公开(公告)号：US09282431B2

公开(公告)日：2016-03-08

申请号：US14444100

申请日：2014-07-28

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Eric Teller ,  Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: G06F15/173 ,  H04W4/00 ,  H04W4/02 ,  H04W4/04 ,  H04W40/20 ,  H04W84/22 ,  H04L29/08

CPC classification number: H04W64/003 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  H04B7/18506 ,  H04L67/12 ,  H04L67/18 ,  H04L67/2852 ,  H04L67/288 ,  H04L67/306 ,  H04W4/021 ,  H04W4/025 ,  H04W4/04 ,  H04W28/021 ,  H04W40/20 ,  H04W84/22

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed herein that may help to provide location-aware caching and/or location-specific service profiles in a balloon network. An exemplary method may be carried out by a balloon that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in a balloon network that includes a plurality of defined geographic areas, and may involve: (a) determining that a location-aware cache of a balloon should be updated with user-data associated with the first geographic area; and (b) in response to determining that the location-aware cache should be updated: (i) sending a location-aware cache-update request; (ii) receiving, as a response to the location-aware cache-update request, user-data that corresponds to the first geographic area; and (iii) storing the user-data that corresponds to the first geographic area in a location-aware cache of the balloon.

Abstract translation: 本文公开的方法和系统可以帮助在气球网络中提供位置感知缓存和/或位置特定服务简档。 可以通过气球来执行示例性方法，所述气球位于与包括多个确定的地理区域的气球网络中的与所述第一地理区域相关联的位置处，并且可以包括：（a）确定位置感知高速缓存 应使用与第一地理区域相关联的用户数据更新气球; 以及（b）响应于确定所述位置感知缓存应当被更新：（i）发送位置感知高速缓存更新请求; （ii）作为对所述位置感知缓存更新请求的响应，接收对应于所述第一地理区域的用户数据; 和（iii）将对应于第一地理区域的用户数据存储在气球的位置感知高速缓存中。

公开(公告)号：US09233746B2

公开(公告)日：2016-01-12

申请号：US14286070

申请日：2014-05-23

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: B64B1/58 ,  B64B1/62 ,  B64B1/60 ,  G05D1/04

CPC classification number: B64B1/62 ,  B64B1/60 ,  G05D1/042

Abstract: A balloon having an envelope, a gas contained within the envelope, a payload connected to the envelope, wherein the envelope has a first portion that has a first absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, and a second portion that has a second absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope where the second absorptive or reflective property is different than the first absorptive or reflective property, wherein the second portion is provided with a darkly colored surface that allows more solar energy to be transferred through the envelope to the gas within the envelope than the first portion, and wherein the envelope is rotatable to allow a preferred ratio of the first and second portions of the envelope to be positioned facing the sun.

Abstract translation: 一种具有封套的气囊，包含在外壳内的气体，连接到外壳的有效载荷，其中该封套具有第一部分，该第一部分具有第一吸收性或反射性，以使太阳能转移到外壳内的气体 以及具有第二吸收或反射性质的第二部分，其相对于允许太阳能转移到第二吸收或反射性质不同于第一吸收或反射性质的封套内的气体，其中第二部分是 具有暗色表面，其允许更多的太阳能通过信封传送到封套内比第一部分的气体，并且其中信封可旋转以允许信封的第一和第二部分的优选比率为 定位面向太阳。

公开(公告)号：US20150304026A1

公开(公告)日：2015-10-22

申请号：US14223826

申请日：2014-03-24

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard Wayne DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford L. Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B10/11 ,  H04B10/2575

CPC classification number: H04B10/11 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/2575 ,  H04W84/005

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may involve hierarchical balloon networks that include both optical and radio frequency links between balloons. An exemplary network system may include: (a) a plurality of super-node balloons, where each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) a plurality of sub-node balloons, where each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency communication system that is operable for data communications. Further, at least one super-node balloon may further include an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one sub-node balloon, where the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is further operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one super-node balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station.

Abstract translation: 示例性实施例可以涉及分级气球网络，其包括气球之间的光学和射频链路两者。 示例性网络系统可以包括：（a）多个超级节点气球，其中每个超级节点气球包括用于与一个或多个其他超级节点气球进行数据通信的自由空间光通信系统，以及（b）多个 的子节点气球，其中每个子节点气球包括可操作用于数据通信的射频通信系统。 此外，至少一个超级节点气球可以进一步包括RF通信系统，其可操作以将数据发送到至少一个子节点气球，其中所述至少一个子节点气球的RF通信系统进一步可操作以接收 所述数据由所述至少一个超级节点气球发送并且将所接收的数据发送到至少一个基于地面的站。

公开(公告)号：US20140099122A1

公开(公告)日：2014-04-10

申请号：US14108542

申请日：2013-12-17

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： Richard DeVaul ,  Eric Teller ,  Clifford Biffle ,  Josh Weaver

IPC: H04B10/118

CPC classification number: H04B7/18504 ,  B64B1/40 ,  G05D1/0094 ,  H04B10/1123 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/118

Abstract: A balloon may include an optical-communication component, which may have a pointing axis. A pointing mechanism could be configured to adjust the pointing axis. The optical-communication component could be operable to communicate with a correspondent balloon via a free-space optical link. For example, the optical-communication component could include an optical receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. A controller could be configured to determine a predicted relative location of the correspondent balloon. The controller may control the pointing mechanism to adjust the pointing axis of the optical-communication component based on the predicted relative location so as to maintain the free-space optical link with the correspondent balloon.

Abstract translation: 气球可以包括可以具有指向轴的光通信部件。 可以配置指示机构来调整指向轴。 光通信部件可以通过自由空间的光学链路与对应的气球通信。 例如，光通信部件可以包括光接收器，发射器或收发器。 控制器可以被配置为确定相应气球的预测相对位置。 控制器可以基于预测的相对位置来控制指示机构来调整光通信部件的指向轴，以便保持与对应气球的自由空间光学链路。