It is provided a method for detecting when a user equipment, UE, is airborne. The method is performed in a UE status detector and comprises the steps of: obtaining an indicator of variation of signal strengths for signals received in the UE, wherein the signals are transmitted for at least three different cells; and determining, based on the indicator of variation, when the UE is airborne.

A broadband communication system provides broadband communication services onboard an aircraft. The broadband communication system includes a satellite communication transceiver, a direct air-to-ground communication (DA2GC) transceiver, and a controller. The satellite communication transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a target satellite providing a satellite communication data pathway with a satellite ground station connected to ground networks. The DA2GC transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a DA2GC ground station providing an DA2GC data pathway with the ground networks. The controller is configured to control handoff between the satellite communication transceiver and the DA2GC transceiver for data communications between the broadband communications system and the ground networks, based on performance of at least one of the satellite communication data pathway and the DA2GC data pathway.

A communication apparatus, terminal apparatus, system and method are provided for performing wireless communication. The communication apparatus supports a plurality of component carriers, wherein one of the plurality of component carriers is designated as a current primary component and at least one of the plurality of component carriers is designated as a current secondary component carrier providing at least downlink communication. The communication apparatus comprises control circuitry for controlling a component carrier testing procedure for one or more component carriers. The testing procedure comprises, for each component carrier: establishing an uplink connection from the terminal apparatus to the communication apparatus using the component carrier; and determining a quality of the uplink connection for the component carrier. The control circuitry is responsive to completion of the testing procedure to designate an updated primary component carrier on the basis of the qualities of the uplink connections determined for the component carriers.

Disclosed in the present application are a signal continuous coverage method, device and apparatus for a target area, and an antenna system. The signal continuous coverage method for a target area, which is used for an aircraft bearing a communication base station, comprises: acquiring the flight height, the farthest distance of a flight trajectory, the roll angle and a preset center position of a target area of the aircraft; acquiring a vertical half-power angle of an airborne antenna of the communication base station and a farthest signal coverage point position relative to the preset center position; on the basis of the flight height, the farthest distance of the flight trajectory, the roll angle, the preset center position, the vertical half-power angle and the farthest signal coverage point position, determining a target downward inclination angle of the airborne antenna; and adjusting a current downward inclination angle of the airborne antenna to the target downward inclination angle so as to enable a signal continuous coverage area to comprise the target area.

A method, apparatus, and computer program product provide for crowdsourcing data from a plurality of aircraft systems to determine cloud ceiling information. In the context of a method, the method receives a set of sensor data from a first aircraft system captured during a first event. The method determines, based on the set of sensor data, a cloud ceiling value for a location and a time at which the first set of sensor data was captured. The method also stores the cloud ceiling value in association with a landing region and causes transmission of the cloud ceiling value to one or more additional aircraft systems.

A network for providing high speed data communications may include multiple terrestrial transmission stations that are located within overlapping communications range and a mobile receiver station. The terrestrial transmission stations provide a continuous and uninterrupted high speed data communications link with the mobile receiver station employing a wireless radio access network protocol.

Techniques for delivering data or information onto a vehicle and for delivering data off of a vehicle include a data distribution system having multiple interfaces that are fixedly connected to the vehicle, and that provide access to multiple types of data bearers connected to external networks. A bearer selector engine may select a particular data bearer for delivery of data based on a set of selection criteria, which may be indicated in a set of selection rules on-board the vehicle. The selection criteria may be based on bearer characteristics, data characteristics, vehicle operating state and/or other current conditions, priority, a feature or service, and/or user preference. Using one or more on-board networks, data may be generated by an on-board originating device and routed for external delivery, or external data may be delivered to an on-board destination device. Data delivery may occur while the vehicle is en route.

A flock of drones provide a drone-assisted mesh network for first responders. Network modules attached to the drones interconnect with other network modules and provide network access points for first responder devices, allowing the first responder devices to communicate with each other via the drone-assisted mesh network. The drones may autonomously reposition themselves to create a desired network coverages area, including adjusting the network coverage area as instructed via a drone controller. The network modules may communicate with a gateway to an external network, allowing first responder devices to communicate with the external network via the drone-assisted mesh network. Network modules may be selected for field-attachment to the drones based on characteristics of the first responder devices.

A method for operating an, at least temporarily, unmanned aircraft or spacecraft wherein a flight procedure of the aircraft or spacecraft is carried out in controlled airspace using a previously cleared flight plan, wherein a C2 link is at least temporarily unavailable, and wherein at least one sensor device of the aircraft or spacecraft identifies a dangerous and/or emergency situation which makes it necessary to deviate from the cleared flight plan. To have available a method which makes it possible for an at least temporarily unmanned aircraft or spacecraft to react independently to particular dangerous and/or emergency situations and to avoid damaging events, a control device of the aircraft or spacecraft independently uses a wireless data link to a supervisory authority in order to agree to a changed flight plan containing at least one change.

Antennas used aboard aircraft to communicate with satellites or ground stations may have complex antenna patterns, which may vary as the aircraft moves throughout a given coverage area. Techniques are disclosed for dynamically adjusting the instantaneous power fed to an antenna system to ensure that the antenna transmits at the regulatory or coordinated effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) spectral limit. The antenna may transmit, in accordance with aircraft location and attitude, steerable beam patterns at different scan and skew angle combinations, causing variations in antenna gain and fluctuations in the transmitted EIRP. Using on-board navigational data, an antenna gain and ESD limit may be calculated for a particular scan and skew angle, which may be used to adjust power fed to the antenna such that the antenna transmits substantially at maximum allowable EIRP as the steerable beam pattern is adjusted.