U.S. patent application number 09/989742 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for method and apparatus for bi-directional data services and live television programming to mobile platforms.
Invention is credited to Bengeult, Greg A., Berkheimer, Russell, de La Chapelle, Michael, Fitzsimmons, George, Harrang, Jeffrey P., Higgins, Robert P., Lynch, Michael G., Martens, Paulus J., Miller, Daniel F., Morrison, Arthur F., Richards, William R., White, Geoffrey, Williams, Richard D. II.
Application Number | 20020087992 09/989742 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24566082 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020087992 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bengeult, Greg A. ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
Method and apparatus for bi-directional data services and live
television programming to mobile platforms
Abstract
A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a
plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships,
and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the
ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system
disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment
includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals
representative of data content to the space segment. The space
segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of
the transponders being designated by the ground-based control
segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system.
The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas.
The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the
satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded by a
communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server
filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the
mobile system. A local area network (LAN) receives the remaining
data content and provides same to individual users on the mobile
platform in accordance with previously submitted programming
requests or data input by the users at access stations associated
independently with each user.
Inventors: |
Bengeult, Greg A.; (Auburn,
WA) ; Harrang, Jeffrey P.; (Sammamish, WA) ;
Richards, William R.; (Issaquah, WA) ; Lynch, Michael
G.; (Seattle, WA) ; de La Chapelle, Michael;
(Bellevue, WA) ; Martens, Paulus J.; (Seattle,
WA) ; Williams, Richard D. II; (Kent, WA) ;
Miller, Daniel F.; (Sumner, WA) ; White,
Geoffrey; (Kent, WA) ; Fitzsimmons, George;
(Kent, WA) ; Berkheimer, Russell; (Issaquah,
WA) ; Higgins, Robert P.; (Seattle, WA) ;
Morrison, Arthur F.; (Kent, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Family ID: |
24566082 |
Appl. No.: |
09/989742 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09989742 |
Nov 20, 2001 |
|
|
|
09639912 |
Aug 16, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/76 ;
348/E7.069; 348/E7.081; 348/E7.093; 725/67; 725/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/20 20130101; H04B
7/18508 20130101; H04N 21/2187 20130101; H04N 21/4126 20130101;
H04N 21/2543 20130101; H04N 21/2146 20130101; H04N 21/6143
20130101; H04N 7/173 20130101; H04N 7/147 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/76 ; 725/67;
725/72 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/20; H04N
007/18 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for providing data content to a plurality of mobile
platforms via at least one satellite having at least one radio
frequency (RF) transponder, and for transmitting data content from
said mobile platforms via said RF transponder to a ground-based
control center, comprising: an independent mobile system associated
with each said mobile platform and carried by each said mobile
platform; a ground-based antenna system associated with said
ground-based control center for transmitting encoded RF signals
representative of said data content via said RF transponder to said
mobile system; each said mobile system comprising: a steerable
transmit antenna and a steerable receive antenna; a communications
subsystem in communication with each of said antennas for
generating baseband video signals and data signals from said
encoded RF signals received by said receive antenna, and for
producing encoded signals from data transmissions input by each of
a plurality of occupants; a data content management system for
filtering of portions of said data content not addressed to
occupants on said mobile platform; a network for distributing said
baseband video signals and said data signals output from said data
content management system to said occupants, said network including
a plurality of access stations whereby individual occupants receive
only specific subportions of said baseband video signals and said
data signals relating to previous information selections made by
said occupants; and said independent mobile system also operating
to transmit said signals input by each of said occupants from each
of said access stations, via said RF transponder, to said
ground-based antenna system.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said access stations are adapted
to be coupled to personal computing devices operated by each of
said occupants.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said data content management
system comprises a file server.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said satellite comprises a
plurality of RF transponders, and wherein said ground based control
center designates one of said transponders to communicate in
dedicated fashion with a designated one of said mobile
platforms.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a local
area network.
6. A system for providing real time video signals to a mobile
receiving platform via a satellite having at least one radio
frequency (RF) transponder, the system comprising: a ground based
system for transmitting RF signals representative of said video
signals to said satellite; a mobile receiving system disposed on
said mobile receiving platform comprising: an antenna for receiving
said RF signals from said RF transponder; an antenna control system
for use in steering said antenna to track said satellite as said
mobile receiving platform is in motion; a communications system
responsive to signals received by said antenna for generating
baseband video signals in accordance therewith; a data content
management system responsive to said communications system for
determining which portions of said baseband video signals are to be
transmitted to each of a plurality of access stations on said
mobile receiving platform for viewing by individuals on said mobile
receiving platform; and a distribution system for routing said
portions of said baseband video signals to specific ones of said
access stations in response to requests by said occupants, such
that each said occupant receives only a portion of said baseband
video signals in accordance with said request made by each said
occupant.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein said communications system
comprises a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders for decoding,
demodulating and digital-to-analog converting received RF signals
into said baseband video signals.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein said data content management
system comprises a server.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein said baseband video signals
represent live television signals.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein said baseband video signals
represent direct broadcast television signals.
