US 11,963,203 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 Jan. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/569,379.
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 2022/0217706 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
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)] 42 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for allocating radio frequency (RF) spectrum traffic resources in an air-to-ground communications network, 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, 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 an RF spectrum traffic resource from a traffic resource pool based on the received flight plan; and
determining that a performance of the selected RF spectrum traffic resource is a above a pre-determined threshold, wherein the determination is based on one or more RF spectrum traffic resources previously reserved for one or more flight plans from other users, and wherein the determination is based on 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 segment, 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.
 
15. A system for allocating radio frequency (RF) spectrum traffic resources in an air-to-ground communications network, 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, 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 an RF spectrum traffic resource from a traffic resource pool based on the received flight plan; and
determine that a performance of the selected RF spectrum traffic resource is a above a pre-determined threshold, wherein the determination is based on one or more RF spectrum traffic resources previously reserved for one or more flight plans from other users, and wherein the determination is based on 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 segment, reserve 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.
 
29. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for allocating RF spectrum channels in an air-to-ground communications network, 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, 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 an RF spectrum traffic resource from a traffic resource pool based on the received flight plan; and
determine that a performance of the selected RF spectrum traffic resource is a above a pre-determined threshold, wherein the determination is based on one or more RF spectrum traffic resources previously reserved for one or more flight plans from other users, and wherein the determination is based on 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 segment, reserve 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.