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 passenger unit for use on-board a passenger vehicle (e.g., an in-flight entertainment device) includes a display, a memory storing a passenger unit identifier, a network interface, and a connector configured to physically couple to a connector on a mounting unit, where the mounting unit is installed on, or proximate to, a particular seat of a plurality of seats on-board the passenger vehicle. The passenger unit also includes a controller configured to obtain a seat location code of the particular seat from the mounting unit, and to cause the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier to be transmitted, via the network interface, to a server on-board the passenger vehicle. The server is configured to map the passenger unit to the particular seat using the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier.

Abstract: A passenger unit for use on-board a passenger vehicle (e.g., an in-flight entertainment device) includes a display, a memory storing a passenger unit identifier, a wireless network interface, and a connector configured to physically couple to a connector on a mounting unit, where the mounting unit is installed on, or proximate to, a particular seat of a plurality of seats on-board the passenger vehicle. The passenger unit also includes a controller configured to obtain a seat location code of the particular seat from the mounting unit, and to cause the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier to be transmitted, via the wireless network interface, to a server on-board the passenger vehicle. The server is configured to map the passenger unit to the particular seat using the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier.

Abstract: Novel techniques for averting unsanctioned access to on-board vehicle networks include obtaining indications of detected stimuli and/or conditions that are external to a target computing device, and determining whether or not the detected stimuli/conditions are indicative of the target computing device being utilized, operated, held, and/or carried by a person on-board the vehicle. External stimuli/conditions may include signals transmitted by other devices on-board the vehicle, ad-hoc data received via various interfaces of the target computing device, comparisons of vehicle heuristic data with data generated by components of the target computing device, etc. A confidence score may be generated (e.g., over time) based on detected stimuli/conditions. Access of the target computing device to an on-board vehicle network may be granted or denied based on the detected stimuli/conditions and/or the confidence score. Further, the novel techniques are not required to use any user input.

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: Novel techniques for averting unsanctioned access to on-board vehicle networks include obtaining indications of detected stimuli and/or conditions that are external to a target computing device, and determining whether or not the detected stimuli/conditions are indicative of the target computing device being utilized, operated, held, and/or carried by a person on-board the vehicle. External stimuli/conditions may include signals transmitted by other devices on-board the vehicle, ad-hoc data received via various interfaces of the target computing device, comparisons of vehicle heuristic data with data generated by components of the target computing device, etc. A confidence score may be generated (e.g., over time) based on detected stimuli/conditions. Access of the target computing device to an on-board vehicle network may be granted or denied based on the detected stimuli/conditions and/or the confidence score. Further, the novel techniques are not required to use any user input.

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: Systems and methods are provided to authenticating an electronic device with a wireless network using a presence-based authentication process. As part of the presence-based authentication process, an authentication entity may receive a registration message from an electronic device. The authentication entity may respond to the registration message by transmitting an authentication challenge associated with providing access to the wireless network and/or network feature thereof. If the electronic device provides a successful response to the authentication challenge, then the authentication entity may authenticate the electronic device to utilize the wireless network and/or network feature thereof.

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: Data content that is to be utilized, as a whole, at a target device on-board a vehicle is apportioned for delivery onto the vehicle via multiple forward links, each of which is included in a different frequency band and/or used a different protocol. A mapping or selection of a specific portion of the data content for a specific forward link may based on a data content type of the specific portion, as well as on other dynamic or static criteria. The target device may operate on the subsets of the data content as it receives each subset. Thus, time critical/foundational portions of the data content may be delivered using a faster forward link, larger elements of the data content may be delivered using a higher-bandwidth forward link, and/or portions of the data content requiring a higher degree of accuracy may be delivered using a more robust forward link, for example.

Abstract: A passenger unit for use on-board a passenger vehicle (e.g., an in-flight entertainment device) includes a display, a memory storing a passenger unit identifier, a wireless network interface, and a connector configured to physically couple to a connector on a mounting unit, where the mounting unit is installed on, or proximate to, a particular seat of a plurality of seats on-board the passenger vehicle. The passenger unit also includes a controller configured to obtain a seat location code of the particular seat from the mounting unit, and to cause the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier to be transmitted, via the wireless network interface, to a server on-board the passenger vehicle. The server is configured to map the passenger unit to the particular seat using the seat location code and the passenger unit identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to authenticating an electronic device with a wireless network using a presence-based authentication process. As part of the presence-based authentication process, an authentication entity may receive a registration message from an electronic device. The authentication entity may respond to the registration message by transmitting an authentication challenge associated with providing access to the wireless network and/or network feature thereof. If the electronic device provides a successful response to the authentication challenge, then the authentication entity may authenticate the electronic device to utilize the wireless network and/or network feature thereof.

Abstract: A method of caching communications for devices being transported by vehicles includes receiving, at a vehicle via forward link, a message directed to the vehicle and a plurality of other vehicles. The message includes: content to be delivered to a requesting mobile device being transported by the vehicle or one of the other vehicles, and an indication of at least some of the content to be cached in one or more computer readable storage media disposed on the vehicle. The method further includes determining if the requesting mobile device is being transported by the vehicle, and, if so, forwarding at least some of the content to the requesting mobile device. At least some of the content is then stored on the one or more computer readable storage media disposed in the vehicle based on the indication of the least some of the content to be cached.

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: Data content that is to be utilized, as a whole, at a target device on-board a vehicle is apportioned for delivery onto the vehicle via multiple forward links, each of which is included in a different frequency band and/or used a different protocol. A mapping or selection of a specific portion of the data content for a specific forward link may based on a data content type of the specific portion, as well as on other dynamic or static criteria. The target device may operate on the subsets of the data content as it receives each subset. Thus, time critical/foundational portions of the data content may be delivered using a faster forward link, larger elements of the data content may be delivered using a higher-bandwidth forward link, and/or portions of the data content requiring a higher degree of accuracy may be delivered using a more robust forward link, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to support hypernumber portability for a hypernumber number corresponding to an electronic device. The electronic device may include an installed application to facilitate hypernumber portability. To this end, when the electronic devices connects to a wireless network, the electronic device may request a vehicle identification. If the wireless network is a vehicle-based network, the electronic device may receive the vehicle identification from an on-board node. When the received vehicle identification indicates that the electronic device has changed locations, the electronic device may communicate with a hypernumber database and/or a hypernumber server to update a dynamic phonebook. As a result, as the electronic device traverses a transport network, the dynamic phonebook may maintain updated location and call routing information for the electronic device.

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: 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: Data content that is to be utilized, as a whole, at a target device on-board a vehicle is apportioned for delivery onto the vehicle via multiple forward links, each of which is included in a different frequency band and/or used a different protocol. A mapping or selection of a specific portion of the data content for a specific forward link may based on a data content type of the specific portion, as well as on other dynamic or static criteria. The target device may operate on the subsets of the data content as it receives each subset. Thus, time critical/foundational portions of the data content may be delivered using a faster forward link, larger elements of the data content may be delivered using a higher-bandwidth forward link, and/or portions of the data content requiring a higher degree of accuracy may be delivered using a more robust forward link, for example.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating data communications among electronic devices via various communication networks are provided. A first electronic device may be connected to a terrestrial network and a second electronic device may be connected to an on-board communications network of a vehicle. A first voice- or message-based content may be received from the first electronic device, for delivery to the second electronic device. A data center may transmit a corresponding forward communication to the second electronic device via a satellite communication link. The data center may also receive a return communication from the second electronic device via either the satellite communication link or a terrestrial communication link, and transmit corresponding content to the first electronic device.