11. The system of claim 6, wherein said ground based system
comprises a network operations center for managing accounting and
billing operations associated with access to the system by each
user.
12. The system of claim 6, wherein said ground segment operates to
transmit encoded data signals to said transponder of said
satellite; and wherein said communications system operates to
de-modulate and D/A convert said RF signals to produce said
baseband data signals.
13. A system for supplying a plurality of channels of data content
to a plurality of independent mobile receiving platforms, wherein
each said mobile receiving platform has a plurality of occupants,
and for receiving data content transmitted from said mobile
receiving platform by said occupants, said system comprising: a
ground based antenna for transmitting encoded radio frequency (RF)
signals representing said data content; at least one satellite
having a plurality of RF transponders in orbit over a desired
geographical coverage area within which said mobile platforms are
traveling, for transponding said encoded RF signals; a mobile
receiving system disposed on each said mobile receiving platform,
each said mobile system comprising: an antenna system including a
receive antenna for receiving said encoded RF signals from a
designated one of said RF transponders, and a transmit antenna for
transmitting said data content to a designated one of said RF
transponders; an antenna control system for steering said transmit
and receive antennas to track said satellite as said mobile
receiving platform is in motion; a communications system responsive
to said encoded RF signals received by said receive antenna for
demodulating and decoding said encoded RF signals to produce
baseband video signals and data signals; said communications system
including a system for transmitting data content from each of said
occupants, via said transmit antenna, to said designated one of
said transponders; a data content management system responsive to
said communications system for determining which portions of said
baseband video signals and which portions of said data signals are
to be transmitted to specific ones of a plurality of access
stations on said mobile receiving platform for use by said
occupants of said mobile receiving platform; and a network system
for routing said portions of said baseband video signals and said
data signals to specific ones of said access stations in response
to requests by said occupants, such that each said occupant
receives only a requested portion of said baseband video signals or
a requested portion of said data signals.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said communications system
comprises a plurality of integrated receiver/decoders.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein said data content management
system comprises a server.
16. The system of claim 13, further comprising a data system for
supplying crew information services to said data content management
system.
17. The system of claim 13, further comprising an air telephone
system on board said mobile platform for transmitting data services
to at least one ground based voice telephony receiving station
within said coverage area.
18. A system for enabling individual occupants on board a moving
platform to transmit and receive data content in real time from a
ground based data source, said system comprising: a ground based
system for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals representative
of said data content obtained from a data content source; a
satellite system having at least one RF transponder for
transponding RF signals received from said ground based system to
said mobile platform, and transponding RF signals received from
said moving platform to said ground based system; a mobile
communications system disposed on said mobile platform including: a
receive antenna for receiving RF signals from said RF transponder;
a transmit antenna for transmitting RF signals to said RF
transponder; a communications subsystem in communication with said
receive antenna and said transmit antenna for converting said
received RF signals into data content, and for converting user data
transmitted by said occupants into RF signals to be transmitted by
said transmit antenna to said RF transponder; and a data content
management system for receiving said data content from said
communications subsystem and determining which subportions of said
data content is to be distributed to specific ones of said
occupants; and a distribution system for distributing said
subportions of said data content to said occupants such that each
said occupant receives only specific ones of said subportions of
said data content in accordance with previous information
transmissions made by each said occupant.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein said distribution system
comprises a local area network (LAN).
20. The system of claim 18, wherein said distribution system
further comprises a plurality of independent access stations
capable of interfacing with an electronic device of an occupant of
said mobile platform.
21. A system for facilitating bi-directional communication between
a ground-based control center and a plurality of mobile platforms,
of data content via a satellite having a plurality of (RF)
transponders, said system comprising: a ground based antenna for
transmitting encoded RF signals from said ground-based control
center representing said data content; a mobile receiving system
disposed on each said mobile platform, each said mobile receiving
system comprising: a steerable receive antenna for receiving said
encoded RF signals from a designated one of said RF transponders of
said satellite; an antenna control system for steering said receive
and transmit antennas to track said satellite as said mobile
receiving platform is in motion; a communications system responsive
to said encoded RF signals received by said receive antenna for
generating output signals representative of live television
programming and Internet data; a server responsive to said
communications system for filtering off portions of said live
television programming and portions of said Internet data
representing data content which have not been requested by any of
said occupants of its associated said mobile platform, and
filtering off portions of said data content not directed to any
occupant of said mobile platform; and a network system for routing
said portions of said output signals and said portions of said
Internet data to specific ones of a plurality of access stations in
accordance with inputs made at said access stations by each of said
occupants.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein said steerable receive antenna
comprises an electronically steerable, phased array antenna.
