System for managing call handoffs between an aircraft and multiple cell sites
First Claim
1. A system for managing multiple communications links between an aircraft and at least one terrestrial communication network, comprising:
- aircraft network means for communicating with a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft; and
aircraft communications controller means, located on said aircraft and connected to said aircraft network means, comprising;
transceiver means for communicating with at least one air-to-ground communication network that interconnects with said at least one terrestrial communication network, said air-to-ground communication networks comprising;
terrestrial air-to-ground cellular network, satellite air-to-ground cellular network, terrestrial cellular network, each of which air-to-ground communication networks include at least one communication link, andcommunication controller means for distributing said communications with said plurality of wireless subscriber devices among a plurality of said communication links of selected ones of said air-to-ground communication networks to interconnect said plurality of wireless subscriber devices with said at least one terrestrial communication network.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The handoff management system maximizes the communications capacity available from terrestrial air-to-ground cellular networks, while also integrating communications capabilities from satellite air-to-ground cellular networks and terrestrial cellular communications networks. The communications capacity is maximized by dynamically allocating communications from the aircraft over multiple communications channels to multiple cells of the terrestrial air-to-ground cellular network, and to satellite air-to-ground cellular networks and terrestrial mobile networks. This approach effectively provides an increase in the call handling capacity available to any aircraft and permits a gradual transition of communications from one cell to the next cell, rather than requiring an abrupt handover of all traffic from the aircraft from one cell to the next cell.
53 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for managing multiple communications links between an aircraft and at least one terrestrial communication network, comprising:
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aircraft network means for communicating with a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft; and aircraft communications controller means, located on said aircraft and connected to said aircraft network means, comprising; transceiver means for communicating with at least one air-to-ground communication network that interconnects with said at least one terrestrial communication network, said air-to-ground communication networks comprising;
terrestrial air-to-ground cellular network, satellite air-to-ground cellular network, terrestrial cellular network, each of which air-to-ground communication networks include at least one communication link, andcommunication controller means for distributing said communications with said plurality of wireless subscriber devices among a plurality of said communication links of selected ones of said air-to-ground communication networks to interconnect said plurality of wireless subscriber devices with said at least one terrestrial communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
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7. A method for managing multiple communications links between an aircraft and at least one terrestrial communication network, comprising:
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communicating with a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft via an aircraft network; and communicating with said at least one terrestrial communications network via an aircraft communications controller that is located on said aircraft and connected to said aircraft network, comprising; communicating with at least one air-to-ground communication network that interconnects with said at least one terrestrial communication network, said air-to-ground communication networks comprising;
terrestrial air-to-ground cellular network, satellite air-to-ground cellular network, terrestrial cellular network, each of which air-to-ground communication networks include at least one communication link, anddistributing said communications with said plurality of wireless subscriber devices among a plurality of said communication links of selected ones of said air-to-ground communication networks to interconnect said plurality of wireless subscriber devices with said at least one terrestrial communication network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 11, 12)
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Specification