Patent ID: 9491635
Filing Date: 2016-11-08
CPC Classification: H04B,H04W

Claim Text:
1. A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, comprising: an in-flight aircraft including an antenna assembly; a plurality of ATG base stations, each of which defines a corresponding radiation pattern focusing energy toward the horizon, wherein the base stations are spaced apart from each other to define at least partially overlapping coverage areas to communicate with the antenna assembly in an ATG communication layer defined between a first altitude and a second altitude via an ATG communication network; and a plurality of terrestrial base stations configured to communicate primarily in a ground communication layer below the first altitude via a terrestrial communication network; wherein the terrestrial base stations and the ATG base stations are each configured to communicate using the same radio frequency (RF) spectrum in the ground communication layer and ATG communication layer, respectively.