Establishing wireless communication between a train and base stations

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for establishing wireless communication between moving objects and land-based networks. A plurality of virtual antenna arrays may be established for communication between a transportation object and a communication network. Each virtual antenna array includes antenna(s) of at least one network transceiver of the communication network that is in proximity to the transportation object or its path, and antenna(s) of at least one transceiver from a plurality of transceivers in the transportation object. Each virtual antenna array differs from an adjacent virtual antenna array at least in having one or both of a different network transceiver of the communication network or a different transceiver from the plurality of transceivers. Operations of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays may be managed, with the managing including switching to an adjacent one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays based on movement of the transportation object.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 establishing a plurality of virtual antenna arrays for communications between a transportation object and a communication network, wherein:
 each virtual antenna array comprises one or more antennas of at least one network transceiver of the communication network that is in proximity to the transportation object or a path of the transportation object, and one or more antennas of at least one transceiver from a plurality of transceivers in the transportation object; and 
 each virtual antenna array differs from an adjacent virtual antenna array at least in having one or both of a different network transceiver of the communication network or a different transceiver from the plurality of transceivers; 
   managing operations of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays, wherein the managing comprises:
 using one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays to support communications between one or more communication devices within the transportation object and the communication network; and 
 switching from a virtual antenna array being used to an adjacent one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays based on movement of the transportation object. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising configuring the communications based on one or more cooperative communication schemes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more cooperative communication schemes comprise one or both of:
 use of spatial diversity by concurrently transmitting a signal on multiple communication channels; and   use of spatial multiplexing by transmitting different segments of the signal via different communication channels.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising controlling the communications based on one or both of:
 information relating to the movement of the transportation object; and   information relating to relative positions of the plurality of transceivers within the transportation object.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising generating information relating to one or both of the movement of the transportation object and to the relative positions of the plurality of transceivers within the transportation object. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising configuring the communications based on channel related data associated with the virtual antenna array. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising determining the channel related data for one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays, and re-using the channel related data for another one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising determining the channel related data based on one or both of channel related measurements in at least one network transceiver of the communication network and channel related measurements in at least one transceiver from the plurality of transceivers. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising setting up multiple communication channels for communicating via at least one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising communicating concurrently via the multiple communication channels. 
     
     
         31 . A system for use in a transportation object to provide wireless communication, the system comprising:
 a plurality of transceivers; and   one or more communication circuits configured to:
 establish a plurality of virtual antenna arrays for communications between the transportation object and a communication network, wherein:
 each virtual antenna array comprises one or more antennas of at least one network transceiver of the communication network that is in proximity to the transportation object or a path of the transportation object, and one or more antennas of at least one transceiver from the plurality of transceivers in the transportation object; and 
 each virtual antenna array differs from an adjacent virtual antenna array at least in having one or both of a different network transceiver of the communication network or a different transceiver from the plurality of transceivers; 
 
 manage operations of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays, wherein the managing comprises:
 using one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays to support communications between one or more communication devices within the transportation object and the communication network; and 
 switching from a virtual antenna array being used to an adjacent one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays based on movement of the transportation object. 
 
   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to configure the communications based on one or more cooperative communication schemes. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to, when configuring the communications based on one or more cooperative communication schemes, incorporate use of one or both of:
 use of spatial diversity by concurrently transmitting a signal on multiple communication channels; and   use of spatial multiplexing by transmitting different segments of the signal via different communication channels.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to control the communications based on one or both of:
 information relating to the movement of the transportation object; and   information relating to relative positions of the plurality of transceivers within the transportation object.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to generate information relating to one or both of the movement of the transportation object and to the relative positions of the plurality of transceivers within the transportation object. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to configure the communications based on channel related data associated with the virtual antenna array. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to determine the channel related data for one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays, and re-using the channel related data for another one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to determine the channel related data based on one or both of channel related measurements in at least one network transceiver of the communication network and channel related measurements in at least one transceiver from the plurality of transceivers. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to set up multiple communication channels for communicating via at least one of the plurality of virtual antenna arrays. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more communication circuits are configured to communicate concurrently via the multiple communication channels.