23. A method of transmitting data content between a mobile
receiving platform and a ground-based control segment, comprising
the steps of: using a ground-based antenna associated with said
ground-based control segment to transmit encoded radio frequency
(RF) signals corresponding to said data content; using a satellite
having a plurality of transponders to receive said encoded RF
signals and to transpond said encoded RF signals, via one of said
transponders designated by said ground-based control segment, to
said mobile receiving platform; using a steerable antenna carried
by said mobile receiving platform to receive said encoded RF
signals; causing said steerable antenna to track said satellite as
said mobile receiving platform is in motion to thereby maintain
constant radio frequency contact with said satellite; decoding and
demodulating said encoded RF signals to produce a plurality of data
signals representative of said data content; filtering off said
data signals that have not been requested by any occupant of said
mobile platform to produce a limited subset of data content;
distributing selected portions of said subset of data content to
access stations associated with said occupants in accordance with
requests of each said occupant such that each said occupant
receives only selected portions of said subset of data content
corresponding to his/her previously submitted requests; and
transmitting encoded RF signals representative of information
requests from said users to said satellite.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/639,912 filed on Aug. 16, 2000, and
presently pending. The disclosure(s) of the above application is
hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to worldwide systems for supplying
live television programming and bi-directional data services to
mobile platforms, such as aircraft, using satellite
communication.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Broadband data and video services, on which our society and
economy have grown to depend, have heretofore generally not been
readily available to users on board mobile platforms such as
aircraft, ships, trains, automobiles, etc. While the technology
exists to deliver such services to all forms of mobile platforms,
past solutions have been generally quite expensive, low data rate
and/or available to only very limited markets of
government/military users and some high-end maritime markets (i.e.,
cruise ships).
[0004] At present, a wide variety of broadcast television (TV)
services are available to terrestrial users via satellite links.
Such services include commercial Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
services (such as DirecTV.RTM. and EchoStar.RTM.) and custom video,
such as rebroadcast video, over private Fixed Satellite Services
(FSS) or Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS) satellites. The data
services which can be provided via satellite link include all
conventional Internet services (e.g., email, web browsing,
NetMeeting, etc.), as well as virtual private networks (VPNs) for
corporate and government customers.
[0005] Previously developed systems which have attempted to provide
live TV and data services to mobile platforms have done so with
only limited success. One major obstacle has been the high cost of
access to such broadband data and video services. Another problem
is the limited capacity of previously developed systems, which is
insufficient for mobile platforms carrying dozens, or even
hundreds, of individuals who each may be simultaneously requesting
different channels of programming or different data services.
Furthermore, presently existing systems are generally not readily
scalable to address the demands of the traveling public.
[0006] Certain services currently available provide a limited
subset of the above described services. One such service provides a
narrow-bandwidth Internet connection to users on a mobile platform.
Another service provides either TV broadcast services from
available direct broadcast signals (i.e., EchoStar.RTM. and
DirectTV.RTM.) or provides a custom TV broadcast signal through
dedicated satellite links (i.e., Airshow7). However, no system or
method presently exists for providing high speed (i.e., greater
than 64 Kbps) data networking services to groups of users on mobile
or remote platforms, let alone for providing such high-speed
networking services together with video services.
[0007] There are several operational systems that provide limited
Internet data services on commercial airlines and cruise ships.
These systems are very limited in their link capability (primarily
use communication links developed for telephony) and the service is
very expensive (greater than about $1.00 per minute for voice
connection). For these reasons, and in view of adherent limitations
on the capacity of such systems, such systems have met with limited
commercial success and acceptance.
[0008] Current operational systems generally use Inmarsat satellite
communication links or terrestrial wireless communication links
(i.e., the National Air Telephone System "NATS") to achieve 2-way
connectivity to mobile platforms. These connection forms have
several drawbacks:
[0009] a limited connection bandwidth (typically less than 64
Kbps);
[0010] limited overall system capacity (due to limited frequency
spectrum); and high expense.
[0011] Inmarsat operates in the L-band frequency spectrum, where
there is very little bandwidth and capacity available for providing
broadband services to the traveling public. NATS based solutions
(i.e., GTE.RTM. Airfone7, AT&T.RTM. Claircom), familiar to
domestic airline travelers who use seat back-mounted telephones,
also provide very limited capacity because of operation at L-band.
These systems also suffer from the additional problem that
connectivity is only available over land.
[0012] Current mobile platform connection methods are inherently
narrow band and restrict the flow of data to the point where common
networking tasks are impossible. Typically, this connectivity is
achieved through the use of a standard computer telephone modem
between the user's computer and the air-ground or ship-shore
telephony system. In this scenario, each user gets exclusive use of
a full communications channel for the duration of his/her
networking session and effectively prevents others from using that
portion of the telephony system.
