Patent ID: 8121593
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
1. An aircraft communication system, comprising: a first wireless base station deployed in a first aircraft and configured to establish multiple wireless links; a second wireless base station deployed in a second aircraft and configured to establish multiple wireless links; and at least one ground-based wireless base station configured to operatively communicate with the first wireless base station or the second wireless base station while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight; wherein when the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight, the first wireless base station and the second wireless base station establish one or more wireless links with each other to create a wireless network for air-to-air communication, such that when one of the first aircraft or second aircraft is out of range with the ground-based wireless base station and the other aircraft is in range with the ground-based wireless base station, the aircraft that is out of range can send a message to the ground-based wireless base station through the aircraft that is in range using a time-based data management protocol comprising: