Tethered Aerostat Edge Computing for Wide-Area Cellular Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular networks face challenges in providing reliable, high-data-rate, low-latency wireless communication coverage, especially in rural and remote areas, due to the high cost and complexity of deploying numerous ground-based towers and the limitations of satellite systems, which restrict data rates for mobile users.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system using a radio frequency transceiver mounted on a tethered aerostat, coupled with a ground-based edge computing facility, providing data links and power, to create a large geographic coverage area with reduced infrastructure needs, enabling low-latency edge computing and high-data-rate communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If numerous ground-based towers are deployed to provide widespread cellular coverage, then coverage area is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the base station from ground level to aerial deployment using aerostats (balloons or airships), transitioning from two-dimensional ground-based coverage to three-dimensional aerial coverage. This dimensional change enables single installations to cover much larger geographic areas, reducing the number of towers needed from tens of thousands to potentially hundreds or thousands fewer installations.
2Area of stationary object
If ground-based towers are used to provide cellular coverage, then infrastructure is established, but difficulty in obtaining land access and planning permission increases
Solution Approach 1:
By deploying base stations in the air rather than on ground, the patent eliminates the need for land access and planning permissions that are major barriers to ground-based tower deployment. The aerial installations can be positioned over bodies of water, remote areas, or regions with restrictive land use policies without requiring land rights.
3Area of stationary object
If satellite systems are used to provide wide area coverage, then coverage area is improved, but data rate for mobile users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using lower frequency bands (sub-6 GHz) compared to satellite systems, which enables mobile broadband data rates comparable to terrestrial 4G/5G networks while maintaining wide area coverage capabilities. The aerial position combined with these frequency parameters achieves both wide coverage and high data rates.
4Loss of time
If edge computing facilities are distributed across many base station sites, then low-latency computing is improved, but cost and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates edge computing facilities into centralized ground-based data centers that serve multiple aerial base stations, rather than distributing computing resources across numerous remote tower sites. This merging approach maintains low-latency computing by providing dedicated edge resources while significantly reducing the number of facilities requiring maintenance and monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An installation for a wireless communication system, comprising a radio frequency transceiver, for providing wireless communications to user equipment located within a wireless communication area, the transceiver being coupled to a communications signal processing facility, and comprising a data link to a wider communication network, the installation further comprising: a ground-based location comprising: an edge computing facility, the computing facility comprising a data link to a cloud computing network, and comprising data storage, processing and networking capability, and linked to the communications signal processing facility; and a source of electrical power; an elevated location comprising: an aerostat comprising the radio frequency transceiver, the aerostat being tethered to the ground-based location, wherein the tether comprises a data connection between the ground-based location and the radio frequency transceiver, and a power cable for providing electrical power from the source of electrical power to the radio frequency transceiver.