Patent ID: 7751814

Claim:
A system for managing multiple communications links between an aircraft and at least one terrestrial communication network, comprising: aircraft network means for communicating with a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft; and aircraft communications controller means, located on said aircraft and connected to said aircraft network means, comprising: transceiver means for communicating with at least one air-to-ground communication network that interconnects with said at least one terrestrial communication network, said air-to-ground communication networks comprising: terrestrial air-to-ground cellular network, satellite air-to-ground cellular network, terrestrial cellular network, each of which air-to-ground communication networks include at least one communication link, and communication controller means for distributing said communications with said plurality of wireless subscriber devices among a plurality of said communication links of selected ones of said air-to-ground communication networks to interconnect said plurality of wireless subscriber devices with said at least one terrestrial communication network.