Abstract: The DSCP Mirroring System enables the automatic reuse of the Differentiated Services Code Point header by the user devices that are served by a network to enable delivery of wireless services to the individually identified user wireless devices and manage the various data traffic and classes of data to optimize or guarantee performance, low latency, and/or bandwidth without the overhead of the management of the Differentiated Services Code Point header.

Abstract: The Traffic Scheduling System executes a multi-step process first to identify the bandwidth intensive traffic. The identification of the bandwidth intensive traffic is effected at the stream level by measuring the byte volume of the stream over a predetermined period of time and using this data to classify the stream into one of a plurality of usage categories. The classification of bandwidth intensive traffic is network neutral in that all data is classified at the stream level (source IP, destination IP, source port, destination port). Otherwise, the data is not inspected. Once streams have been classified by the Traffic Scheduling System, the Bandwidth Intensive and Near Real Time traffic can be controlled by a simple Traffic Shaping process executed by the Traffic Scheduling System, using a traffic management parameter such as via the Round-Trip Time of the next higher priority queue, in the set of queues.

Abstract: The Multi-Link Aircraft Cellular System makes use of multiple physically separated antennas mounted on the aircraft, as well as the use of additional optional signal isolation and optimization techniques to improve the call handling capacity of the Air-To-Ground cellular communications network. These additional techniques can include polarization domain and ground antenna pattern shaping (in azimuth, in elevation, or in both planes). Further, if code domain separation is added, dramatic increases in capacity are realized. Thus, the Air-To-Ground cellular communications network can increase its capacity on a per aircraft basis by sharing its traffic load among more than one cell or sector and by making use of multiple physically separated antennas mounted on the aircraft, as well as the use of additional optional signal isolation and optimization techniques.

Abstract: The present non-terrestrial feature transparency system spoofs the Air-to-Ground Network and the ground-based cellular communication network into thinking that the wireless subscriber devices have no special considerations associated with their operation, even though the wireless subscriber devices are located on an aircraft in flight. This architecture requires that the non-terrestrial feature transparency system on board the aircraft replicate the full functionality of a given wireless subscriber device, that has a certain predetermined feature set from a ground-based wireless service provider, at another wireless subscriber device located within the aircraft. This mirroring of wireless subscriber device attributes enables a localized cell for in-cabin communication yet retains the same wireless subscriber device attributes for the air-to-ground link.

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.

Abstract: The Content Delivery Handoff System enables a passenger's wireless device, operating in an airborne wireless cellular network, to receive selected content and to ensure continuity and/or completion of the content delivery when the aircraft reaches its destination before the entirety of the selected content is delivered to the passenger. This completion of content delivery can occur in a spatially and temporally disjunct manner where the delivery of the remainder of the selected content occurs at a terrestrial location or on a subsequent flight and at a later time.

Abstract: The air-to-ground cellular network for deck-to-deck call coverage provides call coverage to customers who are located in aircraft that are flying within the arrival/departure airspace of an airport by trifurcating the spatial coverage regions or volumes of space to solve the problems of inter-network interference while yielding air-to-ground cellular network coverage at any altitude. Three types of cells are considered: an Outer Cell, an Inner Cell and an Airport Cell. The Outer Cell is a macro cell covering a large volume of space and is one of many cells in the composite air-to-ground cellular network. The Inner Cell is created within an Outer Cell and has at its center an airport. The Airport Cell is a part of the Terrestrial Cellular Network (TCN), created by the present terrestrial cellular operators or service providers.

Abstract: The SIP Number Portability System disables the cellular radios in the wireless device and enables a WiFi 802.11 protocol-based radio. In the airborne mode, it activates a call forwarding registration process which has calls to the subscriber's publicly available phone number forwarded to the Airborne Session Initiated Protocol client through a SIP-based Public Switched Telephone Network access number and incoming communication sessions directed to the subscriber's wireless service provider user address routed to the Airborne Session Initiated Protocol client through a SIP-based data gateway on the Internet or the Public Switched Data Network. On outbound calls, the Airborne Session Initiated Protocol Client populates the Calling Number field with the wireless subscriber device phone number so that the caller ID display located at the called party's subscriber device shows the subscriber's publicly available phone number.

Abstract: The Aircraft Air-To-Ground IP Tunnel System provides wireless communication services to passengers located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of the individually identified passenger wireless devices located onboard the aircraft. The Aircraft Air-To-Ground IP Tunnel System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link connecting the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network and creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link, enabling each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured, so each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link.

