Patent 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.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to broadband communications systems for mobile platforms, and more particularly to a broadband communication system employing point protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Broadband communications access, on which our society and economy is growing increasingly dependent, is not readily available to users on board mobile platforms such as aircraft, ships, and trains. While the technology exists to deliver the broadband communications services to mobile platforms, conventional solutions are commercially unfeasible due to the high costs for service or due to low data rates. The conventional solutions have typically only been available to government/military users and/or to high-end maritime markets such as cruise ships. 
     Passengers of aircraft are often business users who require access to their corporate network. To attract business users, the broadband communication services must provide acceptable data rates at a reasonable price and allow access to virtual private networks (VPNs). There are two basic modes of operation of VPNs. In a first mode, the VPN provides secure remote access from the client to corporate gateway across the Internet. In a second mode, the VPN provides secure gateway to gateway connections across the Internet. The first mode of operation applies when a passenger&#39;s laptop runs VPN client software and communicates with the passenger&#39;s corporate VPN gateway. 
     There are many different security protocols that are currently being used on the Internet. Layer  2  Forwarding (L 2 F) is a security protocol created by Cisco Systems. Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), created by the PPTP industry forum, is currently the most widely used VPN protocol. There are several security weaknesses that make PPTP undesirable for future use. Layer  2  Tunneling Protocol (L 2 TP) evolved through the IETF standards process and is a security protocol that is a combination of PPTP and L 2 F. Internet protocol security (IPSec) is an architecture and related Internet key exchange (IKE) protocol that is described by IETF RFCs 2401–2409, which are hereby incorporated by reference. IPSec provides robust security and is a preferred protocol for future use. 
     IPSec provides integrity protection, authentication, privacy and replay protection services for IP level traffic. IPSec packets are of two types. A first type, IP protocol  50  (Encapsulated Security Payload (ESP)), provides privacy, authenticity and integrity. A second type, IP protocol  51  (Authentication Header (AH) format), provides integrity and authenticity for packets but not privacy. 
     IPSec can be used in two modes. A transport mode secures an existing IP packet from source to destination. A tunneling mode puts an existing IP packet inside a new IP packet that is sent to a tunnel end point in the IPSec format. Both transport and tunnel modes can be encapsulated in ESP or AH headers. 
     Internet web sites are identified by a public address. Routers and switches use the public address to route IP packets. Public addresses are considered a scarce resource. Requests for public address space from American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) are scrutinized for efficient usage. Permanently assigning even a small number of public addresses to each mobile platform requires a large number of public addresses. When the mobile platform is not in use, the address(es) allocated to the mobile platform are not used. If a significant percentage of mobile platforms are not in use at a given time, ARIN will conclude that the public addresses are inefficiently used and deny the request. 
     To efficiently use IP addresses, some broadband communications systems employ Network Address Translation (NAT). NAT allows many hosts to share a single IP address by multiplexing streams based on transmission control protocol/user datagram protocol (TCP/UDP) port numbers as well as IP addresses. NAT was developed as an interim solution to combat IP address depletion. NAT maps IP addresses from one address domain to another, most often by mapping private IP addresses to public IP addresses. In a static NAT, a one-to-one mapping is defined between public and private IP addresses. In a dynamic NAT, a pool of public IP addresses is shared by an entire private IP subnet. 
     For example, private hosts 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 both send packets from source port  2000 . A NAT device translates these to a single public IP address 207.29.194.28 with two different source ports, for example  2998  and  2999 . Response traffic that is received for port  2998  is readdressed and routed to 192.168.0.1. Response traffic that is received for port  2999  is readdressed and routed to 192.168.0.2. As can be appreciated, the NAT gateway is directional. 
     When IPSec systems employ AH, the entire IP packet including invariant header fields (like source and destination address) is run through a message digest algorithm to produce a keyed hash. The recipient uses the keyed hash to authenticate the IP packet. If any field in the original IP packet is modified, authentication will fail and the recipient will discard the IP packet. AH is intended to prevent unauthorized modification, source spoofing, and man-in-the-middle attacks. NAT, however, by definition modifies IP packets. NAT modifies the packet header by replacing the packet&#39;s source address. As a result, systems employing NAT cannot employ IPSec if the remote system is configured to employ AH or gateway. 
     Therefore, a broadband communications system for mobile platforms that allows users to access VPNs, that conserves IP address space, that provides sufficiently high data rates and/or that conforms with the IPSec protocol would be desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A communications system according to the invention for providing 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. 
     In other features of the invention, a transmitter on the mobile platform is connected to the router. A receiver on the mobile platform is connected to the router. A satellite is in communication with the transmitter and the receiver of the mobile platform. A ground station is in communication with the satellite. A distributed communications system is connected to the ground station. A virtual private network (VPN) is connected to the distributed communications system. 
     In still other features of the invention, a first address manager is connected to the ground station. The first address manager leases use of public Internet Protocol (IP) addresses by the mobile platform. The router includes a second address manager that communicates with the first address manager to lease the public IP addresses for the mobile platform. The second address manager assigns the public IP addresses when the UCDs request access to the VPN. The second address manager assigns private IP addresses to the UCDs for at least one network service provided by the mobile platform. 
     In still other features of the invention, the UCDs employ IPSec security protocol when communicating with the VPN. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a broadband communications system including mobile platforms, satellites, ground stations and the Internet; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram illustrating the mobile platform communications system that employs a Point-to-Point over Ethernet (PPoE) protocol on the mobile platform; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the protocols employed by the ground-based distributed communications system and by the mobile platform communications system; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an address manager; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the connectivity between a passenger services network, an air-to-ground network and a command and control network; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates steps for initiating a PPPoE session by a user communication device (UCD) on the mobile platform; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates steps employed by the mobile platform for assigning public addresses to allow the UCD to access a VPN; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates steps employed by the mobile platform for leasing public address blocks from a public address manager server and for assigning the public address to UCDs; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates steps employed by the public address manager to manage the public addresses. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The present invention provides a broadband communications system for mobile platforms that allows users to access VPNs, that conserves IP address space and that conforms with the IPSec protocol. When users located on the mobile platform initially request access, the communications system assigns a private address. When the user requests access to a VPN, the communications system assigns a public address to the user from a pool of public addresses that are preferably leased. Switching from the private address to the public address is performed without requiring the user to reboot. Access to other resources such as non-VPN web sites and multimedia services are preferably prevented while the user is assigned the public address to optimize the use of the public address pool. When the user finishes using the VPN, the public address is returned to the pool and the user is reassigned a private address. The reassignment to a private address is also preferably performed without rebooting the user&#39;s computer. When accessing a VPN site that employs IPSec with AH, proper authentication is performed and the IP packets are not discarded. Furthermore, the use of public IP address space is conserved in accordance with IANA requirements. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a mobile platform communications system  10  for mobile platforms  12 - 1 ,  12 - 2 , . . . ,  12 -n is shown. The mobile platforms  12  communicate via one or more satellites  16 - 1 ,  16 - 2 , . . . ,  16 -n and with one or more ground-based receiving stations  18 - 1 ,  18 - 2 , . . . ,  18 -n. The ground-based receiving stations  18  are connected to a distributed communications system  22  via a router  24 - 1 ,  24 - 2 , . . . ,  24 -n. A public address manager (PAM) server  28  is connected to the distributed communications system  22 , the router  24  or to the ground-based receiving stations  18 . The PAM server  28  manages the leasing of public addresses that are stored in a public address pool  29  to the mobile platforms  12  as will be described more fully below. 
     One or more web servers  30 - 1 ,  30 - 2 , . . . ,  30 -n are connected to the distributed communications system  22 . Likewise, one or more virtual private networks (VPNs)  32 - 1 ,  32 - 2 , . . . ,  32 -n are connected to the distributed communications system  22 . The distributed communications system  22  is preferably the Internet. Users located on the mobile platform  12  access the web servers  30  and/or the VPN&#39;s  32  via the mobile platform communications system  10 . As can be appreciated, the mobile platform establishes an air-to-ground network via the satellites  16  and the ground stations  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mobile platform  12  includes a transmit antenna  40  that is connected to a transmitter  42  and a receive antenna  46  that is connected to a receiver  48 . The transmit and receive antennas  40  and  46  are controlled by antenna control system  50  in a conventional manner. The receiver  48 , transmitter  42 , the router  52  and the switch  54  are collectively referred to as a data transceiver router (DTR)  55 . The transmit and receive antennas  40  and  46  are connected to a router  52  and a switch  54 . 
