Abstract: A method is present for transferring information in an aircraft network data processing system. A message is received from a process executing on the aircraft network data processing system for a destination to form a pending message. The pending message is received using a common protocol for processes executing in the aircraft network data processing system. A communication service is identified from a number of communication services for use in sending the message to the destination remote to the aircraft network data processing system to form a selected communication service in response to receiving the pending message. A new message is formed from the pending message. The new message has a format usable by an associated protocol for the selected communication service. The new message is sent to the destination using the selected communication service.

Abstract: A method is present for transferring information in an aircraft network data processing system. A message is received from a process executing on the aircraft network data processing system for a destination to form a pending message. The pending message is received using a common protocol for processes executing in the aircraft network data processing system. A communication service is identified from a number of communication services for use in sending the message to the destination remote to the aircraft network data processing system to form a selected communication service in response to receiving the pending message. A new message is formed from the pending message. The new message has a format usable by an associated protocol for the selected communication service. The new message is sent to the destination using the selected communication service.

Abstract: Configuration of hardware and software onboard a mobile platform may be dynamically managed without significantly impacting a data stream from the mobile platform. Configuration data for equipment and resident software aboard a mobile platform is electronically reported in the form of a part number and a serial number. The configuration data is transferred to a terrestrial database via a mobile communications network. The configuration data is displayed to stakeholders, such as the network-provider enterprise and its customers. Invalid configurations may cause alerts.

Abstract: A status reporting system for components used in a mobile platform includes a fault manager within the mobile platform for assigning a state indicator to each component. Each state indicator indicates the operational current state of the component. A management system external to the mobile platform, in one example being a ground based management system, is in communication with the mobile platform via a wireless communication link. A component summary including the state indicators of all the components is periodically transmitted from the mobile platform as an information packet, via the wireless link, to the management system for review. The management system can thus remotely monitor the operational status of various important components on a periodic basis, for example every five minutes. This saves significant bandwidth over that which would be required if a continuous wireless link was to be employed to remotely monitor various components on the mobile platform.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems manage a mobile network. A mobile network node is managed when the node is connected to the network. However, an alarm is not necessarily generated when the node is not connected to the network. A status message is periodically generated and transmitted from the mobile network node to a network control facility. The status message may include any status information regarding the mobile network node as desired. When the status message is indicative of a predetermined condition, an alarm is automatically generated. When no status message is received from the mobile network node, a determination is made whether connectivity exists between the mobile network node and the network. If connectivity does not exist between the mobile network node and the network, then no alarm is generated. If connectivity does exist between the mobile network node and the network, then an alarm is generated.

Abstract: A communications system that provides broadband access to passengers of mobile platforms includes a router located on the mobile platform. A network is connected to the router. User communication devices (UCDs) connected to the network, wherein the UCDs establish point-to-point over Ethernet (PPPoE) sessions with the router. A transmitter and a receiver are connected to the router. A satellite and a ground station are in communication with the transmitter and the receiver. A distributed communications system includes virtual private networks (VPN) and is connected to the ground station. A first address manager leases the use of public IP addresses by the mobile platform. A second address manager assigns the public IP addresses to UCDs when the UCDs request access to the VPNs and private IP addresses for other network service. The UCDs employ IPSec protocol when accessing the VPNs.

Abstract: A method for assigning Internet Protocol addresses in a communications system for an aircraft according to the invention includes the steps of creating an air-to-ground network (AGN), a passenger services network (PSN), and a command and control network (CCN). A first range of addresses is assigned to a first group of devices that are associated with the AGN. A second range of addresses is assigned to a second group of devices that are associated with the PSN. A third range of addresses is assigned to a third group of devices that are associated with the CCN. IP aliasing is employed to allow at least one device from the first, second and third groups to be multi-homed.

Abstract: An Internet protocol (IP) networking architecture includes a command and control sub-network (CCN) interconnecting a plurality of control interfaces wherein each control interface has a corresponding logical CCN address. A passenger services sub-network (PSN) interconnects a plurality of passenger interfaces wherein each passenger interface has a corresponding logical PSN address. The architecture further includes an air-to-ground sub-network (AGN) providing Internet access to the passenger interfaces via one or more isolation systems having corresponding logical CCN address and corresponding logical PSN address. By providing the isolation systems with multiple logical addresses, devices communicating on the AGN and PSN can be blocked from accessing the CCN addresses.

Abstract: A method for assigning Internet Protocol addresses in a communications system for an aircraft according to the invention includes the steps of creating an air-to-ground network (AGN), a passenger services network (PSN), and a command and control network (CCN). A first range of addresses is assigned to a first group of devices that are associated with the AGN. A second range of addresses is assigned to a second group of devices that are associated with the PSN. A third range of addresses is assigned to a third group of devices that are associated with the CCN. IP aliasing is employed to allow at least one device from the first, second and third groups to be multi-homed.

