Patent ID: 8509140
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a message in a relay network, the method comprising: determining when a destination node is within range of transmission of a sending node; when the destination is in range, transmitting the message to the destination node after authenticating network membership of the destination node, wherein authenticating network membership of the destination node includes verifying the identity of the destination node based on cryptographic credentials received from the destination node; when the destination node is not in range, identifying one or more network member aircraft within range of transmission of the sending node, wherein a network member aircraft is an aircraft whose airline has agreed to relay messages from the sending node, the one or more network member aircraft being a subset of aircraft within range that are capable of relaying messages; selecting one of the one or more network member aircraft within range; authenticating membership of the selected network member aircraft if membership of the selected network member aircraft has not been previously authenticated, wherein authenticating membership of the selected network member aircraft is based on cryptographic credentials received from the selected network member aircraft, wherein the cryptographic credentials identify the one or more network member aircraft as belonging to the airline that has agreed to relay messages from the sending node; and transmitting the message to the selected network member aircraft in order to relay the message to the destination node at least in part via the selected network member aircraft.