A wireless communication network and wireless communication method are disclosed. The network has a plurality of transceivers forming a wireless communication network in which the plurality of transceivers include one or more central nodes and each end node capable of connecting to the one or more central nodes and forming a link. At least some of the transceivers of the network having a plurality of antennas and an array processing element coupled to the plurality of antennas and at least some of the transceivers are housed in an aerial communication node that may be a mini-satellite, a balloon or a drone.

An intermediate power supply unit for distributing lower voltage power to remote devices is disclosed. The intermediate power supply unit includes a higher voltage power input configured to receive power distributed by a power source and a power coupling circuit configured to couple the higher voltage power input to a plurality of power coupling outputs. If it is determined that a wire coupling the power source to the higher voltage power input is touched, the higher voltage power input is decoupled from the power coupling outputs. The intermediate power supply unit also includes a power converter circuit configured to convert voltage on higher voltage inputs to a lower voltage applied to one or more lower voltage outputs. The power converter circuit is also configured to distribute power from the one or more lower voltage outputs over a power conductor coupled to an assigned remote device.

An intermediate power supply unit for distributing lower voltage power to remote devices is disclosed. The intermediate power supply unit includes a higher voltage power input configured to receive power distributed by a power source and a power coupling circuit configured to couple the higher voltage power input to a plurality of power coupling outputs. If it is determined that a wire coupling the power source to the higher voltage power input is touched, the higher voltage power input is decoupled from the power coupling outputs. The intermediate power supply unit also includes a power converter circuit configured to convert voltage on higher voltage inputs to a lower voltage applied to one or more lower voltage outputs. The power converter circuit is also configured to distribute power from the one or more lower voltage outputs over a power conductor coupled to an assigned remote device.

Nodes included in a hybrid network establish cellular links infrequently and at staggered intervals. When a node establishes a cellular link, other nodes can transmit and receive data to a back office using that cellular link. In addition, the node can receive a request from the back office across the cellular link indicating that another node should respond to an on-demand read request. The node can then signal the other node via a wireless mesh network to establish a cellular link in order to respond to the on-demand read request. An advantage of the disclosed approach is that a battery powered node can communicate as often as needed with the back office without frequently establishing a cellular link and without maintaining a continuously active cellular link.

Nodes included in a hybrid network establish cellular links infrequently and at staggered intervals. When a node establishes a cellular link, other nodes can transmit and receive data to a back office using that cellular link. In addition, the node can receive a request from the back office across the cellular link indicating that another node should respond to an on-demand read request. The node can then signal the other node via a wireless mesh network to establish a cellular link in order to respond to the on-demand read request. An advantage of the disclosed approach is that a battery powered node can communicate as often as needed with the back office without frequently establishing a cellular link and without maintaining a continuously active cellular link.

The disclosure provides a wireless communications systems that uses a polybeam geometry. A polybeam communications network, a polybeam antenna, a method of communicating are disclosed. In one example, the polybeam communications network includes: (1) a first communications structure, (2) first transceivers, and (3) a first polybeam antenna attached to the first communications structure that transmits first communication beams driven by corresponding ones of the first transceivers, having arcs of less than twenty degrees each and defining overlapping territories of coverage.

An FHM for relaying communications between a signal processing device and a plurality of radio devices comprises: a storage unit that stores a table in which device identification information of each of the plurality of radio devices is associated with beam identification information assigned to the radio device; a scheduling information reception unit that receives, from the signal processing device, scheduling information of a user terminal performing radio communications with the plurality of radio devices; a determination unit that acquires from the table the device identification information associated with the beam identification information of uplink included in the scheduling information and then determines from the acquired device identification information the radio device in charge of the user terminal; and a transmission unit that transmits to the signal processing device an uplink signal transmitted from the determined radio device.

An FHM for relaying communications between a signal processing device and a plurality of radio devices comprises: a storage unit that stores a table in which device identification information of each of the plurality of radio devices is associated with beam identification information assigned to the radio device; a scheduling information reception unit that receives, from the signal processing device, scheduling information of a user terminal performing radio communications with the plurality of radio devices; a determination unit that acquires from the table the device identification information associated with the beam identification information of uplink included in the scheduling information and then determines from the acquired device identification information the radio device in charge of the user terminal; and a transmission unit that transmits to the signal processing device an uplink signal transmitted from the determined radio device.

A radio terminal (3) can perform carrier aggregation using a first cell (10) of a first radio station (1) and a second cell (20) of a second radio station (2). The first radio station (1) performs, with the radio terminal (3), radio resource control for the first cell (10) and the second cell (20) in order to perform the carrier aggregation. At least one of the second radio station (2) and the radio terminal (3) is configured to transmit, to the first radio station (10), information about a problem occurring in a radio link in the second cell (20) between the second radio station (20) and the radio terminal (30) while the carrier aggregation of the first cell (10) and the second cell (20) is being performed.

A radio terminal (3) can perform carrier aggregation using a first cell (10) of a first radio station (1) and a second cell (20) of a second radio station (2). The first radio station (1) performs, with the radio terminal (3), radio resource control for the first cell (10) and the second cell (20) in order to perform the carrier aggregation. At least one of the second radio station (2) and the radio terminal (3) is configured to transmit, to the first radio station (10), information about a problem occurring in a radio link in the second cell (20) between the second radio station (20) and the radio terminal (30) while the carrier aggregation of the first cell (10) and the second cell (20) is being performed.