System and method for providing network addresses to mobile platforms
First Claim
1. A system for assigning a network address to a mobile platform for use in providing bi-directional communication with the mobile platform via at least one satellite, the system comprising:
- a ground-based system having a transmitter for transmitting to a plurality of mobile platforms via the satellite a unique network address assigned to one of the plurality of mobile platforms requesting the unique network address; and
a communications system comprising;
a receiver provided on-board each of the plurality of mobile platforms for receiving the unique network address from the ground-based system via the satellite assigned to the requesting mobile; and
at least one server and at least one antenna, each having a storage member for storing the unique network address.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for assigning network addresses to mobile platforms using a satellite communications link. The network address information is transmitted from a ground station only upon request by the mobile platform, with the mobile platform transmitting a confirmation signal after receiving the network address information. Bi-directional communication is thereby provided between the ground system and specific mobile platforms. The network address information is maintained on-board the mobile platform within a plurality of components to avoid losing the information in the event of a failure of one or more on-board components operating on a network on the mobile platform.
6 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for assigning a network address to a mobile platform for use in providing bi-directional communication with the mobile platform via at least one satellite, the system comprising:
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a ground-based system having a transmitter for transmitting to a plurality of mobile platforms via the satellite a unique network address assigned to one of the plurality of mobile platforms requesting the unique network address; and
a communications system comprising;
a receiver provided on-board each of the plurality of mobile platforms for receiving the unique network address from the ground-based system via the satellite assigned to the requesting mobile; and
at least one server and at least one antenna, each having a storage member for storing the unique network address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for assigning a unique network address to a mobile platform for use in communicating with the mobile platform via a satellite system, the method comprising the steps of:
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using a transmitter of a ground-based system to transmit at least one unique network address via the satellite system to a plurality of mobile platforms with at least one of the plurality of mobile platforms requesting the unique network address;
using a receiver on-board each of the mobile platforms to receive the unique network address, each of the receivers adapted to recognize the unique network address assigned to its associated said mobile platform requesting the unique network address; and
storing the unique network address in a storage member of at least one of a server and an antenna on board the associated mobile platform. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
using a transmitter on-board each of the mobile platforms to transmit a request for the unique network address to the ground-based system; and
using a receiver of the ground-based system to receive the requests for the unique network address.
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20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising processing the request for the unique network address to determine the unique network address for the requesting mobile platform.
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21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the unique network address comprises a mobile platform identifier and the step of using the ground-based system to transmit the unique network address further comprises multicasting the unique network address one time after the request for the unique network address has been received.
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22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of using a transmitter on-board the mobile platforms further comprises transmitting a confirmation signal indicating reception of the unique network address by the receiver on-board the mobile platform associated with the mobile platform identifier.
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23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of using the ground-based system to transmit the unique network address further comprises multicasting the unique network address a plurality of times at predetermined intervals until the confirmation signal is received by the receiver of the ground-based system.
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24. The method according to claim 18 wherein the unique network address comprises a mobile platform identifier and the step of using a transmitter of the ground-based system to transmit the unique network address further comprises multicasting the address a plurality of times.
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25. The method according to claim 18 where the step of using a transmitter of the ground-based system to transmit the unique network address further comprises transmitting a sub-network address as part of the unique network address.
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26. The method according to claim 18 wherein the satellite system comprises at least one satellite having a plurality of transponders and further comprising the step of using at least one transponder to transmit the unique network address.
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27. A method for transmitting a signal having network address assignment data from a stationary transmitter to a receiver on-board a mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:
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using the stationary transmitter to transmit the signal to a satellite system for multicasting to a plurality of mobile platforms, the signal including a mobile platform identifier;
using the receiver on-board the mobile platform associated with the mobile platform identifier to receive the signal; and
providing the network address assignment data to a storage element of at least one of a server and an antenna on-board the mobile platform. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification