Multi-channel communication optimization methods and systems
Aircrafts flying near Earth or naval vessels are used as communications towers or relays. Using techniques of ground based beam forming and wavefront multiplexing enhance the ability to coherently combine the power of the communication signals, and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. When multiple antennas or signal sources exist, a ranking system is employed to optimize performance.
1. A roving communication system comprising:
a roving electronics system configured to wirelessly link communications between a foreground region and a background region, the roving electronics system being onboard at least one platform having background antennas and being set up to link communications generated using wave front multiplexing techniques and comprising a ranking system to rank the communications;
wherein the ranking system comprises adjusters of beam positions of the background antennas for communications between the background region and the roving electronics system;
wherein the ranking system is based on an index of a likelihood of an arrival of a desired signal from different possible beam positions within a time frame of a diagnostic cycle;
wherein the wave front multiplexing techniques are configured to multiplex first signals received from the background region by the roving electronics system; and
wherein the wave front multiplexing techniques are configured to multiplex second signals received from the foreground region by the roving electronics system.
2. The roving communication system of claim 1 , wherein the roving electronics system is onboard an aircraft or sea-craft that is in communications with a ground based beam forming facility (GBBF) in the background region.
3. The roving communication system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one platform is an aircraft.
4. The roving communication system of claim 1 , wherein the roving electronics system is onboard more than one aircraft having foreground antennas, and each aircraft is configured to receive one of the multiplexed second signals from the foreground region.
5. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the ranking system is based on repeated samples of a diagnostic signal received from a ground hub that are indicative of signal strength and direction.
6. A communication system comprising:
an electronics system configured to wirelessly link communications between a foreground region and a background region, wherein the electronics system is set up to receive communications generated using wave front multiplexing techniques;
the electronics system comprising background antennas having beam positions to receive signals; and
the electronics system comprising a ranking system, the ranking system adjusting the beam positions of the background antennas for communications between the background region and the electronics system, the ranking system being based on an index of a likelihood of an angle of arrival of a desired signal from different possible beam positions occurring within a time frame of a diagnostic cycle.
7. The communication system of claim 6 , wherein the electronics system is onboard an aircraft or a sea-craft.
8. The communication system of claim 6 , wherein the electronics system includes a foreground antenna array having a foreground antenna array beam position and uses a beam forming technique to correct the foreground antenna array beam position for communications between the foreground region and the electronics system.
9. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the beam forming technique is configured to point the foreground antenna array beam position at communication devices in the foreground region, based on a signal amplitude.
10. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the beam forming technique comprises wave front multiplexing calculations in a background hub to reconstruct signals received from the foreground region.
11. The communication system of claim 6 , wherein the ranking system is based on repeated samples of a diagnostic signal received from a ground hub that are indicative of signal strength and direction.
12. The communication system of claim 6 , wherein the background antennas comprise retro-directive array antennas to communicate with the background region.
13. A method of communicating using an airborne electronics system, the method comprising:
linking communications between a foreground region and a background region via the airborne electronics system;
receiving first signals from the background region, wherein the first signals are generated using wave front multiplexing techniques;
using background antennas onboard the airborne electronics system to receive the first signals;
adjusting beam positions of the background antennas via adjusters included in a ranking system; and
ranking the first signals received from different beam positions of the background antennas via the ranking system, wherein the ranking comprises indexing a likelihood of an angle of arrival of a desired signal from different possible beam positions occurring within a time frame of a diagnostic cycle.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising collecting repeated samples of a diagnostic signal received from a background hub, wherein the repeated samples are indicative of signal strength and direction.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising using retro-directive antennas as the background antennas to communicate with the background region.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the airborne electronics system further comprises a foreground antenna having a foreground antenna array beam position, the method further comprising correcting the foreground antenna array beam position using beam forming calculations.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving results of the beam forming calculations from a background hub to reconstruct signals received from the foreground region.