CPC H01Q 1/28 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/42 (2013.01); H01Q 3/02 (2013.01); H01Q 3/08 (2013.01); H01Q 3/24 (2013.01); H01Q 21/06 (2013.01); H01Q 21/28 (2013.01); H04B 7/0608 (2013.01); H04B 7/0814 (2013.01); H04B 7/1851 (2013.01); H04B 7/18508 (2013.01); H04B 7/195 (2013.01)] | 36 Claims |
1. An antenna system for mounting on an aircraft, the antenna system comprising:
a primary antenna on the aircraft, wherein the primary antenna has a first acceptable service area for communication of a signal between the aircraft and a target satellite while satisfying a performance characteristic for communicating with the target satellite;
a secondary antenna on the aircraft, wherein the secondary antenna has a second acceptable service area for communication of the signal between the aircraft and the target satellite while satisfying the performance characteristic for communicating with the target satellite, and wherein the second acceptable service area overlaps with a portion of the first acceptable service area; and
an antenna selection system to control communication of the signal between the aircraft and the target satellite via the primary antenna and the secondary antenna, wherein the antenna selection system:
selects the primary antenna for communication of the signal with the target satellite when the aircraft is at a first position that is within the portion of the first acceptable service area that overlaps with the second acceptable service area, wherein both the primary antenna and the secondary antenna satisfy the performance characteristic for communicating with the target satellite at the first position, and wherein a data stream associated with the secondary antenna is deactivated when the primary antenna is selected, and
selects the secondary antenna for communication of the signal with the target satellite when the aircraft is at a second position that is different than the first position, within the second acceptable service area, and not within the first acceptable service area of the primary antenna.
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