WO2019130324A1

WO2019130324A1 - System and method for redirecting a mobile platform into an area of wireless network coverage, after a loss of coverage thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2019130324A1
Application number: PCT/IL2018/051423
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oren HAREL; Yakov ROVNIAGIN
Original assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
Priority date: 2017-12-31
Filing date: 2018-12-31
Publication date: 2019-07-04
Also published as: IL256682A

Abstract

A system and a method of redirecting a mobile platform into an area of wireless network coverage, responsive to detection of a lack of coverage of the wireless network, the method including: detecting lack of coverage of the wireless network; initiating communications between a satellite communication unit coupled to the mobile platform and a first and second geostationary satellites; calculating a first and a second times of flight associated with the communications between the satellite communication unit and the first and second geostationary satellites, respectively; calculating a region within which the mobile platform is located, based on the absolute positions of both geostationary satellites, and the first and the second times of flight, respectively; calculating a spatial direction towards an area within coverage of the wireless network, based on the estimated region and spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDIRECTING A MOBILE PLATFORM INTO AN AREA OF WIRELESS NETWORK COVERAGE, AFTER A LOSS OF COVERAGE

THEREOF

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless networks, and more particularly to addressing lack of coverage thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile platforms operating on the ground, in the sea and over the air, whether being autonomous or remotely controlled may utilize wireless networks for various purposes such as communication, control and positioning.

In any case of loss of the coverage of such a network, the operation of the mobile platform may be severally interrupted. If the mobile platform is being remotely controlled via that wireless network, the mobile platform may be lost. Similarly, in case the mobile network serves as a positioning network such as the global position system (GPS) network, the mobile platform may become disorientated.

While various alternative positioning systems are known in the art, these systems are not always available for commercial use and are either restricted or prohibitively expensive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present invention suggest calculating an approximate region within which the mobile platform may be located based on two calculations of time of flight with two known geo-stationary satellites. Then, a vector redirecting the mobile platform into the coverage area of the wireless network may be calculated.

Specifically, the method according to some embodiments of the present invention may include the following steps: detecting a lack of coverage of the wireless network by a communication circuitry coupled to a self-proliferated mobile platform; initiating communications between a satellite communication unit coupled to the mobile platform and a first and a second geostationary satellites whose absolute positions are known; calculating a first and a second times of flight associated with the communications between the satellite communication unit and the first and second geostationary satellites, respectively; calculating an estimated region within which the mobile platform is located, based on the absolute positions of the first and the second geostationary satellites, and the first and the second times of flight, respectively; calculating a spatial direction towards an area within coverage of the wireless network, based on the estimated region and spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method may further include redirecting the mobile platform towards the area within coverage of the wireless network, based on the calculated spatial direction.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the wireless network may be a control network by which the mobile platform is controlled.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the wireless network may be a global positioning system (GPS) network.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mobile platform may be an autonomous mobile platform.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mobile platform may be one of a: an aerial vehicle, a ground vehicle, a maritime vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network may be derived from a database.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network is derived based on strength of signals coming from the at least one transceiver of the wireless network.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network may be derived from a route of the mobile platform recorded at a time when the mobile platform was located within the coverage area of the wireless network.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the initiating of the communications between the satellite communication unit and the first and the second geostationary satellites, may include transmitting a signal and receiving reflections thereof from the first and the second geostationary satellites, at the satellite communication unit.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method may further include obtaining barometric altitude of the mobile platform and calculating location estimation of the mobile platform further based on the barometric altitude of the mobile platform.

These additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the present invention are set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and in order to show how it may be implemented, references are made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating non-limiting example of the system according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are for the purpose of example and solely for discussing the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. The description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Before explaining the embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following descriptions or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating non-limiting example of the system according to some embodiments of the present invention. A mobile platform 10 may be moving from a coverage area 110 of a wireless network operated by at least one transceiver 150 into an area of non-coverage 100. Once the loss of coverage is detected, possibly by a communication circuitry (not shown here) mounted on mobile platform 10 a satellite communication unit (not shown here) also mounted on mobile platform 10, may initiate a communication with a first and a second geostationary satellites 132 and 134 respectively.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a time of flight between the satellite communication and first and second geostationary satellites 132 and 134 respectively may be calculated, to yield respective ranges and an estimated region 120 in which mobile platform may be located at, can be calculated.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, based on estimated region 120 and the known location network elements such as transceiver 150 affecting coverage area 110, a spatial direction (e.g. a vector) 160 from estimated region 120 in non-coverage area 100 back into coverage are 110 may be calculated.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the absolute reference point associated with the coverage area 110 according to which vector 160 is calculated, may be derived based on recorded route 170 taken when mobile platform 10 was still within coverage area 110 and prior to moving along route 180 beyond coverage are 110.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system 200 according to some embodiments of the present invention. System 200 may include a communication circuitry 210 coupled to a self-proliferated mobile platform 10 of Figure 1 (not shown here) configured to detect a lack of coverage of a wireless network in to which it was previously connected. System 200 may also include a satellite communication unit 220 coupled to mobile platform 10 and configured to initiate communications between a first and a second geostationary satellites 132 and 134 of Figure 1 (not shown here) whose absolute positions are known.

System 200 may also include a computer processor 230 configured to: calculate a first time of flight 242 and a second time of flight 244 associated with the communications between satellite communication unit 220 and the first and the second geostationary satellites, respectively. Computer processor 230 may be further configured to calculate an estimated region 250 within which mobile platform 10 may be located, based on the absolute positions of the first and the second geostationary satellites, and the first and the second times of flight, respectively.