Abstract: The Aircraft Emergency Services Call Management System enables the unique identification of each passenger wireless device in use in an aircraft and the corresponding identification of the passenger associated with the passenger wireless device. This passenger wireless device registration data is stored as database entries in a ground-based Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database which associates each aircraft with its registered passenger wireless devices. The origination of an emergency services call by any registered passenger wireless device results in the call being routed to a serving Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) where the passenger is connected to an emergency services operator. Since the aircraft flight crew and cabin crew are the only personnel on site that can be relied upon to provide some sort of emergency services response, they are included in the emergency services call.

Abstract: The present Broadband Link System supplements the existing Air-To-Ground Radio Frequency communications link with an additional, separate high speed Broadband Ground-To-Air Data Channel to provide additional data communication capacity for aircraft. This Broadband Ground-To-Air Data Channel is typically a uni-directional (Ground-To-Air) link directed via a focused beam to selected aircraft which are operational in the coverage area of the Broadband Ground-To-Air Data Channel. The routing of the various data transmissions on both the Air-To-Ground Radio Frequency communications link and the Broadband Ground-To-Air Data Channel are managed in a unified manner to maximize the utilization of the two transmission facilities.

Abstract: The Aircraft Mobile IP Address System provides wireless communication services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of the individually identified wireless devices located onboard the aircraft. The System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link which connects the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network but also creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link thereby to enable each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured; each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link. Such an approach does not change IPCP or other EVDO protocols/messaging but does allow this address to be directly visible to the ground-based communication network.

Abstract: The Aircraft IP Subnet System provides wireless communication services to passengers located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of individually identified wireless devices that are located onboard the aircraft. The Aircraft IP Subnet System assigns a single IP address to each Point-to-Point Protocol link connecting the aircraft network to the ground-based communication network and creates an IP subnet onboard the aircraft. The IP subnet utilizes a plurality of IP addresses for each Point-to-Point link, thereby to enable each passenger wireless device to be uniquely identified with their own IP address. This is enabled since both Point-to-Point Protocol IPCP endpoints have pre-defined IP address pools and/or topology configured, so each Point-to-Point Protocol endpoint can utilize a greater number of IP addresses than one per link. Such an approach does not change IPCP or other EVDO protocols/messaging but allows this address to be directly visible to the ground-based communication network.

Abstract: The Content Delivery Handoff System enables a passenger's wireless device, operating in an airborne wireless cellular network, to receive selected content and to ensure continuity and/or completion of the content delivery when the aircraft reaches its destination before the entirety of the selected content is delivered to the passenger. This completion of content delivery can occur in a spatially and temporally disjunct manner where the delivery of the remainder of the selected content occurs at a terrestrial location or on a subsequent flight and at a later time.

Abstract: The Customized Electronic Services Delivery System provides customized electronic services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of a plurality of electronic services that are available to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft, as well as data indicative of preferences of passengers for the plurality of electronic services. Once a correspondence is made between the electronic services and an identified passenger, the Customized Electronic Services Delivery System advises the passenger of the availability of the customized services and establishes wireless communications between the passenger's electronic device and the selected electronic service. The electronic services include in-flight entertainment services as well as destination-based services which link the passenger's existing travel plans with offers for additional services that are available to the passenger at their nominal destination and their planned travel schedule.

Abstract: The VoIP Management System is capable of identifying voice-based wireless devices and denying wireless communication services to these devices. The VoIP Management System also identifies VoIP packet data traffic, and this communication connection can be denied. The VoIP Management System can also identify encrypted VoIP packet data traffic (for a unique Source-Destination IP pair) based upon VoIP packet data traffic characteristics: packet timing, packet rate, and packet size, since VoIP services have a distinct packet data traffic pattern. When a VoIP call is detected, the VoIP Management System disrupts the identified VoIP packet data traffic, without modifying the packet data content, such as by adding sufficient latency to the Packet Data Unit of the packet data traffic to make the VoIP services unusable.

Abstract: The Customized Electronic Services Delivery System provides customized electronic services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of a plurality of electronic services that are available to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft, as well as data indicative of preferences of passengers for the plurality of electronic services. Once a correspondence is made between the electronic services and an identified passenger, the Customized Electronic Services Delivery System advises the passenger of the availability of the customized services and establishes wireless communications between the passenger's electronic device and the selected electronic service. The electronic services include in-flight entertainment services as well as destination-based services which link the passenger's existing travel plans with offers for additional services that are available to the passenger at their nominal destination and their planned travel schedule.