Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2004-06-29
Coulter, Kenneth R. (Department: 2141)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C709S236000, C709S234000, C709S232000, C709S230000, C709S203000, C709S249000, C709S221000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06757712
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a communication system for aircraft and in particular to a system for transmitting electronic data between an aircraft and a terrestrial base station.
The invention has been developed primarily for use with passenger aircraft and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to that particular field of use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent times, portable computers such as “laptop” PCs and devices such as the Apple® Newton or other palm-held devices (PDAs) running Microsoft® Windows CE, for example, have become available. There have been commensurate improvements in mobile or cellular telephone technology and in protocols for transmitting computer-generated data across cellular networks. By employing a PCMCIA modem, for example, which allows data to be transferred between the laptop or PDA and mobile telephone, these twin developments have allowed e-mail messages and other electronic data to be sent and received by an individual at one of many locations, without the need to connect via a fixed land telephone line.
Several communications networks for providing telecommunications to airborne users are also known. For example, the North American Telephone System (NATS), including providers such as AT&T and Airfone, have installed terminals in many commercial aircraft to allow passengers to connect a laptop or PDA and transfer data from the passenger's seat.
In addition to terrestrial based aeronautical communications, satellite service providers such as Inmarsat provide airborne passengers communications from virtually any global location. Similar services are also offered by Iridium, who has launched another network of satellites. Furthermore, other satellite providers have or are launching constellations of satellites with the intention of providing airborne passenger communications.
One serious drawback of existing aeronautical passenger communications is the expense. In most cases, the passenger connects the laptop or PDA to a seat mounted handset using an integrated RJ11 jack. The passenger must make a modem connection to their ground based access server, provide authentication information, and then retrieve or send data. This process is generally technically challenging and unreliable. Even for the transfer of small amounts of data, one or more calls of one or more minutes is necessary. Furthermore, the existing speed of transmission, defined as bits per second (bps), is relatively slow—for example, the INMARSAT satellite services currently limit the data rate for passenger modem communications to 2400 bps. Thus, the time taken to transfer large amounts of electronic data, and the consequent expense, can become prohibitive.
In addition, the reliability of connection when employing a wireless link has been perceived as a major drawback during transmission of data in this way.
Thus, until now, the use of portable computers on aircraft, for sending and receiving electronic mail and browsing World Wide Web (WWW) sites has not been deemed feasible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for transmitting electronic data between a computer terminal on an aircraft and a terrestrial base station, the system including:
a server mounted upon or within the aircraft for communicating with the computer terminal wherein the terminal is disposed remotely from the server; and
a terrestrial base station for selectively communicating with the server to allow the data to be passed between the base station and the terminal.
Preferably, the base station communicates with the server via a link selected from one or a combination of: one or more wireless links; and one or more wire links. More preferably, the base station communicates with the server via one or more wireless links, each of those wireless links being selected from the group comprising: a satellite link; a cellular telephone link; a microwave link; a NATS compatible link; and another communication system. Even more preferably, the selection of the or each link is dependent upon one or more of: the availability of each link; the relative cost of each link; and the relative speed of each link.
Preferably also, the system includes a plurality of spaced apart terrestrial base stations and the server communicates selectively with one or more of the stations. More preferably, the base station with which the server selectively communicates is dependent upon the position of the aircraft with respect to the stations.
In a preferred form, the server communicates with a plurality of remotely disposed computer terminals located on the aircraft for allowing communication of the electronic data between the base station and the respective terminals.
Preferably, the terrestrial base station selectively communicates with an Internet service provider (ISP) or corporate mail server to collect the electronic data and provide it to the terminal via the server.
More preferably, the data is communicated between the server and the terminal using one or more of: SMTP; HTTP; POP3; or IMAP. More preferably, the data is collected from the ISP or corporate mail server and delivered to the base station using POP3 or IMAP.
More preferably, the base station is able to communicate with a corporate mail server that is behind a firewall. The corporate subscriber can provide firewall static user id and password once when signing up for service, arrange for VPN
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to have secure access behind the corporate firewall, or the corporate subscriber can provide dynamic user id and password information the first time requesting e-mail retrieval.
In a preferred form, the base station includes means for providing a first signal indicative of the structure of the data and the terminal includes means for generating a second signal in response to the first signal confirming that the data is to be transmitted to the terminal. More preferably the first signal is indicative of one or more of the following: text; file type; attachments; graphics; backgrounds; and the like. Even more preferably, the second signal confirms to the base station which portions of the data are to be transmitted.
Preferably, the base station stores electronic data to be transmitted from the base station to the server, and the server stores electronic data to be transmitted from the server to the base station, the server and base station communicating with each other intermittently.
In a preferred form, the server includes a database of information, the database being updated periodically by transmission of electronic data from the base station to the server. More preferably, the server allows the terminals to access the database. Even more preferably, the terminals access the database with a web browser.
Preferably also, the server communicates with that base station which is nearest to the aircraft. More preferably, the server determines which of the base stations is nearest by determining the current location of the aircraft. More preferably, the server communicates with one only of the base stations. Alternatively, the server communicates with selectively with more than one of the base stations, the selection being made on the basis of the available remaining capacity of the respective base stations.
Preferably, the server communicates selectively with one of the base stations, the selection being made on the basis of the least expensive communication route that is made available by the respective base stations.
In a preferred form the computer terminal is suitable for either browsing the Internet or sending and retrieving e-mail. More preferably, the terminal is a portable personal computer. However, it is also preferred that the terminal is a PDA, or a fixed terminal installed as a part of the aircraft, for example as a part of
Bastian Fabio
Chan Philip Seik Poon
Gresham Simon
Lemme Peter W.
Coulter Kenneth R.
Davis , Wright, Tremaine, LLP
Donohue Michael J.
Tenzing Communications, Inc.
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