System and method for providing wireless services to aircraft passengers
First Claim
1. A method of operating a wireless communications system for use with an aircraft, the method comprising:
- providing a wireless communications system in the aircraft, the wireless communications system including a base station, a switch and an interface to an external network, wherein the wireless communications system includes equipment compatible with a wireless carrier, the wireless communications system adapted to join the wireless carrier network when the aircraft is within range of the wireless carrier network;
establishing an airline reservation, the airline reservation including a flight identifier, a mobile station identifier, and a vendor service identifier;
providing wireless communications services to a subscriber unit located in the aircraft, the subscriber unit being associated with the mobile station identifier;
detecting an event associated with the subscriber unit; and
transmitting, in response to the event, a message to a vendor system associated with the vendor service identifier.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communications system and method for use with aircraft includes an airline network and an aircraft communications system. The airline network includes a reservation system having a database storing passenger and flight information, an interface to an external network and a home location register. The reservation system includes logic for provisioning a subscriber unit and defining at least one location-based event associated with the subscriber unit. The home location register tracks the location of the subscriber unit. The aircraft communications system includes a wireless base station facilitating radio communication with the provisioned subscriber unit and a second interface to the external network. During operation, the home location register executes the location-based event when the subscriber unit'"'"'s movement into the location associated with the location-based event is detected.
79 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a wireless communications system for use with an aircraft, the method comprising:
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providing a wireless communications system in the aircraft, the wireless communications system including a base station, a switch and an interface to an external network, wherein the wireless communications system includes equipment compatible with a wireless carrier, the wireless communications system adapted to join the wireless carrier network when the aircraft is within range of the wireless carrier network; establishing an airline reservation, the airline reservation including a flight identifier, a mobile station identifier, and a vendor service identifier; providing wireless communications services to a subscriber unit located in the aircraft, the subscriber unit being associated with the mobile station identifier; detecting an event associated with the subscriber unit; and transmitting, in response to the event, a message to a vendor system associated with the vendor service identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In an airline communications network facilitating wireless communications for an aircraft, a method for wireless roaming between disparate wireless networks comprising the steps of:
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establishing a roaming relationship between a first wireless network and the airline communications network; establishing a roaming relationship between a second wireless network and the airline communications network; at a first location, registering a subscriber unit for use on a mobile network, the subscriber unit being homed at the first wireless network and roaming on the mobile network; transporting the mobile network and the subscriber unit to a second location via aircraft; registering the subscriber unit for use on the second wireless communications system as a roaming device; and routing subscriber unit communications through the airline communications system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An airline communications system comprising:
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an airline network including; a reservation system including a database storing passenger and flight information, the reservation system including logic for provisioning a subscriber unit and defining at least one location-based event; a first interface to an external network; and a home location register tracking a location of the subscriber unit; and an aircraft communications system including a wireless base station facilitating radio communication with the provisioned subscriber unit and a second interface to the external network, wherein the home location register includes logic for detecting the subscriber unit'"'"'s movement into the location associated with the location-based event, and executing the location-based event. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification