Patent ID: 8699404
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04N,H04W

Abstract:
1. A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising: a satellite-based communications network comprising a plurality of satellites; at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs; a plurality of satellite antennas in the aircraft; a satellite transceiver coupled to said plurality of satellite antennas in the aircraft, and cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network to the PEDs; and at least one selection controller for selecting a satellite among said plurality of satellites, and for selecting a satellite antenna among said plurality of satellite antennas for the selected satellite.