     The switch  54  is connected to one or more switches  57 ,  58 , and  60 . The switches  57  and  58  are connected to servers  64  and  66 . The servers  64  and  66  provide web services, an aircraft interface unit (AIU), flight specific websites such as car rental companies located at the destination, popular web sites such as CNN, MSN, etc. that are stored in cache, targeted advertising, and other content. The switch  60  is connected to one or more seat processors  70  that are connected to one or more user communication devices UCD  74 - 1 ,  74 - 2 , . . . ,  74 -n. The switch  60  and seat processor  70  are collectively referred to as a seat electronic box  72 . The UCD  74  is a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant PDA, or any other electronic device that communicates via the Internet. The UCDs  74  preferably include a microprocessor, memory (such as random access memory, read-only memory, and/or flash memory), and input/output devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and/or a voice operated interface. The mobile platform communication system  10  establishes a PPPoE session between the UCD  74  and the DTR  55 . From the viewpoint of the distributed communications system, the protocols employed by the mobile platform communication system  10  are transparent as can be seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the DTR  55 , the server  64  or the server  66  preferably include an address manager  90  including an address pool  92 , an access server  94  and a PAM client  96 . The PAM client  96  requests address blocks from the PAM server  28  based on need. The PAM client  96  also transmits periodic lease maintenance messages to the PAM server  28  to maintain the leases on the address block(s). The address pool  92  stores the address blocks and the PPPoE Access Server  94  controls the use of the public addresses by the UCDs  74 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there are three or more logical subnets: a passenger services network  100 , an air-to-ground network  102  and a command and control network  104 . For example, the servers  64  and  66  that provide web or media services are multi-homed in that they have multiple physical interfaces. The UCDs  74  are connected to the passenger services network  100 . IP aliasing allows multiple IP addresses to be configured on the same physical interface. The IP addresses can be from the same or different subnets. Multiple logical subnets can be created on the same physical network. Since only a router can forward traffic between subnets, logical subnets simplify router and host-based packet filtering to control inter-subnet access. Logical subnets allow access to actual application ports to be restricted to specific subnets. Logical subnets allow maximum uses of private address ranges and reuse of address ranges between module platforms. Logical subnets minimize the number of subnets that must be advertised to the ground. 
     The command and control network  104  is an onboard network that supports local command and control functions such as configuration, initialization, data load, and other similar functions. None of the UCD  74  are assigned addresses from the address range of the command and control network  104 . In a preferred embodiment, the command and control network  104  uses a class B private address range that is reused on each aircraft, for example 172.16.0.0/16. Devices that are attached to the command and control network  104  do not communicate directly to the ground using addresses for the command and control network  104 . The command and control network  104  subnet is not advertised to the ground. Command and control addresses are not altered using NAT. 
     The air-to-ground network  102  includes devices that need to communicate directly with the ground. These devices are assigned addresses from the air-to-ground network  102  address range. The air-to-ground network  102  is the only subnet that is advertised to the ground as reachable from the aircraft. The air-to-ground network  102  address range is not reused. The air-to-ground network  102  addresses uniquely identify each airborne network. Preferably, the air-to-ground network  102  uses a private class A subnet, for example 10.0.0.0/8 with subnetting to uniquely identify each airborne network. 
