Aircraft communications system with network selection controller and associated method
First Claim
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 communications link metric.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 based on a communications link metric.
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Citations
31 Claims
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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:
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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 communications link metric. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. 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:
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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 communications link metric. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. 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 based on a communications link metric. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- the method comprising;
Specification