Aircraft communications system with network selection controller and associated methods

• US 8,094,605 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Lynch, Michael J., Keen, Robert M., Frisco, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US12/047,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/214 Specialised server platform, e.g. server located in an airplane, hotel, hospital arrangements specially adapted for local area broadcast systems H04H20/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and a satellite-based communications network. An access point is in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. A satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs. At least one network selection controller determines whether to send data communications to the PEDs through the air-to-ground transceiver or the satellite receiver.

Claims

1. A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising:

a ground-based communications network;

a satellite-based communications network;

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with said ground-based communications network;

a satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs; and

at least one network selection controller for determining whether to send data communications to the PEDs through said air-to-ground transceiver or said satellite receiver based on a needed channel capacity of the data communications to be sent.

2. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one network selection controller comprises a ground-based network selection controller associated with said ground-based communications network.

3. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one network selection controller comprises an aircraft-based network selection controller associated with said at least one access point and said air-to-ground transceiver.

4. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one network selection controller determines to send data communications with a higher needed channel capacity with a high bandwidth using said satellite receiver, and determines to send data communications with a lower needed channel capacity data communications with a low bandwidth through said air-to-ground transceiver.

5. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one network selection controller determines to send data communications to the PEDs through said air-to-ground transceiver or said satellite receiver based on at least one of a received signal strength of the data communications, and a position of the aircraft.

6. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one network selection controller determines to send at least one of static and dynamic web pages through said satellite-based communications network to the PEDs through said at least one access point.

7. The communications system according to claim 6 wherein said at least one network selection controller determines to send requests for at least one of the static and dynamic web pages from the PEDs through said at least one access point and said air-to-ground transceiver.

8. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

9. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

10. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one access point comprises a picocell.

11. The communications system according to claim 1 further comprising a satellite transmitter in the aircraft for transmitting data communications outside the aircraft via the satellite-based communications network.

12. An aircraft communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with either a ground-based communications network or a satellite-based communications network, the aircraft communications system comprising:

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with said ground-based communications network;

a satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs; and

an aircraft-based network selection controller for determining whether to send data communications to the PEDs through said air-to-ground transceiver or said satellite receiver based on a needed channel capacity of the data communications to be sent.

13. The aircraft communications system according to claim 12 wherein said aircraft-based network selection controller determines to send data communications with a higher needed channel capacity with a high bandwidth using said satellite receiver, and determines to send data communications with a lower needed channel capacity data communications with a low bandwidth through said air-to-ground transceiver.

14. The aircraft communications system according to claim 12 wherein said at least one network selection controller determines to send data communications to the PEDs through said air-to-ground transceiver or said satellite receiver based on at least one of a received signal strength of the data communications, and a position of the aircraft.

15. The aircraft communications system according to claim 12 wherein said aircraft-based network selection controller determines to send at least one of static and dynamic web pages through said satellite-based communications network to the PEDs through said at least one access point.

16. The aircraft communications system according to claim 15 wherein said aircraft-based network selection controller determines to send the requests for at least one of the static and dynamic web pages from the PEDs through said at least one access point and said air-to-ground transceiver.

17. The aircraft communications system according to claim 12 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

18. The aircraft communications system according to claim 12 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

19. The aircraft communications system according to claim 12 further comprising a satellite transmitter in the aircraft for transmitting data communications outside the aircraft via the satellite-based communications network.

20. A method for operating a communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising a ground-based communications network, a satellite-based communications network, at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs, an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point, and a satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point;

the method comprising;

operating the air-to-ground transceiver to cooperate with the at least one access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network;

operating the satellite receiver to cooperate with the at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs; and

determining whether to send data communications to the PEDs through the air-to-ground transceiver or the satellite receiver based on a needed channel capacity of the data communications to be sent.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising providing at least one network selection controller.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one network selection controller comprises at least one ground-based network selection controller associated with the ground-based communications network.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one network selection controller comprises at least one aircraft-based network selection controller associated with the at least one access point and the air-to-ground transceiver.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one network selection controller determines to send data communications with a higher needed channel capacity with a high bandwidth using the satellite receiver, and determines to send data communications with a lower needed channel capacity data communications with a low bandwidth through the air-to-ground transceiver.

25. The method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one network selection controller determines to send web pages through the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs through the at least one access point.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one network selection controller determines to send requests for web pages from the PEDs through the at least one access point and the air-to-ground transceiver.

27. The method according to claim 20 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

28. The method according to claim 20 wherein the communications system further comprising a satellite transmitter in the aircraft for transmitting data communications external the aircraft via the satellite-based communications network.

29. An aircraft communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with either a ground-based communications network or a satellite-based communications network, the aircraft communications system comprising:

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with said ground-based communications network;

a satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs; and

an aircraft-based network selection controller for determining whether to send data communications to the PEDs through said air-to-ground transceiver or said satellite receiver based on at least one of a received signal strength of the data communications, and a position of the aircraft.

30. The aircraft communications system according to claim 29 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

31. The aircraft communications system according to claim 29 further comprising a satellite transmitter in the aircraft for transmitting data communications outside the aircraft via the satellite-based communications network.

32. An aircraft communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with either a ground-based communications network or a satellite-based communications network, the aircraft communications system comprising:

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with said ground-based communications network;

a satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs; and

an aircraft-based network selection controller for determining whether to send data communications to the PEDs through said air-to-ground transceiver or said satellite receiver, with at least one of static and dynamic web pages being sent through said satellite-based communications network to the PEDs through said at least one access point.

33. The aircraft communications system according to claim 32 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

34. The aircraft communications system according to claim 32 further comprising a satellite transmitter in the aircraft for transmitting data communications outside the aircraft via the satellite-based communications network.

35. A method for operating a communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising a ground-based communications network, a satellite-based communications network, at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs, an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network, and a satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs;

the method comprising;

determining whether to send data communications to the PEDs through the air-to-ground transceiver or the satellite receiver, with at least one network selection controller determining to send web pages through the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs through the at least one access point.

36. The method according to claim 35 wherein the at least one network selection controller comprises at least one ground-based network selection controller associated with the ground-based communications network.

37. The method according to claim 35 wherein the at least one network selection controller comprises at least one aircraft-based network selection controller associated with the at least one access point and the air-to-ground transceiver.

38. The method according to claim 35 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

39. The method according to claim 35 wherein the communications system further comprising a satellite transmitter in the aircraft for transmitting data communications external the aircraft via the satellite-based communications network.

40. A method for operating a communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising a ground-based communications network, a satellite-based communications network, at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WEAN) for data communications with the PEDs, an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network, and a satellite receiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs;

the method comprising;

determining whether to send data communications to the PEDs through the air-to-ground transceiver or the satellite receiver, with at least one network selection controller determining to send requests for web pages from the PEDs through the at least one access point.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein the at least one network selection controller comprises at least one ground-based network selection controller associated with the ground-based communications network.

42. The method according to claim 40 wherein the at least one network selection controller comprises at least one aircraft-based network selection controller associated with the at least one access point and the air-to-ground transceiver.

43. The method according to claim 40 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

44. The method according to claim 40 wherein the communications system further comprising a satellite transmitter in the aircraft for transmitting data communications external the aircraft via the satellite-based communications network.