Fixed wireless back haul for mobile communications using stratospheric platforms
A method and system for communicating includes a plurality of cells having base units therein. Each of the base units communicates with a plurality of users within the cells. A communications platform is located in a stratospheric location for transmitting and receiving information with respect to the base units. A gateway station communicates with the communications platform and routes signals to terrestrial networks or other user back through the communications platform. A microcell within at least one of the cells is used to provide coverage in a small geographic area such as within a building. Each of the microcells is also in communication with the gateway station through the platform.
1 . A communications system comprising:
a plurality of cells having a base unit therein, each base unit directly communicating with a plurality of users wirelessly;
a communications platform located in a stratospheric location for directly transmitting information signals to and directly receiving information signals from said base unit wirelessly; and
a gateway station directly communicating with the communications platform for wirelessly coupling of the user terminal with a terrestrial-based network through the communications platform and the base unit.
2 . A communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein said users are mobile users.
3 . A communications system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a microcell within one of the plurality of cells.
4 . A communications system as recited in claim 3 wherein the microcell is formed within a building.
5 - 6 . (Cancelled)
7 . A communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein the communications platform is substantially stationary in the stratospheric location.
8 . A communications system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system comprises a plurality of communications platforms.
9 . A method of operating a communications system comprises the steps of:
wirelessly sending a first signal from a user terminal directly to a base unit;
wirelessly sending the first signal from the base unit directly to a stratosphere-based platform; and
transmitting the first signal directly from the stratosphere-based platform to a gateway station.
10 . A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of transmitting the first signal from the gateway station to a terrestrial-based network.
11 . A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising the step of transmitting the first signal from the gateway station to the stratosphere-based platform.
12 . A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of sending a first signal comprises the step of sending a first signal from the user terminal to a microcell base unit.
13 - 19 . (Cancelled)
20 . A communications system comprising:
a plurality of cells;
a plurality of base units, each of said plurality of base units directly communicating with a plurality of user terminals wirelessly;
a communications platform located in a stratospheric location for directly transmitting information signals wirelessly to and directly receiving information signals wirelessly from said plurality of base units; and
a gateway station directly communicating with the communications platform for wirelessly coupling a first user terminal of said plurality of user terminals with a terrestrial-based network or a second user terminal of said plurality of user terminals through the communications platform and a respective base unit of said plurality of base units.
21 . A communications system as recited in claim 20 wherein said plurality of base units is less than said plurality of cells.