Broadband Communications via High Altitude Platforms

Dr David Grace, University of York, UKDr Grace he has been a member of the Communications Research Group at York, (where he is now a Senior Research Fellow) since 1994. He has worked on a variety of research contracts including several from the former Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.  Current research interests include cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum management, particularly for high-altitude platform and terrestrial ad hoc networks. He is an author of over 100 conference and journal papers, many relating to HAP communications.Dr Mihael Mohorcic, Jozef Stefan Institute, SloveniaDr Mohorcic has been a member of the Department of Communication Systems at the Jozef Stefan Institute since 1994, where he is currently a Research Fellow. Since 2006 he is an assistant professor at the Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School in the area of Telecommunications. His current research interests include the development and performance evaluation of network protocols and architectures for mobile and wireless communication systems, and resource management in terrestrial, stratospheric and satellite networks. He is co-author of several book chapters and author or co-author of more than 80 refereed journal and conference papers in the field of mobile and wireless communications.

• 1. INTRODUCTION. 1.1. Introduction.1.2. History.1.3. Wireless communications in a HAP environment.1.4. Candidate standards for provision of services and applications from HAPs.1.5. Overview of past and present HAP related projects, trials and development plans.1.6. References.2. AERONAUTICS AND ENERGETICS.2.1. Operating environment and related challenges.2.2. Types of airborne vehicles used for HAPs.2.3. Power subsystem alternatives.2.4. Flight / altitude control.2.5. Typical characteristics of HAP aircraft and airships.2.6. References.3. OPERATING SCENARIOS AND REFERENCE ARCHITECTURES.3.1. Operating scenarios.3.2. Antenna requirements and related challenges.3.3. System and network architecture of HAP-based communication systems.3.4. References.4. APPLICATIONS AND BUSINESS MODELLING.4.1. Introduction.4.2. Applications and services.4.3. Business Model Introduction.4.4. Service Provider Centric Models.4.5. HAP Operator Centric Model.4.6. Risk Assessment.4.7. References.5. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HAPs AND HAP-BASED APPLICATIONS.5.1. Trends in aeronautical development.5.2. HAP roadmaps for different types of applications.5.3. Telecommunication missions.5.4. References.6. HAP SYSTEM OPERATING ENVIRONMENT.6.1. Operating environment and related limitations.6.2. Propagation channel modelling.6.3. HAP RF propagation channel modelling.6.4. Conclusion.6.5. References.7. FSO IN HAP-BASED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.7.1. Applicability of FSO technology to HAP networks.7.2. Physical layer aspects for FSO links in HAP networks.7.3. Free space optics for optical transport networks.7.4. References.8. ADVANCED COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES AS ENABLERS FOR HAP-BASED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.8.1. Modern wireless system design concepts.8.2. Diversity techniques.8.3. Multiple input multiple output systems.8.4. Adaptive coding modulation schemes.8.5. Advanced radio resource management techniques.8.6. References.9. MULTIPLE HAP NETWORKS.9.1. Why multiple HAP constellations?9.2. Multiple HAP constellation planning.9.3. User Antenna Pointing Error in Multiple HAP Systems.9.4. Two Ring Constellation Design for Multiple HAP Systems.9.5. Constraints of Two-ring Constellation Designs.9.6. References.10. NETWORKING IMPLICATIONS OF USING MULTIPLE HAP CONSTELLATIONS.10.1. Network protocols.10.2. Mobility management in HAP-based communication systems.10.3. Mobility and Backhaul Load Reduction Techniques.10.4. References.Index.

"The work is well referenced and includes over one hundred and fifty figures and more than seventy-five tables. Contributors include professionals and academics in the field of communications engineering from Slovenia, Israel, Thailand and the UK." (Book News Inc., February 2011)