Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for opportunistic load balancing across one or more communication links supported by one or more base stations. As part of the opportunistic load balancing process, a load balancer may measure a performance metric and an idle capacity metric for the one or more communication links. In some embodiments, the load balancer may directionally measure the performance metric and the idle capacity metric. Based on the measured metrics, the load balancer may determine a candidate base station for a network socket. The load balancer may then establish the network socket with the candidate base station. As a result, the load balancer may help alleviate network congestion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for opportunistic load balancing across one or more communication links supported by one or more base stations. As part of the opportunistic load balancing process, a load balancer may measure a performance metric and an idle capacity metric for the one or more communication links. In some embodiments, the load balancer may directionally measure the performance metric and the idle capacity metric. Based on the measured metrics, the load balancer may determine a candidate base station for a network socket. The load balancer may then establish the network socket with the candidate base station. As a result, the load balancer may help alleviate network congestion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to decrease DNS lookup times for mobile clients are disclosed. An example DNS cache peering system includes a mobile DNS cache; a mobile DNS server configured to, when an IP address for a URL is not found in the DNS cache, send a DNS lookup request for the URL; a ground-based DNS server to receive the DNS lookup request from the mobile DNS server, and send, in response, a DNS lookup response including the IP address for the URL to the mobile DNS server; and a ground-based DNS peer engine server configured to capture the DNS lookup response, and multicast DNS information from the DNS lookup response to a plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients, wherein the plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients are configured to store the DNS information in respective ones of a plurality of mobile DNS caches.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to decrease DNS lookup times for mobile clients are disclosed. An example DNS cache peering system includes a mobile DNS cache; a mobile DNS server configured to, when an IP address for a URL is not found in the DNS cache, send a DNS lookup request for the URL; a ground-based DNS server to receive the DNS lookup request from the mobile DNS server, and send, in response, a DNS lookup response including the IP address for the URL to the mobile DNS server; and a ground-based DNS peer engine server configured to capture the DNS lookup response, and multicast DNS information from the DNS lookup response to a plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients, wherein the plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients are configured to store the DNS information in respective ones of a plurality of mobile DNS caches.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying application performance in view of link conditions are provided. An example method includes predicting respective link rates of at least one link of a plurality of links that deliver data to and from a vehicle while the vehicle is moving from an origination point to a destination point. The predicting is based on historical link characteristics. The method further includes generating a link service profile of the vehicle based on the predicted respective link rates and a route of the vehicle. In addition, the method includes receiving a request for information related to the link service profile from a mobile device and transmitting, to the mobile device, an indication based on the link service profile, thereby causing a modification of a behavior of an application executing at the mobile device based on the link service profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying application performance in view of link conditions are provided. An example method includes predicting respective link rates of at least one link of a plurality of links that deliver data to and from a vehicle while the vehicle is moving from an origination point to a destination point. The predicting is based on historical link characteristics. The method further includes generating a link service profile of the vehicle based on the predicted respective link rates and a route of the vehicle. In addition, the method includes receiving a request for information related to the link service profile from a mobile device and transmitting, to the mobile device, an indication based on the link service profile, thereby causing a modification of a behavior of an application executing at the mobile device based on the link service profile.

Abstract: Communication systems and methods for receiving and converting multicast data are disclosed. An example communication system includes an airborne central processing unit configured to: convert multicast data received on a multicast fast path via a satellite to unicast data, forward the unicast data to a user device within a vehicle, collect one or more metrics regarding the multicast data, and transmit the one or more metrics to a satellite ground station via the satellite.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide connectivity to client electronic devices in a wireless communication network aboard aircraft or in another environment. During initial client device association with the wireless network, captive browser use at the client device may be minimized by directing the device to a fully-capable browser. Upon association, subsequent captivity probes transmitted by the client device may be detected and handled so as to prevent undesired re-launching of the captive browser at the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for opportunistic load balancing across one or more communication links supported by one or more base stations. As part of the opportunistic load balancing process, a load balancer may measure a performance metric and an idle capacity metric for the one or more communication links. In some embodiments, the load balancer may directionally measure the performance metric and the idle capacity metric. Based on the measured metrics, the load balancer may determine a candidate base station for a network socket. The load balancer may then establish the network socket with the candidate base station. As a result, the load balancer may help alleviate network congestion.

Abstract: Communication systems and methods for receiving and converting multicast data are disclosed. An example communication system includes an airborne central processing unit configured to: convert multicast data received on a multicast fast path via a satellite to unicast data, forward the unicast data to a user device within a vehicle, collect one or more metrics regarding the multicast data, and transmit the one or more metrics to a satellite ground station via the satellite.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide connectivity to client electronic devices in a wireless communication network aboard aircraft or in another environment. During initial client device association with the wireless network, captive browser use at the client device may be minimized by directing the device to a fully-capable browser. Upon association, subsequent captivity probes transmitted by the client device may be detected and handled so as to prevent undesired re-launching of the captive browser at the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for opportunistic load balancing across one or more communication links supported by one or more base stations. As part of the opportunistic load balancing process, a load balancer may measure a performance metric and an idle capacity metric for the one or more communication links. In some embodiments, the load balancer may directionally measure the performance metric and the idle capacity metric. Based on the measured metrics, the load balancer may determine a candidate base station for a network socket. The load balancer may then establish the network socket with the candidate base station. As a result, the load balancer may help alleviate network congestion.

