Method and Apparatus For Data Communication Utilizing The North American Terrestrial System
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enhancing the current data communication capabilities of the North American Terrestrial System (NATS) Network is presented. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an airborne data server (ADS) is added to the airborne architecture of the current NATS Network and a ground data gateway (GDG) is added to the ground-based architecture of the current NATS Network. The ADS functions as a router/gateway connected to many local area networks (LANs) aboard the aircraft. The ADS provides for the automation of data services such as scheduling, routing and translation. The GDG is the central hub for the network and dispatcher of data to customer premises or to the aircraft.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1-47. -47. (canceled)
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48. A method for providing data communications services utilizing a network comprising a first server adapted to be connected to a North American Terrestrial System (NATS) radio set and a second server adapted to be connected to a plurality of ground stations, wherein data packets are exchanged between an application program running on the first server and an application program running on the second server via a wireless connection between the NATS radio set and at least one of the plurality of ground stations, and wherein both the first server and the second server are adapted to transmit data to and receive data from devices outside the network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at the first server, data from a first device;
encapsulating the data in accordance with a first protocol; and
sending said encapsulated data to the NATS radio set. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for providing data communications services utilizing a network comprising a first server adapted to be connected to a North American Terrestrial System (NATS) radio set and a second server adapted to be connected to a plurality of ground stations, wherein data packets are exchanged between an application program running on the first server and an application program running on the second server via a wireless connection between the NATS radio set and at least one of the plurality of ground stations, and wherein both the first server and the second server are adapted to transmit data to and receive data from devices outside the network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from the NATS radio set, data encapsulated into packets in accordance with a first protocol;
removing said data from said encapsulated packets, if necessary;
storing the data within a memory device adapted to be connected to the first server, if necessary;
encapsulating the data in accordance with a second protocol, if necessary; and
sending one of said received data packets, the data, and said data encapsulated in accordance with said second protocol to a first device. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59)
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60-67. -67. (canceled)
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68. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to transmit data from a first device to a second device utilizing a network comprising a first server adapted to be connected to a North American Terrestrial System (NATS) radio set and a second server adapted to be connected to a plurality of ground stations, wherein data packets are exchanged between an application program running on the first server and an application program running on the second server via a wireless connection between the NATS radio set and at least one of the plurality of ground stations, and wherein both the first server and the second server are adapted to transmit data to and receive data from devices outside the network, by performing the steps of:
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receiving, at the second server, the data from the first device;
encapsulating the data into packets in accordance with a first protocol using the second server;
determining which one of a plurality of ground stations is currently serving the North American Terrestrial System (NATS) radio set associated with the second device;
sending said data packets to said determined ground station;
transmitting said data packets from said determined ground station to the determined NATS radio set;
sending said data packets from the NATS radio set to the first server;
removing the data from said first protocol encapsulated packets using the first server, if necessary;
encapsulating the data in accordance with a second protocol, using said first server, if necessary; and
sending one of said data packets, the data, and said data encapsulated in accordance with said second protocol from the first server to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70)
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71. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to provide data communications services utilizing a network comprising a first server adapted to be connected to a North American Terrestrial System (NATS) radio set and a second server adapted to be connected to a plurality of ground stations, wherein data packets are exchanged between an application program running on the first server and an application program running on the second server via a wireless connection between the NATS radio set and at least one of the plurality of ground stations, and wherein both the first server and the second server are adapted to transmit data to and receive data from devices outside the network, by performing the steps of:
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receiving, at the first server, data from a first device;
encapsulating the data in accordance with a first protocol; and
sending said encapsulated data to the NATS radio set. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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73. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to provide data communications services utilizing a network comprising a first server adapted to be connected to a North American Terrestrial System (NATS) radio set and a second server adapted to be connected to a plurality of ground stations, wherein data packets are exchanged between an application program running on the first server and an application program running on the second server via a wireless connection between the NATS radio set and at least one of the plurality of ground stations, and wherein both the first server and the second server are adapted to transmit data to and receive data from devices outside the network, by performing the steps of:
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receiving, from the NATS radio set, data encapsulated into packets in accordance with a first protocol;
removing said data from said encapsulated packets, if necessary;
storing the data within a memory device adapted to be connected to the first server, if necessary;
encapsulating the data in accordance with a second protocol, if necessary; and
sending one of said received data packets, the data, and said data encapsulated in accordance with said second protocol to a first device. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76)
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74. (canceled)
Specification