US 12,225,563 B2
Systems and methods for managing radio frequency spectrum in ground to aerial vehicle communications
Tamara Lynne Casey, Annapolis, MD (US); and Michael Robert Gagne, Monrovia, MD (US)
Assigned to AURA Network Systems, Inc., McLean, VA (US)
Filed by AURA Network Systems, Inc., McLean, VA (US)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/608,692.
Application 18/608,692 is a continuation of application No. 17/569,379, filed on Jan. 5, 2022, granted, now 11,963,203.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/293,579, filed on Dec. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/217,466, filed on Jul. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/134,521, filed on Jan. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0224309 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 72/51 (2023.01); G08G 5/00 (2006.01); H04W 28/26 (2009.01); H04W 84/00 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 72/51 (2023.01) [G08G 5/0039 (2013.01); H04W 28/26 (2013.01); H04W 84/005 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for allocating radio frequency (RF) spectrum traffic resources in an air-to-ground communication network of networks, the method comprising:
receiving a flight plan from a user, wherein the flight plan comprises timing, location, and altitude information for a flight that is to fly in one or more coverage areas of the air-to-ground communications network of networks, wherein the received flight plan includes a plurality of flight segments;
determining RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments based on the received flight plan from the user, wherein determining RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments comprises:
selecting a communication network from a plurality of communication networks, wherein the selection of a communication network from the plurality of communication networks is based on radio configuration information associated with the received flight plan;
receiving a traffic resource pool from the selected communication network;
selecting an RF spectrum traffic resource from the received traffic resource pool from the selected communication network, wherein selecting the RF spectrum traffic resource from the received traffic resource pool is based on the received flight plan;
determining that a performance of the selected RF spectrum traffic resource is above a pre-determined threshold, wherein the determination is based on the radio configuration information associated with the received flight plan; and
in accordance with determining RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments, reserving the selected RF spectrum traffic resource associated with each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments for the received flight plan, prior to commencement of the flight.
 
17. A system for allocating radio frequency (RF) spectrum traffic resources in an air-to-ground communication network of networks, the system comprising:
a memory;
one or more processors;
wherein the memory stores one or more programs that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a flight plan from a user, wherein the flight plan comprises timing, location, and altitude information for a flight that is to fly in one or more coverage areas of the air-to-ground communications network of networks, wherein the received flight plan includes a plurality of flight segments;
determine RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments based on the received flight plan from the user, wherein determining RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments comprises:
select a communication network from a plurality of communication networks, wherein the selection of a communication network from the plurality of communication networks is based on radio configuration information associated with the received flight plan;
receive a traffic resource pool from the selected communication network; and
select an RF spectrum traffic resource from the received traffic resource pool from the selected communication network, wherein selecting the RF spectrum traffic resource from the received traffic resource pool is based on the received flight plan; and
determine that a performance of the selected RF spectrum traffic resource is above a pre-determined threshold, wherein the determination is based on the radio configuration information associated with the received flight plan;
in accordance with determining RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments, reserving the selected RF spectrum traffic resource associated with each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments for the received flight plan, prior to commencement of the flight.
 
18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for allocating RF spectrum channels in an air-to-ground communications network or networks, for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device that when executed by the device, cause the device to:
receive a flight plan from a user, wherein the flight plan comprises timing, location, and altitude information for a flight that is to fly in one or more coverage areas of the air-to-ground communications network of networks, wherein the received flight plan includes a plurality of flight segments;
determine RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments based on the received flight plan from the user, wherein determining RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments comprises:
select a communication network from a plurality of communication networks, wherein the selection of a communication network from the plurality of communication networks is based on radio configuration information associated with the received flight plan;
receive a traffic resource pool from the selected communication network; and
select an RF spectrum traffic resource from the received traffic resource pool from the selected communication network, wherein selecting the RF spectrum traffic resource from the received traffic resource pool is based on the received flight plan; and
determine that a performance of the selected RF spectrum traffic resource is above a pre-determined threshold, wherein the determination is based on the radio configuration information associated with the received flight plan;
in accordance with determining RF communication channel availability for each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments, reserving the selected RF spectrum traffic resource associated with each flight segment of the plurality of flight segments for the received flight plan, prior to commencement of the flight.