ⁇ tions channels.
• the problem is further aggravated by the fact that there are only a limited number of frequencies allocated for cellular telecommunications. Thus, the problem is expected to grow as the demand for cellular telecommunications expands .
• TDMA time division multiple access
• CDMA code division multiple access
• TDMA is the technology that has the widest use. It enables a single telecommunications channel to be used for several calls. Each call is allocated a particular discrete time interval in the cycle of the telecommunications signals, thus, improving efficiency.
• CDMA uses a wide band of spectrum for telecommunications signals to achieve efficiency. It differentiates between calls by imprinting a distinctive "noise” spreading signal over each telecommunications signal to differentiate it from other telecommunications signals in the cell. The receiver with computer assistance decodes the assigned "noise” signal to identify the call and then despreads the telecommunications signal.
• Frequency hopping is a form of CDMA that spreads a call over a series of frequencies. It uses a code to identify the sequence of frequencies that are being used.
• a satellite system where each of the satellites functions as a base station node and contributes to the creation of a cellular network avoids these problems.
• relatively powerful transmitters are required because the satellites typically orbit at about 22,500 miles above the earth.
• a means must be provided for handing off signals from one satellite to another as they pass a given point over the earth.
• a hand off means is needed as a caller moves between cells.
• satellite systems suffer from the enormous cost in connection with launching, and the virtual impossibility of repair.
• the present invention relates to a wireless telecommunications network system comprising a plurality of telecommunications nodes that are located in a sub-orbital plane.
• Each of the nodes comprises means for sending and receiving broadband, digital radio telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel.
• the telecommunications signals are modulated by code division multiple access spread spectrum technology.
• the means for sending and receiving wireless, digital telecommunications signals include a plurality of antennae that are operative to receive relatively weak telecommunications signals from a source. Means are provided for decoding the telecommunications signals received by each of said antennae so that the node can identify the source, and the antenna and decoding means are operative to increase the sensitivity of the node so that it can detect and receive relatively weak telecommu ⁇ nications signals, so that maximum utilization of the spectrum is made available for use by the telecommunications signals without interference.
• Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing a telecommunications system constructed in accordance with a presently preferred form of the invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic drawing showing an aspect of the detecting and decoding means. Description of a Preferred Embodiment :
• a system 10 such as that described in patent application serial no. 08/100,037 comprises a ground based portion 12 and an air based portion 14.
• the air based portion 14 may be located at an altitude of between about
• the ground based portion 12 may comprise conventional telephone network 16 with branches that are connected to ground stations 18, 120 and 140 having suitable long distance transmit ⁇ ting and receiving means such as antenna 20, 118 and 138.
• the ground based portion 12 may also comprise mobile telephones of well known types such as cellular telephones that may be carried by individuals 22 or in vehicles 24.
• 138 are operative to transmit and receive telecommunications signals to and from a sub-orbital, high altitude relay station 28 which is located at an altitude of about 12 to 35 miles above the earth. This altitude is selected because it is well above weather activity so that the relay station will not be subjected to the strains that the weather might cause.
• each relay station 28 contains means for receiving a telephone telecommunications signal from one of the ground stations 20, 120 and 140 individuals 22 and 122 or vehicles 24 and 124 and then transmitting it to another ground station 120 and 140, individual 122 or vehicle 124 either directly or by way of another relay station.
• the communications channel so established could be simplex, duplex or half duplex.
• each of the relay stations 28 defines a node in the telecommunications system with each node defining a "cell.”
• each of the nodes comprises means for sending and receiving broadband, digital radio telecommunications signals over a wireless telecommunications channel.
• the telecommunications channel has a frequency band width that is greater than about 8 MHz.
• the telecommunications signals are preferably modulated by code division multiple access spread spectrum technology.
• the cells should be relatively small and the signal power required for telecommunications signals very low. This will enhance the reusability of frequencies and reduce interference. However, reduced signal strength makes it more difficult for the base stations to track the movement of particular cellular phones.
• a detection system comprising a suitable array of antennae 48 and decoders 44 on each of the relay stations is provided.
• the detection system is of a type similar to the spatial processing system that is described in FORBES ASAP; June 5, 1995, at pages 125 - 141.
• the system processes the signal received by each of the antennas in the array.
• the decoded signals identify the transmitter and its location in the cell. Thus, even though a very weak signal, which ordinarily might be lost, is received by the detection system it can still be recognized and processed to complete a telecommunications channel.
• frequencies are those which are exclusively for use by the telecommunications system.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Radio Relay Systems (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=23938796

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (15)

Cited By (5)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1996
  • 1996-06-07 CN CN96196073A patent/CN1192832A/zh active Pending
  • 1996-06-07 CN CNA2004100432092A patent/CN1684393A/zh active Pending
  • 1996-06-07 BR BRPI9609018-9A patent/BR9609018B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-06-07 EP EP96922454A patent/EP0830753A4/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-06-07 CA CA002254776A patent/CA2254776A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-06-07 WO PCT/US1996/010230 patent/WO1996041429A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-06-07 TW TW085106860A patent/TW431080B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-06-07 AR ARP960103092A patent/AR002431A1/es unknown
  • 1996-06-07 ES ES009750008A patent/ES2137887B1/es not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-06-07 PL PL96324036A patent/PL181701B3/pl unknown
  • 1996-06-07 RU RU98100752/09A patent/RU2227371C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-06-07 JP JP9502254A patent/JPH11513203A/ja active Pending
  • 1996-06-07 DE DE19681416T patent/DE19681416T1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-06-07 IT IT96RM000405A patent/IT1284148B1/it active IP Right Grant
  • 1996-06-07 FR FR9607105A patent/FR2735306B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-07-06 UA UA98010119A patent/UA59339C2/uk unknown

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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