[0013] One other service that has received some attention is a
service that provides pre-stored world-wide-web content to users on
a mobile platform. This service is anticipated to incorporate a
server located on a mobile platform to provide its stored content
to users on the mobile platform through a simple touchscreen
interface. The content located on the server would be updated once
every few weeks while the mobile platform is in an inactive mode,
such as when an aircraft is parked at an airport gate or a ship is
docked at a port. The update of the data on the mobile platform
would be accomplished through the loading of CDROMS or swapping of
hard drives on the server. Although the content stored on the
mobile platform with this service can be varied, it will never be
timely.
[0014] In view of the foregoing, there is a significant need to
provide a system and method for providing live television
programming and bi-directional data communication to users onboard
mobile platforms via one or more satellite links. More
specifically, there is a need to provide Internet data
communication, Direct Broadcast Satellite Services via BSS
satellites, and rebroadcast video of live television programming
via Ku or Ka-band satellites to a plurality of users onboard one or
more mobile platforms, and in a manner which allows each user to
request and receive Internet or other forms of real time data, as
well specific live programming which he/she desires to view.
[0015] There is also a need to provide a system and method for
enabling hundreds or more mobile platforms, such as aircraft, to
communicate with a plurality of satellites, where each satellite
includes a plurality of independent transponders, such that each
mobile platform can communicate with an assigned transponder to
permit bi-directional data communications by each passenger and
viewing by each passenger of selected live TV programming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention is directed by a method and apparatus
for providing television and data services to mobile platforms, in
accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. In
one preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention makes
use of a ground based segment for receiving video and data content
and transmitting the content using radio frequency signals in
accordance therewith via a ground based antenna to a space segment.
The space segment includes a satellite incorporating at least one
transponder, and more preferably a plurality of independent
transponders, which receives the radio frequency (RF) signals
transmitted from the antenna of the ground segment and relays these
signals to at least one mobile system, and more typically to a
large plurality of mobile systems, using the satellite-based
transponders. Each mobile system is located on a mobile platform
(e.g., aircraft, ship, etc.) and receives the RF signals from at
least one of the satellite transponders and distributes the
transponded video and data content to individual users in
accordance with selections made by the users. Thus, each user only
receives the video programming and/or data content that he/she
specifically selected or requested.
[0017] Optionally, but preferably, the ground-based segment
includes at least one dedicated link to an Internet service
provider. One or more dedicated links may also be provided to
various private/corporate Intranet accounts. A content management
center in the ground segment is also in communication with a
network operations center thereof for controlling transmission of
the live television programming and other data to the space
segment.
[0018] All information sent from the ground station to the mobile
platform is broadcast over the entire coverage region of the
satellite transponder. Each satellite is located in a geostationary
orbit (GSO) or in a non-geostationary (NGSO) orbit. Packet
multiplexing is preferably used to provide multiple simultaneous
access to a plurality of users on each mobile platform.
[0019] The mobile system incorporates a suitable antenna system for
effecting bi-directional communications with its assigned
transponder. In one preferred form, the antenna system comprises a
steerable antenna carried by the mobile platform for receiving and
transmitting RF signals to and from the satellites within the
coverage region. The antenna system is coupled to a receiver which
decodes and de-modulates the received RF signals to produce digital
video and audio, as well as data content signals. These signals are
preferably provided in the form of packets, and fed to a router
which filters the packets such that only content selected/requested
by users on the mobile platform is distributed to the users. In
this context users are defined as passengers, cabin crew, cockpit
crew, maintenance crew, and non-human entities such as unattended
data devices. A distribution system routes the data content
directly to the proper users at access stations associated
independently with each user, or to designated components (such as
overhead monitors) located throughout the mobile platform. Thus,
each user or occupant receives only the specific data content
(i.e., either data or TV programming) that he/she has requested, or
the data content can simply be provided to all passengers on the
mobile platform.
[0020] The method and apparatus of the present invention thus
provides the ability to conduct bi-directional data communications
between a plurality of independent mobile platforms, where each
user on each mobile platform is able to independently request and
obtain Internet data or other forms of data in real time. The
present invention further enables the users to independently
request and view selected channels of live TV programming.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The various advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following
specification and subjoined claims and by referencing the following
drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram drawing illustrating
the three major components of the system of the present invention;
and
[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the mobile system carried on
each mobile platform.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system 10 in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention for
providing data content to and from a plurality of mobile platforms
12a-12f in one or more distinct coverage regions 14a and 14b. The
system 10 generally comprises a ground segment 16, a plurality of
satellites 18a-18f forming a space segment 17, and a mobile system
20 disposed on each moving platform 12. The mobile platforms 12
could comprise aircraft, cruise ships or any other moving vehicle.
Thus, the illustration of the mobile platforms 12 as aircraft in
the figures herein, and the reference to the mobile platforms as
aircraft throughout the following description should not be
construed as limiting the applicability of the system 10 to only
aircraft.