     The passenger services network  100  is a network that provides direct services to UCDs  74  that are assigned addresses from the passenger services network  100 . The servers  64  and  66 , the airborne router  52 , and the SEB  72  are assigned addresses from the passenger services network  100 . The passenger services network preferably employs a class B private address range, for example 172.17.0.0/16. The address range is reused on each aircraft. Addresses from the passenger services network  100  are translated into an AGN address by a NAT function in the DTR  55  for offboard access. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , steps for initiating communications by the UCD  74  are illustrated. Control begins with step  150 . In step  152 , control determines whether the UCD  74  transmits a configuration request frame. If not, control loops back to step  152 . The configuration request frame is a broadcast Ethernet frame that employs PPPoE control type code. If the configuration request frame is sent, the SEB  72  and/or the seat processor  70  forwards the configuration request frame to the router  52  in step  154 . In step  156 , control messages are unicast by the router  52 . In step  158 , control determines whether the client is in the data transfer stage. If not, control loops back to step  156 . Otherwise, control continues with step  162  where the router  52  assigns a private address to the client. In step  164 , a PPPoE session is established and data transfer is enabled. Control ends at step  166 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , steps for establishing a VPN session are shown. Control begins with step  170 . In step  172 , control determines whether one of the UCDs  74  has requested the VPN session. If not, control loops to step  172 . If the UCD  74  has requested a VPN session, control determines whether a PPPoE session has been established by the UCD  74  requesting VPN access in step  174 . If not, a PPPoE session is established between the router  52  and the requesting UCD  74  in step  176  (by executing steps  150 – 166 ). Control continues from steps  174  and  176  to step  178  where the UCD  74  is reassigned the public address from the public address block. In step  180 , the routing tables are set up to support packet forwarding. In step  184 , control determines whether the UCD  74  terminated the VPN session. If not, control loops back to step  184 . If the VPN session has been terminated, control continues with step  188 . The public address is returned to the public address block in step  188 . Control ends with step  190 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates steps performed by the PAM client on the mobile platform to provide public addresses to the UCDs  74  for use with VPNs. Control begins with step  200 . In step  202 , the PAM client  96  requests a public address block from the ground PAM server  28 . In step  204 , control determines whether the public address block has been received. If not, control waits for the timeout period in step  206  and then continues with step  202 . If the public address block has been received, control continues with step  208  where a lease timer is reset. In step  212 , control determines whether the UCD  74  has launched the VPN module. If not, control continues with step  216 . Otherwise, control assigns a public address from the public address block in step  220 . In step  224 , control optionally disables other services such as access to non-VPN web sites or other multimedia services and continues with step  216 . The other services are optionally disabled to optimize the use of the public addresses. 
     In step  216 , control determines whether the lease timer has timed out. If not, control continues with step  228 . If the lease timer has timed out, control continues with step  230  where the PAM client  96  refreshes the public address block lease with the ground PAM server. In step  234 , control resets the lease timer and continues with step  228 . In step  228 , control determines whether the public address pool  92  on the mobile platform is empty. If not, control continues with step  238 . If the public address pool  92  is empty, the PAM client  96  on the mobile platform requests additional public addresses from the ground PAM server  28  in step  240  and control continues with step  238 . 
     In step  238 , control determines whether the client terminated the VPN session by closing the VPN module. If not, control continues with step  246 . If the client terminated the VPN session, control returns the public address to the public address block and assigns the private address to the UCD  74  in step  248 . In step  250 , other services such as access to non-VPN web sites and multimedia services are enabled and control continues with step  246 . 
     In step  246 , control determines whether the public address block for the mobile platform is still needed. If not, control returns the public address block to the PAM server  28  in step  252  and control ends in step  254 . If the public address block is still needed, control loops back to step  212 . If multiple public address blocks are requested from the PAM server  28 , the mobile platform can return one or more of the public address blocks or simply allow the lease to time out and end. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , steps performed by the ground PAM server  28  are shown. Control begins with step  300 . In step  302 , control determines whether a mobile platform is requesting a public address block. If not, control continues with step  306 . If a mobile platform is requesting a public address block, the ground PAM server  28  assigns a public address block to the mobile platform in step  308 . In step  310 , a lease timer for the public address block that is requested by the mobile platform is started and continues with step  306 . In step  306 , control determines whether the lease timer of any address block of any mobile platform has timed out. If not, control continues with step  314 . If the lease timer has timed out, the ground PAM server  28  returns the public address block to the public address pool (so that the public addresses can be effectively utilized by another mobile platform) in step  316 . In step  314 , control determines whether a mobile platform returned a public address block. If not, control loops to step  302 . If the mobile platform returns the public access block, the ground PAM server  28  returns the public address block to the public address pool in step  318  and control continues with step  302 . 
     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7