# High-Flying Aircraft Relays Satellite Internet to Ground Users > This patent describes a communication system that uses satellites, high-altitude aircraft, and ground stations to send data, specifically using lasers for space links and cloud-penetrating radio waves for ground links. - **Patent:** US 10707961 - **Original title:** Adaptive communication system - **Owner:** Space Systems Loral - **Granted:** 2020 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 12 - **Field:** telecommunications, aerospace, software, consumer_electronics, semiconductors ## What it does The system connects ground users to satellites using a special relay aircraft. This aircraft flies above the clouds and has two main parts: a laser communications module and a Radio Frequency (RF) communications module. When data comes from a satellite via laser, the aircraft's laser module receives it, and its RF module converts that data into cloud-penetrating RF signals to send to ground terminals (Claim 1). Conversely, data from ground terminals arrives as RF, gets converted by the aircraft into laser signals, and is then sent up to the satellite (Claim 1). Ground terminals can even pick the fastest path, either directly to the satellite with lasers or through the aircraft and then the satellite (Claim 1). For example, if a ground terminal needs to send data to another ground terminal, it could send an RF signal to the aircraft, which converts it to laser for the satellite, and the satellite then relays it to the destination. ## What it does NOT cover - Communication systems where satellites use traditional RF communication for all links, as the claims emphasize laser communication for satellite links (Claim 1, 6). - Relay systems where the aircraft operates below cloud level, as it's specified to fly "at altitudes above clouds" (Claim 1). - Systems where the ground terminal cannot select between a direct laser path to the satellite and a relayed path through the aircraft (Claim 1). - Systems where the relay aircraft does not convert between laser and RF signals, but simply repeats one type of signal (Claim 1). - Systems where the satellite demodulates the received laser communication before relaying it (Claim 1). ## The clever bit The novelty lies in combining laser satellite links with cloud-penetrating RF ground links via a high-altitude aircraft, allowing ground terminals to dynamically choose the optimal communication path based on speed, effectively bypassing weather-related optical interference. ## Real-world examples 1. Satellite internet services (e.g., Starlink, Project Kuiper) when paired with high-altitude platforms 2. High-altitude platform stations (HAPS) for telecommunications 3. Disaster relief communication networks 4. Military or government secure communication links ## Why it matters This patent addresses challenges in satellite communication, especially for areas with frequent cloud cover that can block laser signals to the ground. By introducing a high-altitude aircraft as an intermediary, it creates a flexible and robust network. This approach could improve internet access in remote regions or provide resilient communication during emergencies. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does High-Flying Aircraft Relays Satellite Internet to Ground Users cover? This patent describes a communication system that uses satellites, high-altitude aircraft, and ground stations to send data, specifically using lasers for space links and cloud-penetrating radio waves for ground links. ### Who owns patent US 10707961? Space Systems Loral owns this patent, granted in 2020. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 20, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10707961 cited by? This patent has been cited by 12 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent addresses challenges in satellite communication, especially for areas with frequent cloud cover that can block laser signals to the ground. By introducing a high-altitude aircraft as an intermediary, it creates a flexible and robust network. This approach could improve internet access in remote regions or provide resilient communication during emergencies. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Communication systems where satellites use traditional RF communication for all links, as the claims emphasize laser communication for satellite links (Claim 1, 6). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10707961/adaptive-communication-system **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10707961 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How High-Altitude Satellites Relay Data for Fast-Moving Low-Orbit Satellites](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10998965/high-throughput-satellites-and-methods-of-operating-high-throughput-satellites-f) — This patent describes how a high-throughput satellite (HTS) in a fixed orbit can dynamically track and relay data from fast-moving low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to ground stations by precisely switching its focused radio beams. - [How LEO Satellites Switch Beams for Speed and Avoid Interference](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11902010/dual-leo-satellite-system-and-method-for-global-coverage) — This patent describes a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system that provides global internet by switching users to faster, focused beams when needed, while also preventing interference with older, higher-orbit satellites. - [How Satellites Sync Timing for Faster 5G Internet Connections](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12464567/raptor-future) — A method for terminal devices to calculate precise timing offsets when connecting to 5G satellite networks, reducing the need for constant data updates from base stations. - [How Space Taxis and Locomotives Move Satellites Between Orbits](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11492143/catching-super-heavy-booster) — A modular system using a small 'rendezvous' vehicle to collect satellites and a larger 'locomotive' vehicle to haul them to their final destination in space. - [How to Rent Out Space on Satellites for Different Customers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10981678/starlink-satellite-design) — A system for managing a fleet of satellites so multiple customers can share the same hardware to run their own specific space-based tasks.