[0025] The space segment 17 may include any number of satellites 18
in each coverage region 14a and 14b needed to provide coverage for
each region. Satellites 18a, 18b, 18d and 18e are preferably Ku or
Ka-band satellites. Satellites 18c and 18f are Broadcast Satellite
Services (BSS) satellites. Each of the satellites 18 are further
located in a geostationary orbit (GSO) or a non-geostationary orbit
(NGSO). Examples of possible NGSO orbits that could be used with
this invention include low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit
(MEO) and highly elliptical orbit (HEO). Each of the satellites 18
includes at least one radio frequency (RF) transponder, and more
preferably a plurality of RF transponders. For example satellite
18a is illustrated having four transponders 18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4. It
will be appreciated that each other satellite 18 illustrated could
have a greater or lesser plurality of RF transponders as required
to handle the anticipated number of mobile platforms 12 operating
in the coverage area. The transponders provide "bent-pipe"
communications between the aircraft 12 and the ground segment 16.
The frequency bands used for these communication links could
comprise any radio frequency band from approximately 10 MHz to 100
GHz. The transponders preferably comprise Kuband transponders in
the frequency band designated by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU) for fixed satellite services FSS or BSS satellites. Also,
different types of transponders may be employed (i.e., each
satellite 18 need not include a plurality of identical types of
transponders) and each transponder may operate at a different
frequency. Each of the transponders 18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4 further
include wide geographic coverage, high effective isotropic radiated
power (EIRP) and high gain/noise temperature (G/T).
[0026] With further reference to FIG. 1, the ground segment 16
includes a ground station 22 in bi-directional communication with a
content center 24 and a network operations center (NOC) 26. A
second ground station 22a located in the second coverage area 14b
may be used if more than one distinct coverage area is required for
the service. In this instance, ground station 22a would also be in
bi-directional communication with the NOC 26 via a terrestrial
ground link or any other suitable means for establishing a
communication link with the NOC 26. The ground station 22a would
also be in bi-directional communication with a content center 24a.
For the purpose of discussion, the system 10 will be described with
respect to the operations occurring in coverage region 14a.
However, it will be understood that identical operations relative
to the satellites 18d-18f occur in coverage region 14b. It will
also be understood that the invention may be scaled to any number
of coverage regions 14 in the manner just described.
[0027] The ground station 22 comprises an antenna and associated
antenna control electronics needed for transmitting data content to
the satellites 18a and 18b. The antenna of the ground station 22
may also be used to receive data content transponded by the
transponders 18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4 originating from each mobile
system 20 of each aircraft 12 within the coverage region 14a. The
ground station 22 may be located anywhere within the coverage
region 14a. Similarly, ground station 22a, if incorporated, can be
located anywhere within the second coverage area 14b.
[0028] The content center 24 is in communication with a variety of
external data content providers and controls the transmission of
video and data information received by it to the ground station 22.
Preferably, the content center 24 is in contact with an Internet
service provider (ISP) 30, a video content source 32 and a public
switched telephone network (PSTN) 34. Optionally, the content
center 24 can also communicate with one or more virtual private
networks (VPNs) 36. The ISP 30 provides Internet access to each of
the occupants of each aircraft 12. The video content source 32
provides live television programming, for example, Cable News
Network.RTM. (CNN) and ESPN.RTM.. The NOC 26 performs traditional
network management, user authentication, accounting, customer
service and billing tasks. The content center 24a associated with
the ground station 22a in the second coverage region 14b would also
preferably be in communication with an ISP 38, a video content
provider 40, a PSTN 42, and optionally a VPN 44. An optional air
telephone system 28 may also be included as an alternative to the
satellite return link.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 2, the mobile system 20 disposed on
each aircraft 12 will be described in greater detail. Each mobile
system 20 includes a data content management system in the form of
a router/server 50 (hereinafter "server") which is in communication
with a communications subsystem 52, a control unit and display
system 54, and a distribution system in the form of a local area
network (LAN) 56. Optionally, the server 50 can also be configured
for operation in connection with a National Air Telephone System
(NATS) 58, a crew information services system 60 and/or an
in-flight entertainment system (IFE) 62.
[0030] The communications subsystem 52 includes a transmitter
subsystem 64 and a receiver subsystem 66. The transmitter subsystem
64 includes an encoder 68, a modulator 70 and an Up-converter 72
for encoding, modulating and up-converting data content signals
from the server 50 to a transmit antenna 74. The receiver subsystem
66 includes a decoder 76, a demodulator 78 and a down-converter 80
for decoding, demodulating and down-converting signals received by
the receive antenna 82 into baseband video and audio signals, as
well as data signals. While only one receiver subsystem 66 is
shown, it will be appreciated that preferably a plurality of
receiver subsystems 66 will typically be included to enable
simultaneous reception of RF signals from a plurality of RF
transponders. If a plurality of receiver subsystems 66 are shown,
then a corresponding plurality of components 76-80 will also be
required.
