Patent ID: 7099665

Claim:
A method for notifying a user of a status of a communications link that the user is making use of while the user is traveling on a mobile platform and using a computing device to effect the communications link, and wherein the communications link is formed between the user's computing device and a ground based computing component via a satellite based transponder, the method comprising: a) having said user use said computing device to connect with a communication network located on board said mobile platform; b) using said communication network on board said mobile platform to effect said communications link with said ground based component; c) having said user access an electronic information supplying component located on-board said mobile platform, said component containing information concerning said communications link; and d) using said ground based component to provide advanced notification to said user via said communications link, said electronic information supplying component, and said user's computing device, substantially in real time, that said communications link may be at least temporarily interrupted.