SoftBank has been granted a patent for a system that includes a flying object functioning as a stratospheric platform. This system utilizes a control device to create a wireless communication area, while also identifying and avoiding non-target areas based on received radio wave signals. GlobalData’s report on SoftBank gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on SoftBank, was a key innovation area identified from patents. SoftBank's grant share as of July 2024 was 51%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Wireless communication system using a flying stratosphere platform

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: SoftBank Corp

The patent US12063526B2 describes a system that integrates an information-providing device with a flying object functioning as a stratospheric platform. This system is designed to establish a wireless communication area for user terminals. The flying object is equipped with a control device that emits a beam to facilitate this communication. The information-providing device sends a radio wave containing a response signal to the flying object when it detects that the beam's frequency falls within a predetermined frequency band. The control device includes a radio wave receiving unit, a non-target area judging unit, and a flying object controlling unit, which collectively assess and manage the communication area to avoid non-target areas, such as regions where communication is not authorized or overlaps with other flying objects.

Further claims detail the operational specifics of the system, including the use of directional antennas and Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) communication schemes. The information-providing device can transmit installation location information and signal intensity data, which the non-target area judging unit uses to determine the presence of non-target areas based on predefined thresholds. The system can also utilize multiple frequencies and polarizations for enhanced communication reliability. Additionally, the information-providing device is designed to be self-sufficient, incorporating solar panels and batteries for power, and it is programmed not to transmit signals when the flying object is outside the designated frequency band. Overall, the patent outlines a sophisticated approach to managing wireless communication in a controlled manner, ensuring compliance with regulatory and operational constraints.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.