Air-to-Ground Relay Coverage Using Scheduled Aerial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In underserved areas, user devices are unable to connect to cell sites, preventing subscribers from utilizing telecommunication services such as 5G, voice, data, and location data.
Innovation Solution
Control circuitry determines the location of an aerial vehicle as it navigates to an underserved area and generates a command to activate air to ground network coverage, enabling user devices to access telecommunication services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terrestrial cell sites are deployed to provide network coverage, then network coverage availability improves, but infrastructure cost and complexity increases significantly in remote underserved areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses aerial vehicles (drones, balloons, aircraft) as intermediary platforms to carry communication equipment into underserved areas. These mobile aerial platforms serve as temporary cell sites, providing network coverage without requiring permanent ground infrastructure deployment in remote locations like national parks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static terrestrial cell sites to dynamic aerial platforms that can move to provide coverage. The aerial vehicles can be deployed temporarily when needed and relocated or retired, providing flexible, on-demand network coverage in underserved areas without permanent infrastructure commitments.
2Reliability
If aerial vehicles are used to provide air-to-ground network coverage, then network coverage in underserved areas improves, but system complexity for tracking and coordinating aerial vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry continuously monitors aerial vehicle locations, flight statuses, and signal data, using this feedback to dynamically activate or deactivate air-to-ground network coverage. The system adjusts coverage based on real-time information about aerial vehicle positions and user device connectivity needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuitry system serves multiple functions: it tracks aerial vehicles, monitors flight statuses, processes signal data, determines coverage needs, and coordinates network activation. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single control system rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
3Reliability
If air-to-ground network coverage is activated continuously, then network availability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous activation, the system periodically assesses coverage needs by monitoring aerial vehicle locations and user device signal data. Air-to-ground network coverage is activated only when aerial vehicles are present in underserved areas and deactivated when not needed, creating an on-demand coverage system that reduces energy consumption while maintaining availability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides efficient air to ground network coverage in areas without terrestrial coverage, allowing user devices to utilize telecommunication services in underserved areas.
Implementation Method 1
control circuitry communicatively coupled to relay circuitry, antenna circuitry... The relay circuitry is structured to convert the radio signal into a subsequent signal
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling the air to ground network coverage in an underserved area include an aerial vehicle and control circuitry communicatively coupled to relay circuitry, antenna circuitry, and a ground site. The control circuitry is structured to receive signal data corresponding to a radio signal, the relay circuitry structured to convert the radio signal into a subsequent signal, determine one or more airline schedules and one or more flight statuses associated with an underserved area, based on the one or more airline schedules and the one or more flight statuses determined, determine an aerial vehicle location as the aerial vehicle navigates to the underserved area, and generate a command to activate, via the antenna circuitry, transmission of air to ground network coverage based on the subsequent signal to the underserved area when the aerial vehicle location is in the underserved area.