Inventors:
Anand K. Chari - Bartlett IL, US
Harold Grant Saroka - Ashburn VA, US
Tim Joyce - Naperville IL, US
Patrick J. Walsh - Naperville IL, US
Yong Liu - Schaumburg IL, US
Daniel Bernard McKenna - Vail CO, US
International Classification:
H04W 24/00
US Classification:
455424, 455431, 4554321, 455446, 455447, 455448, 455449, 4555621, 4555757
Abstract:
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.