Patent ID: 7194523

Claim:
A method for providing Internet services utilizing a network comprising a first server adapted to be connected to a North American Terrestrial System (NATS) radio set and a second server adapted to be connected to a plurality of ground stations, wherein data packets are exchanged between an application program running on the first server and an application program running on the second server via a wireless connection between the NATS radio set and at least one of the plurality of ground stations, and wherein both the first server and the second server are adapted to transmit data to and receive data from devices outside the network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a general purpose computer, a query for Internet data; generating a response including said Internet data, if said response may be generated utilizing data currently available; generating said response including said Internet data utilizing data uploaded via an air-to ground link to an appropriate ground-based device, if said response may not be generated utilizing data currently available; sending said response to said general purpose computer; updating said currently available data by periodically uploading time-sensitive update data via an air-to ground link to at least one ground-based device; updating flight avionics software via said air-to-ground link; and transmitting voice-over-Internet protocol packets via said air-to-ground link.