US 12,231,918 B2
Wedge shaped cells in a wireless communication system
Douglas Hyslop, Vienna, VA (US)
Assigned to SMARTSKY NETWORKS LLC, Morrisville, NC (US)
Filed by SMARTSKY NETWORKS LLC, Morrisville, NC (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/527,561.
Application 18/527,561 is a continuation of application No. 18/075,752, filed on Dec. 6, 2022, granted, now 11,838,768.
Application 18/075,752 is a continuation of application No. 17/192,390, filed on Mar. 4, 2021, granted, now 11,533,639, issued on Dec. 20, 2022.
Application 17/192,390 is a continuation of application No. 16/983,167, filed on Aug. 3, 2020, granted, now 10,972,919, issued on Apr. 6, 2021.
Application 16/983,167 is a continuation of application No. 16/822,661, filed on Mar. 18, 2020, granted, now 10,771,984, issued on Sep. 8, 2020.
Application 16/822,661 is a continuation of application No. 16/281,638, filed on Feb. 21, 2019, granted, now 10,623,968, issued on Apr. 14, 2020.
Application 16/281,638 is a continuation of application No. 15/877,625, filed on Jan. 23, 2018, granted, now 10,257,717, issued on Apr. 9, 2019.
Application 15/877,625 is a continuation of application No. 15/345,527, filed on Nov. 8, 2016, granted, now 9,913,149, issued on Mar. 6, 2018.
Application 15/345,527 is a continuation of application No. 15/017,794, filed on Feb. 8, 2016, granted, now 9,503,912, issued on Nov. 22, 2016.
Application 15/017,794 is a continuation of application No. 14/681,429, filed on Apr. 8, 2015, granted, now 9,294,933, issued on Mar. 22, 2016.
Application 14/681,429 is a continuation of application No. 13/832,385, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, granted, now 9,008,669, issued on Apr. 14, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0114354 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 40/00 (2009.01); H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H04W 16/12 (2009.01); H04W 16/24 (2009.01); H04W 16/30 (2009.01); H04W 36/32 (2009.01); H04W 88/08 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 16/30 (2013.01) [H04B 7/18506 (2013.01); H04W 16/12 (2013.01); H04W 16/24 (2013.01); H04W 36/328 (2023.05); H04W 88/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A base station in a network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, comprising:
a plurality of antennas associated with respective sectors; and
processing circuitry configured to control operation of the antennas,
wherein the antennas define a first directional radiation pattern extending away from the antennas and increasing in vertical beam width as distance increases in each of the respective sectors, the first directional radiation pattern concentrating signals transmitted toward the horizon;
wherein the first directional radiation pattern overlaps with at least one second directional radiation pattern of an adjacent base station to define a coverage area for aircraft in the first or second directional radiation patterns up to a predetermined altitude,
wherein the base station is configured to wirelessly communicate with a radio disposed on an aircraft flying through one of the respective sectors while the aircraft is located inside the first directional radiation pattern, and coordinate with the adjacent base station to enable the adjacent base station to communicate with the radio while the aircraft is located inside the at least one second directional radiation pattern of the adjacent base station.