Patent ID: 7171197

Claim:
A wireless local area network adapted for use by users traveling on a mobile platform, wherein the mobile platform has a plurality of rows of seats, the network comprising: a network server located on the mobile platform; a plurality of network access components each independently associated with a specified seating area on the mobile platform, each being in communication with the network server, and each network access component being accessible wirelessly by a predetermined number of portable electronic devices; each of said network access components including an antenna; at least first and second ones of the network access components further being located at spaced apart ones of said seat rows in the mobile platform; and each of the network access components further being configured to wirelessly communicate via its associated said antenna with said portable electronic devices within an associated one of said seating areas on the mobile platform while enabling roaming of a given one of said portable electronic devices between said first and second ones of the network access components; and a communication system for wirelessly linking said network server on said mobile platform with a subsystem disposed remotely from said mobile platform.