Abstract: Multimedia content may be delivered to content consumer devices via a content-delivery network. Encrypted content and cryptography keys for decrypting the content may be distributed from a data center to various nodes of the content-delivery network, each node acting as a semi-independent content-delivery system. Each content-delivery system is capable of delivering received content to end-users and implementing a key-management scheme to facilitate secure content-delivery and usage tracking, even when the content-delivery system is disconnected from the data center. In other words, the disclosed systems and methods facilitate the operation of nodes which may operate in “autonomous mode” when disconnected from a larger content-delivery network, thus maintaining content-delivery capabilities despite having little if any connectivity to external networks.

Abstract: A system, method, and device to enable communication between a first and second satellite station and a controller of a mobile platform. The controller includes a processor, a first modem facilitating communication with the first satellite station via a first frequency over a first communication link, and a map of the one or more networks of satellite stations including the second satellite station. The controller utilizes the map of the one or more networks of satellite stations to determine the second satellite station for communicating with the controller. A second modem is coupled to the controller and facilitates communication with the second satellite station via a second frequency over a second communication link, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a time to handoff communication with the mobile communicator from the first communication link to the second communication link.

Abstract: A self-healing network on-board a vehicle includes multiple wireless devices that are directly and communicatively interconnected via communications backbone(s). One of devices is collectively determined by the other devices to be a lead device of the network, and therefore establishes a wireless link (e.g., an only wireless link) communicatively connecting any of the self-healing network devices to other devices/servers on-board the vehicle and external to the network. Passenger-consumable content may be delivered between any device of the self-healing network and the other on-board, external devices via the lead wireless device, its established wireless link, and the communications backbone(s). Any wireless device of the self-healing network may serve as a hot spare for the lead wireless device, so that the self-healing network may automatically reconfigure to mitigate and recover from faults, e.g.

Abstract: The Automated Content Upload System networks a plurality of aircraft together when they are parked at the gates of an airport. Communications among the aircraft are guided by a Content Manager, resident at or near the airport, which maintains data representative of InFlight Entertainment Content presently stored on each aircraft and the list of scheduled InFlight Entertainment Content available on each aircraft. The Content Manager guides the exchange of InFlight Entertainment Content among the aircraft, as well as from the Content Manager to the aircraft, to automatically distribute InFlight Entertainment Content to the aircraft efficiently and timely. This process includes the ability to multicast data from the Content Manager to multiple aircraft in a single transmission, obtaining content delivery efficiency, populating multiple aircraft via a single transmission from the Content Manager.

Abstract: Communication systems and methods for routing data selectively via unicast paths and multicast paths are disclosed. An example communication system includes a satellite ground station having a multicast server configured to: access a receive signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measured for a forward link (FL) between a satellite and a satellite modem; select one of a unicast mode or a multicast mode for the FL based upon the receive SNR; and configure the FL in the selected one of the unicast mode or the multicast mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to decrease DNS lookup times for mobile clients are disclosed. An example DNS cache peering system includes a mobile DNS cache; a mobile DNS server configured to, when an IP address for a URL is not found in the DNS cache, send a DNS lookup request for the URL; a ground-based DNS server to receive the DNS lookup request from the mobile DNS server, and send, in response, a DNS lookup response including the IP address for the URL to the mobile DNS server; and a ground-based DNS peer engine server configured to capture the DNS lookup response, and multicast DNS information from the DNS lookup response to a plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients, wherein the plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients are configured to store the DNS information in respective ones of a plurality of mobile DNS caches.

Abstract: A self-healing network on-board a vehicle includes multiple wireless devices that are directly and communicatively interconnected via communications backbone(s). One of devices is collectively determined by the other devices to be a lead device of the network, and therefore establishes a wireless link (e.g., an only wireless link) communicatively connecting any of the self-healing network devices to other devices/servers on-board the vehicle and external to the network. Passenger-consumable content may be delivered between any device of the self-healing network and the other on-board, external devices via the lead wireless device, its established wireless link, and the communications backbone(s). Any wireless device of the self-healing network may serve as a hot spare for the lead wireless device, so that the self-healing network may automatically reconfigure to mitigate and recover from faults, e.g.

Abstract: Communication systems and methods for routing data selectively via unicast paths and multicast paths are disclosed. An example communication system includes a satellite ground station having a multicast server configured to: access a receive signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measured for a forward link (FL) between a satellite and a satellite modem; select one of a unicast mode or a multicast mode for the FL based upon the receive SNR; and configure the FL in the selected one of the unicast mode or the multicast mode.