Gogo LLC

Gogo Business Aviation LLC

Sajit Sasi

Bryan Adrian Lauer

Anand Chari

Rukmani Loganathan

Pat Walsh

Patrick Jay Walsh

Tyrone D Bekiares

Brian R Smith

William A Kelleher

Rukmaini Loganathan

Systems and methods for multicasting a dataset to a fleet of vehicles by a deadline based on respective transit schedules of vehicles in the fleet are disclosed. Based on the vehicle transit schedules, a time segment may be determined for delivering at least a portion of the dataset to at least a subset of the vehicles in the fleet. The determination may be based on a maximum number of fleet vehicles that are scheduled to be simultaneously in transit. The determination may be additionally or alternatively based on an available transmission bandwidth, a time segment duration, a minimum transit duration, and/or other criteria. A multicast transmission including at least a portion of the data set is initiated based on the determination. Multiple multicasts and unicasts may achieve the complete transmission of the entire dataset to the entire fleet of vehicles prior to a deadline.

Optimized wireless content loading scheduler

Data content that is to be utilized, as a whole, at a target device on-board a vehicle is apportioned for delivery onto the vehicle via multiple forward links, each of which is included in a different frequency band and/or used a different protocol. A mapping or selection of a specific portion of the data content for a specific forward link may based on a data content type of the specific portion, as well as on other dynamic or static criteria. The target device may operate on the subsets of the data content as it receives each subset. Thus, time critical/foundational portions of the data content may be delivered using a faster forward link, larger elements of the data content may be delivered using a higher-bandwidth forward link, and/or portions of the data content requiring a higher degree of accuracy may be delivered using a more robust forward link, for example.

Data delivery to devices on vehicles using multiple forward links

A real-time media stream, multicast by a remote computing system, is received by an on-board system of a vehicle. While being received, the real-time media stream is packaged into time-delineated media segments that are input to a buffer. One or more missing segments are identified after a signal loss event (e.g., a satellite handoff), and a request for the missing segment(s) is/are caused to be sent to the remote computing system. The missing segment(s) is/are received from the remote computing system via a unicast transmission, and inserted into the buffer in sequence with the time-delineated media segments. The buffered real-time media stream, including the inserted segment(s), is caused to be provided to one or more electronic devices on-board the vehicle. In this manner, the real-time media stream may be seamlessly delivered to the on-board electronic device(s) despite a loss of connectivity due to the signal loss event.

Seamless delivery of real-time media stream with intermittent signal loss

A method of for optimizing modem usage on a vehicle. The method includes determining that the vehicle is in one of a plurality of port states, where each of the plurality of port states being indicative of the vehicle being located proximate to a vehicle port. The method includes, based on the determination that the vehicle is in the one of the plurality of port states, causing a modem that is (i) operating in a bi-directional mode, and (ii) fixedly connected to the vehicle to be in a receive-only state. The method includes causing an establishment of a wireless communication link at the modem in the receive-only state. Further, the method includes using the wireless communication link as a forward link over which data is able to be received onto the vehicle while the vehicle is in the one of the plurality of port states.

Optimizing usage of modems for data delivery to devices on vehicles

Techniques for providing hybrid communications to devices on vehicles include using a forward link to deliver data, that is intended to be received by an on-board device, onto a vehicle, and using a reverse link in a different frequency band to send reverse data from the vehicle. A subsequent forward link is selected, based on the reverse data, from a plurality of forward links, each of which is supported by a different frequency band. Forward data may be multiplexed and/or multicast, and in some cases, multiple forward links may be used for distributed forward data delivery. These techniques allow for efficient data delivery to the vehicle, and in particular while the vehicle is in transit and link conditions are dynamic.

Hybrid communications for devices on vehicles

Techniques for providing hybrid communications to devices on vehicles include using a selected modulation scheme on a forward link to deliver data (that is intended to be received by an on-board device) onto a vehicle, and using a reverse link in a different frequency band to send reverse data from the vehicle. Based on the reverse data, a subsequent pre-defined modulation scheme for a subsequent forward transmission is selected from a plurality of modulation schemes corresponding to a plurality of performance levels of data delivery. The selections may be based on a current geo-spatial location of the vehicle, a type of data, and/or on one or more other dynamic conditions. The forward data may be multiplexed and/or multicast. Thus, adaptive modulation is achieved in a hybrid communications system in which the forward link and the reverse link to the vehicle are supported by different wireless communication bands.

Adaptive modulation in a hybrid vehicle communication system

Techniques for optimizing modem use for data delivery to vehicles that are near to or parked at ports include using a high-capacity forward communications link, in a first frequency band, to support a logical forward link of a data tunnel via which data is delivered between a data provider and the vehicle. Instead of using the reverse communications link of the first frequency band, though, a reverse communications link in a different frequency band is used to support the reverse logical link of the data tunnel, as reverse data typically requires less bandwidth. Thus, the forward communications link is used in a high-throughput, unidirectional manner. Forward data may be multiplexed and/or multicast, and in some cases, multiple forward communications links may be used in parallel to support the logical forward link of the data tunnel.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Sajit Sasi