Jeffrey B Colburn

US Patent:

8131288, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

Aug 6, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/186759

Inventors:

Steven L. Horr - Millersville MD, US
Jeffrey A. Colburn - Frederick MD, US

Assignee:

Arinc Incorporated - Annapolis MD

International Classification:

H04W 4/00
H04W 36/00

US Classification:

455431, 455440

Abstract:

An apparatus and a method may be provided by which a user aboard an aircraft may use a processing device to communicate with another device, which is not located aboard the aircraft, via an air-to-ground network connection. A communication satellite may provide connectivity for the air-to-ground network connection. As the aircraft approaches an end of a satellite coverage area, the air-to-ground network connection may seamlessly transition to a second communication satellite or a second communication medium. Some communication satellites may communicate via a first frequency range and other communication satellites may communicate via a second frequency range. In one mode of operation, the air-to-ground network connection may be via a communication satellite communicating via a first frequency range. A transition to a communication medium communicating via a second frequency range may occur automatically only during the one mode of operation.