Patent ID: 11949491
Assignee: SKYWAVE NETWORKS LLC
Field: Telecommunications (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 8:
9. A method, comprising:
launching a series of drones so that the drones travel along a transmission path between a transmitter and a receiver;
transmitting a data signal from the transmitter to a drone in the series of drones within range of the transmitter;
retransmitting the data signal from the drone that received the data signal from the transmitter to another drone in the series of drones;
transmitting the data signal to the receiver from a drone in the series of drones within range of the receiver;
wherein the transmission path is a geodesic line;
flying the series of drones to generally follow the geodesic line;
maintaining the series of drones within a zone surrounding the geodesic line;
monitoring the position of the drones within the series of drones with a steerable antenna positioned on at least one of the drones; and
monitoring the spacing of the drones within the series of drones with a steerable antenna positioned on at least one of the drones.