Apparatus and Methods for Broadband Aeronautical Communications Systems

Abstract

The invention relates to the implementation of wireless communications in a network, which employs a multi-beam satellite, with an associated satellite service area, and a terrestrial-based capacity augmentation system, such as an air-to-ground communications system and/or an aircraft platform, for broadband Internet service to aeronautical mobile users. The capacity augmentation system may serve users in areas of elevated demand in the satellite service area. The network adapts to changes in demand over the service area and provides smooth service transitions as airplanes fly across the service area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network management system for a wireless communication system, comprising:
 a first gateway capable of communicating with a satellite management system associated with a satellite service area, wherein the satellite management system manages a first communication service associated with a network; and   a second gateway capable of communicating with an augmentation management system for augmenting capacity in a portion of the satellite service area, wherein the augmentation management system manages a second communication service associated with the network; and   an allocation component capable of allocating network connectivity between the first communication service and the second communication service.   
     
     
         2 . The network management system of  claim 1 , wherein the augmentation management system is for a terrestrial-based network. 
     
     
         3 . The network management system of  claim 1 , wherein the augmentation management system is an air-to-ground system. 
     
     
         4 . The network management system of  claim 1 , wherein the augmentation management system is for an aircraft platform-based system. 
     
     
         5 . The network management system of  claim 4 , wherein the aircraft platform management system communicates with an airship. 
     
     
         6 . The network management system of  claim 4 , wherein the aircraft platform management system communicates with a balloon. 
     
     
         7 . The network management system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third gateway capable of communicating with an airplane terminal, wherein the allocation component is capable of the allocating network connectivity based at least in part on communications with the airplane terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The network management system of  claim 7 , wherein the communications with the airplane terminal includes a request regarding changing allocation of network connectivity from the first communication service to the second communication service. 
     
     
         9 . The management system of  claim 1 , wherein the network management system manages a communication service to the Internet. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 configuring a satellite network, associated with a satellite service area, to provide a first communication service to an airplane terminal to enable the airplane terminal to connect to a network;   configuring a capacity augmentation network, associated with a portion of the satellite service area, to provide a second communication service to the airplane terminal to enable the airplane terminal to connect to the network;   receiving a first request regarding the airplane terminal; and   changing, based on the first request, the airplane terminal from the first communication service to the second communication service.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request regarding the airplane terminal; and   changing the airplane terminal's connection to the network from the second communication service to the first communication service based on the second request.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first request is received from at least one of the satellite management system and the augmentation management system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the augmentation network is terrestrial-based. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the augmentation network is an air-to-ground system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the augmentation network is an aircraft platform-based system. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 configuring a satellite network, associated with a satellite service area, to provide a first communication service to an airplane terminal to enable the airplane terminal to connect to a network;   configuring a capacity augmentation network, associated with a portion of the satellite service area, to provide a second communication service to the airplane terminal to enable the airplane terminal to connect to the network;   receiving a first request regarding the airplane terminal; and   changing, based on the first request, the airplane terminal from the first communication service to the second communication service.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the computing device to perform further operations comprising:
 receiving a second request regarding the airplane terminal; and   changing the airplane terminal's connection to the network from the second communication service to the first communication service based on the second request.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first request is received from at least one of the satellite management system and the augmentation management system. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the augmentation network is terrestrial-based. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the augmentation network is an air-to-ground system.