TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments generally relate to wireless communications and, more particularly, relate to techniques for enabling the provision of a private or priority network over the top of an existing communication network in an aviation context.

BACKGROUND

High speed data communications and the devices that enable such communications have become ubiquitous in modern society. These devices make many users capable of maintaining nearly continuous connectivity to the Internet and other communication networks. Although these high speed data connections are available through telephone lines, cable modems or other such devices that have a physical wired connection, wireless connections have revolutionized our ability to stay connected without sacrificing mobility.

However, in spite of the familiarity that people have with remaining continuously connected to networks while on the ground, people have generally understood that easy and/or cheap connectivity would tend to stop once an aircraft is boarded. That said, aviation platforms are becoming more easily and cheaply connected to communication networks for the passengers and crew onboard. While the ability to stay connected in the air improves, and cost and bandwidth limitations are also reduced, it remains true that the most common and cost effective solutions currently available tend to have high latency problems. As such, passengers willing to deal with the expense and issues presented by aircraft communication capabilities are often limited to very specific communication modes that are supported by the rigid communication architecture provided on the aircraft.

As improvements are made to network infrastructures to enable better communications with in-flight receiving devices of various kinds, additional communication paradigms may become available beyond the familiar communication paradigm of enabling passengers on board the aircraft to receive service via a Wi-Fi router on board the aircraft. When such improvements are implemented, not only can user equipment be more readily connected to communication links off the aircraft, but devices on the aircraft itself can also have seamless connectivity to networks off the aircraft to the point where nearly every device on the aircraft (including those that are part of the aircraft and those that are only aboard for a single flight) can have connectivity. However, even when such access to connectivity becomes available, issues may still exist regarding how to prioritize access to the communication links.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

The continuous advancement of wireless technologies offers new opportunities to provide wireless communication to devices located on an aircraft. In this regard, for example, a private or priority network may be defined over the top of an existing aviation-related communication network to ensure that the devices/members of the private or priority network have uninterrupted and un-delayed access available bandwidth by enabling some devices on the aircraft to have priority access to network resources.

In one example embodiment, an aviation-related communication network is provided. The aviation-related communication network includes a plurality of base stations configured to communicate with in-flight aircraft, a plurality of aviation-related communication network radios disposed on selected aircraft where the aviation-related communication network radios are configured to communicate with base stations of the aviation-related communication network via first communication links using a first communication standard, and a first wireless access point on each of the selected aircraft to define a first wireless local area network on each of the selected aircraft. At least some of the selected aircraft include a second wireless local area network that defines a priority access network. Devices of the priority access network may be provided with priority access to bandwidth supplied by the aviation-related communication network relative to devices of the first wireless local area network.

In another example embodiment, a priority access network is provided. The priority access network may be operable on an aircraft separate from, but using resources of, an aviation-related communication network. The aviation-related communication network may include a plurality of base stations configured to communicate with in-flight aircraft including the aircraft, and a plurality of aviation-related communication network radios disposed on selected aircraft including the aircraft. The aviation-related communication network radios may be configured to communicate with base stations of the aviation-related communication network via aviation-related communication network communication links using a first communication standard. The aviation-related communication network radios may further be configured to interface with devices forming a first wireless local area network on the aircraft bandwidth supplied by the aviation-related communication network. The priority access network may include a first wireless access point and a plurality of devices configured to define a second wireless local area network on the aircraft. The devices of the priority access network may have priority access to the bandwidth supplied by the aviation-related communication network relative to devices of the first wireless local area network.

