Systems and methods for facilitating wireless network communication, satellite-based wireless network systems, and aircraft-based wireless network systems, and related methods

Abstract

A wireless network system can include an earth-station server configured to provide a gateway to a secondary network. The wireless network system can also include a plurality of clients, wherein each client comprises a client controller configured to implement a client process. The client process of at least one of the clients can select a transmission path to the earth-station server that is an indirect link to the earth-station server through at least one of the other clients. At least one of the clients can be aircraft-based.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless network system comprising:
 an earth-station server configured to provide a gateway to a secondary network; and   a plurality of clients, each comprising a client controller configured to implement a client process,   wherein the client process of at least one of the clients selects a transmission path to the earth-station server that is an indirect link to the earth-station server through at least one of the other clients, and   wherein at least one of the clients is aircraft-based.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the earth-station server comprises a digital controller configured to maintain a map of data packet transmission paths of the plurality of clients. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aircraft-based client and earth-station server are configured to perform wireless transmission of data using at least one of WiMAX, 4G, and CMDA. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client controller associated with the aircraft-based client is configured to simultaneously serve as an in-flight router. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clients comprises a satellite client. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the client controller associated with the aircraft-based client is configured to extend a satellite constellation mesh. 
     
     
         7 . A method for routing data packets in a wireless network, the method comprising:
 configuring an earth-station server to provide a gateway to a secondary network;   providing a plurality of clients; and   implementing a client process operable via one or more of the plurality of clients to select a transmission path to the earth-station server that is an indirect link to the earth-station server through at least another of the plurality clients,   wherein at least one of the clients is aircraft-based.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the earth station server comprises a digital controller, and wherein the method further comprises maintaining a map of data packet transmission paths of the plurality of clients via the digital controller. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting data using at least one of WiMAX, 4G, and CMDA. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising configuring the client controller associated with the aircraft-based client to simultaneously serve as an in-flight router. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising configuring at least one of the clients as a satellite client. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising configuring the client controller associated with the aircraft-based client to extend a satellite constellation mesh.