System and method for airborne passenger electronic communication
First Claim
1. A wireless electronic messaging system for use in an aircraft, comprising:
- a ground-based server;
an airborne server on the aircraft;
a wireless up-link communicatively coupled to the ground-based server and the airborne server;
a display unit visible to an end-user to display partial information related to electronic messaging; and
an input unit responsive to the user to select electronic messaging components for transmission from the ground-based server to the airborne server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic communication system for use onboard an aircraft includes a server and a plurality of input ports for connection with passenger computing devices. Passengers can send and retrieve electronic messages (e-mail and/or attachments) using a proxy-based web server access to the user'"'"'s own e-mail service provider. The system receives proxy-based commands from the user'"'"'s computing device and translates those commands into web-based commands that enable communication with the passenger'"'"'s e-mail accounts. The passenger may send e-mail communications by composing a message on the passenger computing device and sending it via the web-based proxy server. E-mail messages may also be retrieved from one or more passenger e-mail accounts. In one embodiment, the system transmits only e-mail summary information to the airborne server and provides the summary information to the passenger. The passenger may select one or more e-mails and/or attachments for subsequent retrieval, thus limiting passenger expense for retrieval of unwanted or unnecessary e-mails and/or attachments. The system may also display cost information associated with uploading the e-mail and/or attachments to enable the passenger to select those desired messages for subsequent transmission.
51 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A wireless electronic messaging system for use in an aircraft, comprising:
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a ground-based server;
an airborne server on the aircraft;
a wireless up-link communicatively coupled to the ground-based server and the airborne server;
a display unit visible to an end-user to display partial information related to electronic messaging; and
an input unit responsive to the user to select electronic messaging components for transmission from the ground-based server to the airborne server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wireless electronic messaging system for use in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between an airborne computer operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising:
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an airborne computing device on the aircraft to receive partial information related to electronic messaging for the passenger;
an output portion of the airborne computing device to route the received partial information to the passenger'"'"'s computer; and
an input portion of the airborne computing device to receive selection data from the passenger computer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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14. A wireless electronic messaging system for use in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between a passenger computing device operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising:
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an airborne computing device on the aircraft to communicate with the passenger computing device while onboard the aircraft; and
a proxy server to convert airborne mail commands to email commands corresponding to the passenger email service provider to thereby permit the passenger to access a passenger email account.
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24. A wireless electronic messaging system for use in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between an airborne computer operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising:
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airborne means for receiving partial information related to electronic messaging for each of a plurality of passengers;
routing means for routing the received partial information to the respective passenger'"'"'s computer; and
means for receiving selection data from the computer of at least one passenger.
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30. A wireless electronic messaging system for use in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between a passenger computing device operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising:
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means for coupling an airborne computing device with the passenger computing device while onboard the aircraft;
means for converting airborne mail commands to email commands corresponding to the passenger email service provider to thereby permit the passenger to access a passenger email account; and
means for communicating between the aircraft and a ground-based station. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer-readable media to control wireless electronic messaging in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between an airborne computer operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising computer instructions that cause a computer to:
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receive partial information related to electronic messaging for a passenger;
route the received partial information to the passenger'"'"'s computer; and
receive selection data from the passenger computer. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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46. A computer-readable media for wireless electronic messaging system in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between a passenger computing device operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising computer instructions that cause a computer to:
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couple an airborne computing device with the passenger computing device while onboard the aircraft;
convert airborne mail commands to email commands corresponding to the passengers email service provider to thereby permit the passenger to access a passenger email account; and
communicate between the aircraft and the ground-based station.
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52. A method for wireless electronic messaging in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between an airborne computer operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising:
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receiving partial information related to electronic messaging for each of a plurality of passengers;
routing the received partial information to the respective passenger'"'"'s computer; and
receiving selection data from the computer of at least one passenger. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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58. A method for electronic messaging in an aircraft to permit electronic message communication between a passenger computing device operated by a passenger and a ground-based electronic messaging system via a wireless communication link, comprising:
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coupling an airborne computing device with the passenger computing device while onboard the aircraft;
converting airborne mail commands to email commands corresponding to the passenger'"'"'s email service provider to thereby permit the passenger to access a passenger email account; and
communicating between the aircraft and a ground-based station.
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Specification