Abstract: A status reporting system for components used in a mobile platform includes a fault manager within the mobile platform for assigning a state indicator to each component. Each state indicator indicates the operational current state of the component. A management system external to the mobile platform, in one example being a ground based management system, is in communication with the mobile platform via a wireless communication link. A component summary including the state indicators of all the components is periodically transmitted from the mobile platform as an information packet, via the wireless link, to the management system for review. The management system can thus remotely monitor the operational status of various important components on a periodic basis, for example every five minutes. This saves significant bandwidth over that which would be required if a continuous wireless link was to be employed to remotely monitor various components on the mobile platform.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems manage a mobile network. A mobile network node is managed when the node is connected to the network. However, an alarm is not necessarily generated when the node is not connected to the network. A status message is periodically generated and transmitted from the mobile network node to a network control facility. The status message may include any status information regarding the mobile network node as desired. When the status message is indicative of a predetermined condition, an alarm is automatically generated. When no status message is received from the mobile network node, a determination is made whether connectivity exists between the mobile network node and the network. If connectivity does not exist between the mobile network node and the network, then no alarm is generated. If connectivity does exist between the mobile network node and the network, then an alarm is generated.

Abstract: Configuration of hardware and software onboard a mobile platform may be dynamically managed without significantly impacting a data stream from the mobile platform. Configuration data for equipment and resident software aboard a mobile platform is electronically reported in the form of a part number and a serial number. The configuration data is transferred to a terrestrial database via a mobile communications network. The configuration data is displayed to stakeholders, such as the network-provider enterprise and its customers. Invalid configurations may cause alerts.

Abstract: A system and method for routing IP packets to an aircraft eliminates the need for the exchange of routing information via dynamic routing protocols between the aircraft and ground station routers. An Internet protocol (IP) packet routing table is populated by converting a tail number of the aircraft into a destination subnet address for the aircraft. Forward channel information for a ground router is determined based on the tail number. The method further provides for adding a route entry to the routing table based on the forward channel information and the destination subnet address such that the route entry enables the ground router to delivery IP packets to the aircraft.

Abstract: An Internet protocol (IP) networking architecture includes a command and control sub-network (CCN) interconnecting a plurality of control interfaces wherein each control interface has a corresponding logical CCN address. A passenger services sub-network (PSN) interconnects a plurality of passenger interfaces wherein each passenger interface has a corresponding logical PSN address. The architecture further includes an air-to-ground sub-network (AGN) providing Internet access to the passenger interfaces via one or more isolation systems having corresponding logical CCN address and corresponding logical PSN address. By providing the isolation systems with multiple logical addresses, devices communicating on the AGN and PSN can be blocked from accessing the CCN addresses.

Abstract: A method for assigning Internet Protocol addresses in a communications system for an aircraft according to the invention includes the steps of creating an air-to-ground network (AGN), a passenger services network (PSN), and a command and control network (CCN). A first range of addresses is assigned to a first group of devices that are associated with the AGN. A second range of addresses is assigned to a second group of devices that are associated with the PSN. A third range of addresses is assigned to a third group of devices that are associated with the CCN. IP aliasing is employed to allow at least one device from the first, second and third groups to be multi-homed.

Abstract: A network operating the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Router Discovery Protocol (IRDP) on an Internet protocol (IP) based network on a mobile platform which supports automatic failover of the network's default router to one or more onboard back-up routers. A security safeguard is also implemented by including packet filters at each one of a plurality of seat electronics box (SEB) stations on the mobile platform which allows ICMP Type 9 and Type 10 packets transmitted on the network to be blocked. The filters further allow each SEB to accept only advertisements from pre-designated addresses of routers operating on the network.

Abstract: A communications system that provides broadband access to passengers of mobile platforms includes a router located on the mobile platform. A network is connected to the router. User communication devices (UCDs) connected to the network, wherein the UCDs establish point-to-point over Ethernet (PPPoE) sessions with the router. A transmitter and a receiver are connected to the router. A satellite and a ground station are in communication with the transmitter and the receiver. A distributed communications system includes virtual private networks (VPN) and is connected to the ground station. A first address manager leases the use of public IP addresses by the mobile platform. A second address manager assigns the public IP addresses to UCDs when the UCDs request access to the VPNs and private IP addresses for other network service. The UCDs employ IPSec protocol when accessing the VPNs.

Abstract: A system and method for routing IP packets to an aircraft eliminates the need for the exchange of routing information via dynamic routing protocols between the aircraft and ground station routers. An Internet protocol (IP) packet routing table is populated by converting a tail number of the aircraft into a destination subnet address for the aircraft. Forward channel information for a ground router is determined based on the tail number. The method further provides for adding a route entry to the routing table based on the forward channel information and the destination subnet address such that the route entry enables the ground router to delivery IP packets to the aircraft.

Abstract: A communications system according to the invention provides a communications link between a distributed communications system and a mobile platform via a satellite. The communications system includes a ground station and a parent proxy server connected to the ground station. A distributed communications system is connected to the parent proxy server. A satellite communicates with the ground station. A transceiver, a router and a child proxy server are located on the mobile platform. A user communication device (UCD) is connected to the child proxy server. The child and parent proxy servers establish a persistent transmission control protocol (TCP) link between the mobile platform and the ground station. The UCD connects to the child proxy server using a first group of TCP settings. The child and parent proxy servers communicate using a second group of TCP settings to optimize the TCP link for long delay satellite links.