Virtual concentric cells based on active antennas in a wireless communication system

Abstract

A base station within a network for providing ATG wireless communication in various cells may include a first antenna array, a base station unit and a remote radio head disposed between the base station unit and the first antenna array. The first antenna array defines a plurality of first sectors having respective widths defined in azimuth. Each of the first sectors includes a first sector floor and a first sector ceiling at respective elevation angles such that combining first sector floors and first sector ceilings creates at least a portion of a respective first base station conical cell centered at the first base station. The first base station is configured to define additional first base station conical cells at respective elevation angles between the first sector floor and the first sector ceiling. The remote radio head receives location information indicative of a location of an aircraft to enable the remote radio head to form a steerable beam in both azimuth and elevation angle at the first antenna array toward the aircraft.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A remote radio head of a base station within a network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, the remote radio head including a beamforming control module comprising:
 a single control cable; and   processing circuitry configured to receive location information indicative of a location of an aircraft to enable the remote radio head to control a steerable beam in both azimuth and elevation angle toward the aircraft,   wherein the remote radio head and beamforming control module are disposed between an antenna array of the base station and a base unit of the base station such that the device interface enables the beamforming control module to communicate with the base unit and the antenna array, and   wherein the single control cable enables the processing circuitry to control the steerable beam.   
     
     
         22 . The remote radio head of  claim 21 , wherein the single control cable provides information to the antenna array regarding phase and amplitude information associated with directing the antenna array to control the steerable beam. 
     
     
         23 . The remote radio head of  claim 22 , wherein the single control cable provides information to the antenna array regarding horizontal steering of the steerable beam in azimuth and vertical steering of the steerable beam in elevation angle. 
     
     
         24 . The remote radio head of  claim 22 , wherein the device interface further comprises a single power cable and a single data cable between the antenna array and the remote radio head. 
     
     
         25 . The remote radio head of  claim 21 , wherein the remote radio head receives information indicative of the location of the aircraft from an external source. 
     
     
         26 . The remote radio head of  claim 21 , wherein the remote radio head is configured to cycle through a range of azimuth and elevation angles within each of a plurality of sectors of the antenna array to determine the location of the aircraft. 
     
     
         27 . The remote radio head of  claim 26 , wherein each of the sectors comprises respective widths defined as a range of azimuths, and respective heights defined between a sector floor and a sector ceiling at respective elevation angles. 
     
     
         28 . The remote radio head of  claim 21 , wherein the antenna array comprises a plurality of sectors,
 wherein each of the sectors comprises respective widths defined as a range of azimuths, and respective heights defined between a sector floor and a sector ceiling at respective elevation angles to define a range of elevation angles, and   wherein the beamforming control module is configured to form a specific beam inside the range of azimuths and the range of elevation angles based on the location of the aircraft.   
     
     
         29 . The remote radio head of  claim 28 , wherein the steerable beam is steered by sequentially forming the specific beam to reach the aircraft as the aircraft moves within a respective one of the sectors within the range of azimuths and the range of elevation angles based on the location of the aircraft. 
     
     
         30 . The remote radio head of  21 , wherein the remote radio head is located at a top of a tower supporting the antenna array and proximate to the antenna array. 
     
     
         31 . A network for providing air-to-ground (ATG) wireless communication in various cells, the network comprising multiple base stations, at least one of the multiple base stations comprising:
 a base unit operably coupled to the network;   an antenna array configured to wirelessly communicate with an aircraft; and   a remote radio head including a beamforming control module configured to receive location information indicative of a location of the aircraft to enable the remote radio head to control a steerable beam in both azimuth and elevation angle toward the aircraft,   wherein the remote radio head and the beamforming control module are disposed between the antenna array and the base unit, and   wherein the remote radio head comprises a single control cable enabling the processing circuitry to control the steerable beam.   
     
     
         32 . The network of  claim 31 , wherein the single control cable provides information to the antenna array regarding phase and amplitude information associated with directing the antenna array to control the steerable beam. 
     
     
         33 . The network of  claim 32 , wherein the single control cable provides information to the antenna array regarding horizontal steering of the steerable beam in azimuth and vertical steering of the steerable beam in elevation angle. 
     
     
         34 . The network of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one of the multiple base stations further comprises a single power cable and a single data cable between the antenna array and the remote radio head. 
     
     
         35 . The network of  claim 31 , wherein the remote radio head receives information indicative of the location of the aircraft from an external source. 
     
     
         36 . The network of  claim 31 , wherein the remote radio head is configured to cycle through a range of azimuth and elevation angles within each of a plurality of sectors of the antenna array to determine the location of the aircraft. 
     
     
         37 . The network of  claim 36 , wherein each of the sectors comprises respective widths defined as a range of azimuths, and respective heights defined between a sector floor and a sector ceiling at respective elevation angles. 
     
     
         38 . The network of  claim 31 , wherein the antenna array comprises a plurality of sectors,
 wherein each of the sectors comprises respective widths defined as a range of azimuths, and respective heights defined between a sector floor and a sector ceiling at respective elevation angles to define a range of elevation angles, and   wherein the beamforming control module is configured to form a specific beam inside the range of azimuths and the range of elevation angles based on the location of the aircraft.   
     
     
         39 . The network of  claim 38 , wherein the steerable beam is steered by sequentially forming the specific beam to reach the aircraft as the aircraft moves within a respective one of the sectors within the range of azimuths and the range of elevation angles based on the location of the aircraft. 
     
     
         40 . The network of  31 , wherein the remote radio head is located at a top of a tower supporting the antenna array and proximate to the antenna array.