Patent ID: 9407362
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: H04B,H04W

Claim Text:
1. A system comprising: a plurality of first balloons configured as nodes of a first type in a balloon network, wherein each of the first balloons comprises a radio-frequency (RF) communication system that is operable for communications with at least one ground-based station via an RF link; and a plurality of second balloons configured as nodes of a second type in a balloon network, wherein each of the second balloons comprises a free-space optical communication system operable for data communications with one or more other second balloons via one ore more optical links, and wherein at least one of the second balloons comprises both (a) said free-space optical communication system for packet-data communication with one or more other second balloons, and (b) an RF communication system operable for data communications with at least one of the first balloons via at least one RF link.