US 12,074,682 B2
Enhanced LDACS system that determines A-PNT information and associated methods
Shawn H. Gallagher, Melbourne, FL (US); Eric J. Salyers, Grant, FL (US); Timothy Huggins, Cocoa Beach, FL (US); Ivica Kostanic, West Melbourne, FL (US); Edward Paulsen, Indialantic, FL (US); and Daniel Schwinn, Melbourne Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to SKYSTREAM LLC, Melbourne, FL (US)
Filed by SKYSTREAM LLC, Melbourne, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/367,326.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/050,131, filed on Jul. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0011426 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. H04B 7/185 (2006.01); G01S 13/87 (2006.01); G08G 5/00 (2006.01); H04B 7/155 (2006.01); H04W 8/02 (2009.01); H04W 12/00 (2021.01); H04W 12/03 (2021.01); H04W 12/06 (2021.01); H04W 12/10 (2021.01); H04W 16/18 (2009.01); H04W 36/08 (2009.01); H04W 40/24 (2009.01); H04W 72/0453 (2023.01); H04W 72/56 (2023.01); H04W 80/02 (2009.01); H04W 84/18 (2009.01)
CPC H04B 7/18508 (2013.01) [G01S 13/878 (2013.01); G08G 5/0013 (2013.01); H04B 7/15542 (2013.01); H04B 7/18502 (2013.01); H04B 7/18506 (2013.01); H04B 7/18517 (2013.01); H04B 7/18519 (2013.01); H04B 7/18532 (2013.01); H04B 7/18541 (2013.01); H04B 7/1855 (2013.01); H04B 7/18571 (2013.01); H04B 7/18584 (2013.01); H04B 7/18591 (2013.01); H04W 8/02 (2013.01); H04W 12/009 (2019.01); H04W 12/03 (2021.01); H04W 12/06 (2013.01); H04W 12/10 (2013.01); H04W 16/18 (2013.01); H04W 36/08 (2013.01); H04W 40/24 (2013.01); H04W 72/0453 (2013.01); H04W 72/56 (2023.01); H04W 80/02 (2013.01); H04W 84/18 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An enhanced L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) comprising:
a plurality of LDACS ground stations;
a plurality of Alternate Positioning, Navigation and Timing (A-PNT) beacon transmitters positioned on the ground, each A-PNT beacon transmitter comprising an LTE cellular telephone base station configured to transmit LTE pilot signals that serve as beacon signals; and
a plurality of LDACS airborne stations configured to
communicate with the LDACS ground stations,
receive the LTE pilot signals as beacon signals from the plurality of A-PNT beacon transmitters, and
determine A-PNT information that includes the location of the LDACS airborne stations based upon the LTE pilot signals as beacon signals received from the plurality of A-PNT beacon transmitters to augment any positioning determined from the LDACS ground stations.