Computer processor 230 may be further configured to calculate a spatial direction 270 towards an area within coverage of the wireless network, based on estimated region 250 and spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, system 200 may further include a control unit configured to redirect the mobile platform towards the area within coverage of the wireless network, based on the calculated spatial direction.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mobile platform may be any one of a: an aerial vehicle, a ground vehicle, a maritime vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network is derived from a database. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network is derived based on strength of signals coming from the at least one transceiver of the wireless network.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network is derived from a route of the mobile platform recorded at a time when the mobile platform was located within the coverage area of the wireless network.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the initiating of the communications between the satellite communication unit and the first and the second geostationary satellites, comprises transmitting a signal and receiving reflections thereof from the first and the second geostationary satellites, at the satellite communication unit.

According to some embodiments of the present invention the calculated location estimation may be a three-dimensional range of possible locations. According to some embodiments of the present invention, in order to improve the accuracy of the estimation, the aerial unit may further include a barometric altimeter 280. Barometric altimeter 280 may provide processor 230 with altitude data of the aerial unit, thus reducing the size of the range of possible locations and improving the accuracy of the location estimation.

Figure 3 is a high-level flowchart illustrating a method 300 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Method 300 of redirecting a mobile platform into an area of wireless network coverage, responsive to a detection of a lack of coverage of the wireless network may include the following steps: detecting a lack of coverage of the wireless network by a communication circuitry coupled to a self-proliferated mobile platform 310; initiating communications between a satellite communication unit coupled to the mobile platform and a first and a second geostationary satellites whose absolute positions are known 320; calculating a first and a second times of flight associated with the communications between the satellite communication unit and the first and second geostationary satellites, respectively 330; calculating an estimated region within which the mobile platform is located, based on the absolute positions of the first and the second geostationary satellites, and the first and the second times of flight, respectively 340; calculating a spatial direction towards an area within coverage of the wireless network, based on the estimated region and spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of the wireless network 350. According to some embodiments of the present invention, method 300 may further include a step of redirecting the mobile platform towards the area within coverage of the wireless network, based on the calculated spatial direction.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or an apparatus. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,”“module” or“system.”

The aforementioned flowchart and block diagrams illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems and methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of“one embodiment,”“an embodiment” or“some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments.

Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.

Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It will further be recognized that the aspects of the invention described hereinabove may be combined or otherwise coexist in embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to“an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to“a” or“an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic“may”,“might”,“can” or“could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described. The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of redirecting a mobile platform into an area of wireless network coverage, responsive to a detection of a lack of coverage of said wireless network, the method comprising: detecting a lack of coverage of said wireless network by a communication circuitry coupled to a self-proliferated mobile platform;

initiating communications between a satellite communication unit coupled to said mobile platform and a first and a second geostationary satellites whose absolute positions are known; calculating a first and a second times of flight associated with said communications between said satellite communication unit and said first and second geostationary satellites, respectively;

calculating an estimated region within which said mobile platform is located, based on the absolute positions of the first and the second geostationary satellites, and the first and the second times of flight, respectively; and

calculating a spatial direction towards an area within coverage of said wireless network, based on said estimated region and spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, redirecting said mobile platform towards said area within coverage of said wireless network, based on said calculated spatial direction.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is a control network by which said mobile platform is controlled.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is global positioning system (GPS) network.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said mobile platform is an autonomous mobile platform.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile platform is one of a: an aerial vehicle, a ground vehicle, a maritime vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network is derived from a database.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network is derived based on strength of signals coming from the at least one transceiver of said wireless network.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network is derived from a route of said mobile platform recorded at a time when the mobile platform was located within the coverage area of said wireless network.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the initiating of the communications between said satellite communication unit and the first and the second geostationary satellites, comprises transmitting a signal and receiving reflections thereof from the first and the second geostationary satellites, at said satellite communication unit.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising obtaining barometric altitude of the mobile platform and calculating location estimation of the mobile platform further based on the barometric altitude of the mobile platform.

12. A system for redirecting a mobile platform into an area of wireless network coverage, responsive to a detection of a lack of coverage of said wireless network, the system comprising: a communication circuitry coupled to a self-proliferated mobile platform configured to detecting a lack of coverage of said wireless network;

a satellite communication unit coupled to said mobile platform and configured to initiate communications between a first and a second geostationary satellites whose absolute positions are known; and

a computer processor configured to:

calculate a first and a second times of flight associated with said communications between said satellite communication unit and said first and second geostationary satellites, respectively;

calculate an estimated region within which said mobile platform is located, based on the absolute positions of the first and the second geostationary satellites, and the first and the second times of flight, respectively; and calculate a spatial direction towards an area within coverage of said wireless network, based on said estimated region and spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a control unit configured to redirect said mobile platform towards said area within coverage of said wireless network, based on said calculated spatial direction.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said wireless network is a control network by which said mobile platform is controlled.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said wireless network is global positioning system (GPS) network.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein said mobile platform is an autonomous mobile platform.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein said mobile platform is one of a: an aerial vehicle, a ground vehicle, a maritime vehicle.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network is derived from a database.

19. The system according to claim 12, wherein the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network is derived based on strength of signals coming from the at least one transceiver of said wireless network.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the spatial data associated with absolute positions of at least one transceiver of said wireless network is derived from a route of said mobile platform recorded at a time when the mobile platform was located within the coverage area of said wireless network.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the initiating of the communications between said satellite communication unit and the first and the second geostationary satellites, comprises transmitting a signal and receiving reflections thereof from the first and the second geostationary satellites, at said satellite communication unit.

22. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a barometric altimeter, and wherein the processor is further configured to calculate location estimation of mobile platform based on a barometric altitude of the mobile platform.