SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING WIRELESS NETWORK COMMUNICATION, SATELLITE-BASED WIRELESS NETWORK SYSTEMS, AND AIRCRAFT-BASED WIRELESS NETWORK SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS
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.
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.