Multiple antenna system and method for mobile platforms
A method and system facilitate communication between a constellation of satellites and a mobile platform-mounted mobile communicator. The method and system may include the use of a first antenna suited for operation using a first frequency band in a first geographic region and a second antenna suited for operation using either the first or a second frequency band in a second geographic region. The method and system may use a controller to determine which antenna to activate based on one or more of a geographic indicator or a signal indicator. The system used by the method to facilitate the communication may have one or more enclosures over the antennas and controller for mounting to a mobile platform.
1. A platform-mounted mobile communicator comprising:
a first antenna;
a second antenna;
a radome enclosure configured to enclose the first antenna, the second antenna, or both the first and second antennas; and
a controller configured to
(i) control the first antenna to communicate data without controlling the second antenna to communicate data,
(ii) in response to a signal indicator received after (i), test communication via the second antenna while continuing to communicate data via the first antenna,
(iii) compare a first signal associated with use of the first antenna and a second signal associated with use of the second antenna,
(iv) if the second signal has a higher power or quality than the first signal, terminate communication via the first antenna and begin communication via the second antenna, and
(v) if the first signal has a higher power or quality than the second signal, continue communication via the first antenna.
2. The platform-mounted mobile communicator of claim 1 , the first antenna being optimized for operation using a first frequency band in a first geographic region.
3. The platform-mounted mobile communicator of claim 2 , the second antenna being optimized for operation using either the first frequency band or a second frequency band in a second geographic region.
4. The platform-mounted mobile communicator of claim 3 , wherein the first geographic region is proximate to the North Pole or South Pole and wherein the second geographic region is proximate to the Equator.
5. The platform-mounted mobile communicator of claim 3 , wherein the first frequency band is one of a Ku-band or Ka-band and the second frequency band is the other one of a the Ku-band or Ka-band.
6. The platform-mounted mobile communicator of claim 1 , the signal indicator being representative of at least one of a signal-noise ratio, attenuation, interference, degradation, or electromagnetic environment.
7. The platform-mounted mobile communicator of claim 1 , wherein the platform-mounted mobile communicator is mounted to one of an airplane, an automobile, or a ship.
8. A method of communicating with a mobile communicator mounted to a mobile platform, the method comprising:
(i) communicating data via a first antenna of the mobile communicator without communicating data via a second antenna of the mobile communicator;
(ii) receiving, with a controller, a signal indicator after (i);
(iii) testing communication via the second antenna of the mobile communicator in response to the signal indicator while continuing to communicate data via the first antenna;
(iv) comparing, with the controller, a first signal associated with communicating data via the first antenna and a second signal associated with communicating data via the second antenna;
(v) if the second signal has a higher power or quality than the first signal, terminating communication via the first antenna and beginning communication via the second antenna; and
(vi) if the first signal has a higher power or quality than the second signal, continuing communication via the first antenna.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first antenna is optimized for operation using a first frequency band in a first geographic region.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second antenna is optimized for operation using either the first frequency band or a second frequency band in a second geographic region.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first geographic region is proximate to the North Pole or South Pole and wherein the second geographic region is proximate to the Equator.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first frequency band is one of a Ku-band or Ka-band and the second frequency band is the other one of a the Ku-band or Ka-band.
13. The method of claim 8 , the signal indicator being representative of at least one of a signal-noise ratio, attenuation, interference, degradation, or electromagnetic environment.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are enclosed within a radome enclosure of the mobile communicator.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the mobile communicator is mounted to one of an airplane, an automobile, or a ship.