[0031] The signals received by the receiver subsystem 66 are then
input to the server 50. A system controller 84 is used to control
all subsystems of the mobile system 20. The system controller 84,
in particular, provides signals to an antenna controller 86 which
is used to electronically steer the receive antenna 82 to maintain
the receive antenna pointed at a particular one of the satellites
18, which will hereinafter be referred to as the "target"
satellite. The transmit antenna 74 is slaved to the receive antenna
82 such that it also tracks the target satellite 18. It will be
appreciated that some types of mobile antennas may transmit and
receive from the same aperture. In this case the transmit antenna
74 and the receive antenna 82 are combined into a single
antenna.
[0032] With further reference to FIG. 2, the local area network
(LAN) 56 is used to interface the server 50 to a plurality of
access stations 88 associated with each seat location on board the
aircraft 12a. Each access station 88 can be used to interface the
server 50 directly with a user's laptop computer, personal digital
assistant (PDA) or other personal computing device of the user. The
access stations 88 could also each comprise a seat back mounted
computer/display. The LAN 56 enables bi-directional communication
of data between the user's computing device and the server 50 such
that each user is able to request a desired channel of television
programming, access a desired website, access his/her email, or
perform a wide variety of other tasks independently of the other
users on board the aircraft 12.
[0033] The receive and transmit antennas 82 and 74, respectively,
may comprise any form of steerable antenna. In one preferred form,
these antennas comprise electronically scanned, phased array
antennas. Phased array antennas are especially well suited for
aviation applications where aerodynamic drag is important
considerations. One particular form of electronically scanned,
phased array antenna suitable for use with the present invention is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,671, assigned to The Boeing
Co.
[0034] Referring further to FIG. 1, in operation of the system 10,
the data content is preferably formatted into Internet protocol
(IP) packets before being transmitted by either the ground station
22, or from the transmit antenna 74 of each mobile system 20. For
the purpose of discussion, a transmission of data content in the
form of IP packets from the ground station 22 will be referred to
as a "forward link" transmission. IP packet multiplexing is also
preferably employed such that data content can be provided
simultaneously to each of the aircraft 12 operating within the
coverage region 14a using unicast, multicast and broadcast
transmissions.
[0035] The IP data content packets received by each of the
transponders 18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4 are then transponded by the
transponders to each aircraft 12 operating within the coverage
region 14a. While multiple satellites 18 are illustrated over
coverage region 14a, it will be appreciated that at the present
time, a single satellite is capable of providing coverage to an
area encompassing the entire continental United States. Thus,
depending upon the geographic size of the coverage region and the
mobile platform traffic anticipated within the region, it is
possible that only a single satellite incorporating a single
transponder may be needed to provide coverage for the entire
region. Other distinct coverage regions besides the continental
United States include Europe, South/Central America, East Asia,
Middle East, North Atlantic, etc. It is anticipated that in service
regions larger than the continental United States, that a plurality
of satellites 18 each incorporating one or more transponders may be
required to provide complete coverage of the region.
[0036] The receive antenna 82 and transmit antenna 74 are each
preferably disposed on the top of the fuselage of their associated
aircraft 18. The receive antenna 74 of each aircraft receives the
entire RF transmission of encoded RF signals representing the IP
data content packets from at least one of the transponders
18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4. The receive antenna 82 receives horizontally
polarized (HP) and vertically polarized (VP) signals which are
input to at least one of the receivers 66. If more than one
receiver 66 is incorporated, then one will be designated for use
with a particular transponder 18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4 carried by the
target satellite 18 to which it is pointed. The receiver 66
decodes, demodulates and down-converts the encoded RF signals to
produce video and audio signals, as well as data signals, that are
input to the server 50. The server 50 operates to filter off and
discard any data content not intended for users on the aircraft 12a
and then forwards the remaining data content via the LAN 56 to the
appropriate access stations 88. In this manner, each user receives
only that portion of the programming or other information
previously requested by the user. Accordingly, each user is free to
request and receive desired channels of programming, access email,
access the Internet and perform other data transfer operations
independently of all other users on the aircraft 12a.
[0037] An advantage of the present invention is that the system 10
is also capable of receiving DBS transmissions of live television
programming (e.g., news, sports, weather, entertainment, etc.).
Examples of DBS service providers include DirecTV.RTM. and
Echostar.RTM.. DBS transmissions occur in a frequency band
designated for broadcast satellite services (BSS) and are typically
circularly polarized in North America. Therefore, a linear
polarization converter may be optionally added to receive antenna
82 for receiving broadcast satellite services in North America. The
FSS frequency band that carries the data services and the BSS
frequency band that carries DBS transmissions are adjacent to each
other in the Ku-band. In one optional embodiment of the system 10,
a single Ku-band receive antenna can be used to receive either DBS
transmissions from DBS satellites 18c and 18f in the BSS band or
data services in the FSS band from one of the FSS satellites 18a or
18b, or both simultaneously using the same receive antenna 82.
