Patent ID: 9596020
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: G05D,H04B

Claim:
1. A method of providing wireless communication services, comprising: receiving a first radio frequency (RF) signal from a first area by a distributed airborne communication payload comprising communication system components including transmitters, receivers, and a payload control module, wherein the payload control module is comprised of sections located on respective ones of a plurality of airborne platforms and wherein the distributed airborne communication payload is controlled by the payload control module to function as a single network component; relaying the first RF signal along the sections located on different airborne platforms, the relaying comprising receiving the first RF signal over a first channel frequency at a first airborne platform and transmitting the first RF signal, at the first channel frequency or at a second channel frequency, from the first airborne platform to a second platform airborne platform to produce an air-to-user (ATU) link; transmitting the first RF signal to a second area; and transmitting a second RF signal between the first airborne platform and second airborne platform to set up and control operation of the ATU link; wherein the method further comprises: providing a plurality of airborne platforms with predetermined payload power and weight capabilities; providing communication payload sections, wherein each section has power and weight requirements that can be satisfied by the capabilities of at least one single airborne platform; and mounting the communication payload sections onto the airborne platforms and forming an airborne fleet with net communication payload capabilities of an airborne wireless communication node.