Abstract: A method and system for a plurality of airplanes in flight to receive from and send to a plurality of ground stations broadcast and communication signals through a single or a plurality of geostationary satellites, wherein at least the mobile link between said airplanes and said satellite, uplink or downlink, uses the high frequency radio waves at 17 GHz or higher, such as Ka-band. The fixed link between said satellite and said ground stations may use any radio frequencies below the frequencies used to communicate between the satellite and the aircraft. The lower frequencies tend to be less susceptible to rain attenuation and hence suitable for closing the fixed broadcast and communication link. Frequencies such as C-band or Ku-band, or even Ka-band, are applied between satellite and ground such that the available link margin is sufficient to overcome rain attenuation at said ground stations.

Abstract: A palm sized input device for computers comprises a first cursor position sensor which is mounted on the underside and may be operated by a finger, typically the index finger or the middle finger, from the underside of the device (hand held mode); a second cursor position sensor which may be operated by sliding said device along a flat surface with one hand like a conventional mouse (mouse mode); a mode switching means to change the mode between the hand held mode and the mouse mode; at least one means, usually the left click mouse button, to accept the current cursor position; and an alphanumeric keyboard mounted on the top surface. In the preferred embodiment, the top mounted alphanumeric keyboard fully integrates most key functions of a standard QWERTY keyboard by placing the alphanumeric and symbol keys in plurality of circular layers substantially following the geometry of the clock face, i.e., 30 degrees apart angularly.

Abstract: A method and system for a plurality of airplanes in flight to receive from and send to a plurality of ground stations broadcast and communication signals through a single or a plurality of geostationary satellites, wherein at least the mobile link between said airplanes and said satellite, uplink or downlink, uses the high frequency radio waves at 17 GHz or higher, such as Ka-band. The fixed link between said satellite and said ground stations may use any radio frequencies below the frequencies used to communicate between the satellite and the aircraft. The lower frequencies tend to be less susceptible to rain attenuation and hence suitable for closing the fixed broadcast and communication link. Frequencies such as C-band or Ku-band, or even Ka-band, are applied between satellite and ground such that the available link margin is sufficient to overcome rain attenuation at said ground stations.