Multi-Link Aircraft Cellular System Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Air-To-Ground cellular communications network faces limitations in call handling capacity and reliability due to the use of a single radio frequency link between aircraft and terrestrial base stations, which can lead to service interruptions and capacity constraints, especially when multiple aircraft are in close proximity, resulting in a single point of failure and inadequate capacity to handle the large number of active calls.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Multi-Link Aircraft Cellular System, which employs multiple independently operable radio frequency antennas on aircraft to establish simultaneous communication links with multiple terrestrial cell sites, utilizing inverse multiplexing to distribute call traffic across these links, and incorporating orthogonal polarizations and sectoring techniques to enhance capacity and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single radio frequency link is used between aircraft and terrestrial base stations, then device complexity is reduced, but call handling capacity and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single communication link into multiple independent radio frequency links between the aircraft and multiple terrestrial base stations. Each link operates independently, so if one link fails, others continue to provide service. This segmentation directly resolves the contradiction by improving reliability through link diversity while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of link quantity from one to multiple, fundamentally altering the system's reliability characteristics. By establishing multiple simultaneous communication links with different base stations, the system achieves redundancy and continues serving calls even when individual links experience interruptions, thus resolving the reliability issue without excessive complexity increase.
2Productivity
If multiple simultaneous communication links are established with multiple terrestrial base stations, then call handling capacity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the call traffic into multiple separate streams, each handled by a different communication link to a different base station. This segmentation allows the system to handle more total calls by distributing them across multiple links, with each link managing a portion of the traffic independently, thus increasing overall call handling capacity while keeping individual link complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple communication links and multiple base stations into a unified communication system that works together to serve the aircraft. By merging these resources, the system achieves greater call handling capacity than any single link could provide alone, while the integration is managed through coordinated control mechanisms that prevent excessive complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple simultaneous communication links are established, then system availability improves, but traffic management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the status of multiple communication links and automatically adjust traffic distribution accordingly. When link conditions change or failures occur, the system receives feedback and dynamically reroutes calls to maintain service, thus improving system availability while the automated feedback control prevents traffic management complexity from becoming unmanageable.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The Multi-Link Aircraft Cellular System makes use of multiple physically separated antennas mounted on the aircraft, as well as the use of additional optional signal isolation and optimization techniques to improve the call handling capacity of the Air-To-Ground cellular communications network. These additional techniques can include polarization domain and ground antenna pattern shaping (in azimuth, in elevation, or in both planes). Further, if code domain separation is added, dramatic increases in capacity are realized. Thus, the Air-To-Ground cellular communications network can increase its capacity on a per aircraft basis by sharing its traffic load among more than one cell or sector and by making use of multiple physically separated antennas mounted on the aircraft, as well as the use of additional optional signal isolation and optimization techniques.