US 12,224,948 B2
Method for enhancing the communications efficiency of a mobile platform
Robert Wise, Eldersburg, MD (US); Kirk Griffin, Columbia, MD (US); Larry Belella, Waynesboro, PA (US); Robert Luke, Keymar, MD (US); Martin Dillon, Ellicott City, MD (US); Jesse Bierer, Frederick, MD (US); and Jason Smith, Greencastle, PA (US)
Assigned to WGS Systems, LLC, Frederick, MD (US)
Filed by WGS Systems, LLC, Frederick, MD (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/851,392.
Prior Publication US 2024/0323135 A1, Sep. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. H04L 47/43 (2022.01); H04W 28/02 (2009.01)
CPC H04L 47/43 (2022.05) [H04W 28/0289 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for increasing the effective range and data rates of data packets over the communications link between the radios of mobile platforms, said method comprising the steps of:
attaching to said radio of each of said platforms:
a plurality of high gain antennas,
a processor that has a memory and a plurality of interfaces that are configured to enable connection to each of said plurality of antennas,
an antenna switching mechanism that is configured to enable switching of said radio between each of said plurality of antennas,
an inertial measurement unit that is configured to assist in determining the orientation information of said platform to which said unit is attached,
a GNSS receiver that is configured to assist in determining the navigational information of said platform to which said receiver is attached, providing each of said processors with software that is configured to:
execute a control loop algorithm that constantly evaluates the received signal strength of each of said plurality of antennas and said orientation and navigational information of each of said platforms in real-time,
perform said antenna switching based upon said received signal strength and said orientation and navigational information for said platforms,
determine critical packets of the data packets that are required to be guaranteed for assured delivery,
classify and prioritize the critical packets of the data packets for transmission,
queue said critical data packets, that are required to be guaranteed for assured delivery based on said data classification, during a communication link loss for retransmission when said communication link is reestablished,
monitor said communications link to determine the statistical characteristics of said link,
retransmit, based on said link statistical characteristics, the critical packets when the communication link is reestablished utilizing a Guaranteed Link Protocol (GLP), and
include the steps of, for said determined critical data packets that are required to be guaranteed for assured delivery, monitoring delivery, maintaining statistics on link quality and data buffers, and performing acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement type feedback on the delivery of said critical packets portion and, when necessary, retrying the sending of said critical packets until delivery is acknowledged.