Simultaneous reception from multiple satellites 18 is accomplished
using a multi-beam receive antenna 82 or by using a single beam
receive antenna 82 with satellites co-located in the same
geostationary orbit slot.
[0038] Rebroadcast television or customized video services are
received and processed by the mobile system 20 in exactly the same
way. Rebroadcast or customized video content is obtained from the
video content source 32 and transmitted via the ground station 22
to the FSS satellites 18a and 18b. The video content is
appropriately encoded for transmission by the content center 24
before being broadcast by the ground station 22. Some customization
of the rebroadcast content may occur on the server 50 (FIG. 2) of
the mobile system 20 to tailor advertisements and other information
content to a particular market or interest of the users on the
aircraft 12a.
[0039] The bulk of data content provided to the users on each
aircraft 12 is provided by using a private portal data content.
This is implemented as a set of HTML pages housed on the server 50
of each mobile system 20. The content is kept fresh by periodically
sending updated portions from a ground-based server located in
content center 24, and in accordance with a scheduling function
controlled by the NOC 26 of the ground segment 16. The server 50
can readily be configured to accept user log-on information to
support authentication and authorization of users and to keep track
of user and network accounting information to support a billing
system. The authorization and accounting systems can be configured
to communicate with the ground segment 16 to transfer accumulated
data at convenient intervals to the NOC 26.
[0040] The system 10 of the present invention also provides direct
Internet connectivity via satellite links for a variety of
purposes, such as when a user on board the aircraft 12 desires to
obtain data content that is not cached on server 50, or as an
avenue for content sources to provide fresh content for the private
portals. The server 50 may be used to cache the most frequently
requested web pages as well as to host a domain name system (DMS)
look-up table of the most frequently accessed domains. The DMS
look-up table is preferably maintained by the content center 24 and
is periodically updated on the mobile system 20. Refreshing of the
cached content of the portal may be accomplished by in-flight,
periodic "pushed" cache refresh or at the gate of an airport
terminal using any form of wired or wireless connection to the
aircraft 12a, or via a manual cache refresh by a crew member of the
aircraft 12a carrying on board a CD ROM and inserting it into the
cache server. The invention 10 implements the in-flight periodic,
pushed cache refresh updates over the satellite links. Preferably,
refreshing of the cache content occurs during periods of low demand
on the satellite links.
[0041] The optional air telephone system 28 can also be employed
with the system 10 when line-of-sight links to the ground segments
16 are established to provide the physical infrastructure. For
example, an optional implementation incorporating an air telephone
systems can be used for low data rate return links (2.4 kbps to 9.6
kbps). It will be recognized that other regions, such as Europe and
Asia, have similar air telephone systems that communicate with
aircraft using terrestrial cellular communications links. Air
telephone systems (e.g., NATS in North America) were designed for
carrying telephony traffic, but have been adapted to pass single
user per call, point to point analog modem data. With the present
invention, the aggregate return link traffic from the mobile system
20 is combined in server/router 50, a switch or a PBX (not shown)
and then coupled into the air telephone return link via an analog
modem or directly via a digital interface (e.g., CEPT-E1). Expanded
capacity can be provided by establishing multiple simultaneous
connections from the router/switch into the air telephone system.
Multi-link, point to point (PPP) data encapsulation can be used to
accomplish the splitting/recombining of the data streams between
the airborne and NOC 26 routers. In addition to expanded capacity,
the tolerance to a single connection failure is increased with
multiple connections through the air telephone system. The
hand-over between separate air telephone system antenna towers is
managed by the air telephone system and the connection between the
respective air and ground routers is automatically maintained as
the mobile platform traverses multiple coverage areas.
[0042] A significant anticipated application of the present
invention is in connection with aircraft that fly extended periods
of time over water and remote regions (including polar regions) of
the Earth where there is little or no current satellite transponder
coverage. The present invention can operate with GSO satellites
launched in the future into orbit over oceans, or a new
constellation of NGSO satellites to provide full Earth coverage
(including the poles).
[0043] Referring further to FIG. 1, a transmission of data content
from the aircraft 12a to the ground station 22 will be described.
This transmission is termed a "return link" transmission. The
antenna controller 86 causes the transmit antenna 74 to maintain
the antenna beam thereof pointed at the target satellite 18a. The
channels used for communication from each mobile system 20 back to
the ground station 22 represent point-to-point links that are
individually assigned and dynamically managed by the NOC 26 of the
ground segment 16. For the system 10 to accommodate several hundred
or more aircraft 12, multiple aircraft will need to be assigned to
each transponder carried by a given satellite 18. The preferred
multiple access methods for the return link are code division
multiple access (CDMA), frequency divisional multiple access
(FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA) or combinations
thereof. Thus, multiple mobile systems 20 may be assigned to a
single transponder 18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4. Where a greater number of
aircraft 12 incorporating a mobile system 20 are operated within
the coverage region 14a, then the number of transponders required
increases accordingly.
[0044] The receive antenna 82 may implement a closed-loop tracking
system for pointing the antenna beam and for adjusting the
polarization of the antennas based on receive signal amplitude. The
transmit antenna 74 is slaved to the point direction and
polarization of the receive antenna 82. An alternative
implementation could use an open-loop tracking method with the
pointing direction and polarization determined by knowledge of
mobile platform position and attitude using an on-board inertial
reference unit (IRU) and knowledge of the location of the
satellites 18.
[0045] Encoded RF signals are transmitted from the transmit antenna
74 of the mobile system 20 of a given aircraft 12 to an assigned
one of the transponders 18a.sub.1-18a.sub.4, and transponded by the
designated transponder to the ground station 22. The ground station
22 communicates with the content center 24 to determine and provide
the appropriate data being requested by the user (e.g., content
from the world wide web, email or information from the user's
VPN).
[0046] An additional concern that must be taken into account with
the system 10 is the potential for interference that may result
from the small aperture size of the receive antenna 82. The
aperture size of the receive antenna 82 is typically smaller than
conventional "very small aperture terminal" (VSAT) antennas.
Accordingly, the beam from the receive antenna 82 may encompass
adjacent satellites along the geosynchronous arc. This can result
in interference from satellites other than the target satellite
being received by a particular mobile system 20. To overcome this
potential problem, the system 10 preferably uses a lower than
normal forward link data rate that overcomes the interference from
adjacent satellites. For example, the system 10 operates at a
preferred forward link data rate of at least about 5 Mbps per
transponder, using a typical FSS Ku-band transponder (e.g.,
Telstar-6) and an antenna having an active aperture of about 17
inches by 24 inches (43.18 cm by 60.96 cm). For comparison
purposes, a typical Ku-band transponder usually operates at a data
rate of approximately 30 Mbps using conventional VSAT antennas.
[0047] Using a standard digital video broadcast (DVB) waveform, the
forward link signal typically occupies less than 8 MHz out of a
total transponder width of 27 MHz. However, concentrating the
transponder power in less than the full transponder bandwidth could
create a regulatory concern. FCC regulations presently regulate the
maximum effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) spectral density
from a transponder to prevent interference between closely spaced
satellites. Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, spread spectrum modulation techniques are employed in
modulator 70 to "spread" the forward link signal over the
transponder bandwidth using well known signal spreading techniques.
This reduces the spectral density of the transponded signal, thus
eliminating the possibility of interference between two or more
mobile systems 20.
[0048] It is also equally important that the transmit antenna 74
meets regulatory requirements that prevent interference to
satellites adjacent to the target satellite 18. The transmit
antennas used in most mobile applications also tend to be smaller
than conventional VSAT antennas (typically reflector antennas that
are 1 meter in diameter). Mobile transmit antennas used for
aeronautical applications should have low aerodynamic drag, be
lightweight, have low power consumption and be of relatively small
size. For all these reasons, the antenna aperture of the transmit
antenna 74 is preferably smaller than a conventional VSAT antenna.
VSAT antennas are sized to create an antenna beam that is narrow
enough to illuminate a single FSS satellite along the
geosynchronous arc. This is important because FSS satellites are
spaced at 2.degree. intervals along the geosynchronous arc. The
smaller than normal antenna aperture of the transmit antenna 74
used with the present invention, in some instances, may create an
antenna beam that is wide enough to irradiate satellites that are
adjacent to the target satellite along the geosynchronous arc,
which could create an interference problem. This potential problem
is eliminated by employing spread spectrum modulation techniques on
the return link transmissions as well. The transmitted signal from
the transmit antenna 74 is spread in frequency to produce an
interfering signal at the adjacent satellite that is below the
threshold EIRP spectral density at which the signal would
interfere. It will be appreciated, however, that spread spectrum
modulation techniques may not be required if the angular spacing
between satellites within a given coverage region is such that
interference will not be a problem.
[0049] It will be appreciated that the system 10 of the present
invention provides a means for providing bi-directional data
content transfer to a large plurality of independent users on-board
a large number of mobile platforms. The system 10 further enables
data content such as rebroadcast video services, broadcast video
services and other forms of data content to be provided in real
time to a large plurality of mobile platforms such as aircraft,
ships or virtually any other form of mobile platform carrying
individuals who desire to access ground-based data content sources
or to view live television and programming. The system further
allows multiple mobile platforms within a given coverage region to
communicate with one or a plurality of transponders within the
given coverage region and to transmit data content via a satellite
back to a ground-based control system. Accordingly, individual
users on-board the mobile platform are able to independently access
and obtain various forms of data content as well as selected
channels of live television programming. Importantly, the system 10
of the present invention is scalable to accommodate large or small
pluralities of mobile platforms, and also scalable over many
satellites and coverage regions.
[0050] Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the
foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present
invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore,
while this invention has been described in connection with
particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should
not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to
the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings,
specification and following claims.
* * * * *