Methods, computer readable mediums, and apparatuses for providing communication to a mobile device using virtual connections

1. A method of providing communication to a first device aboard a vehicle, the method comprising:

establishing a first connection between a first communication interface of the first device and a first one of a plurality of second devices;

establishing a plurality of virtual connections, each virtual connection being between the first communication interface of said first device and one of a plurality of third devices through the first one of said second devices, wherein the first communication interface of the first device has an established virtual connection to each of the third devices, and wherein each of the third devices is adapted to provide communication between the first device and a predetermined network;

selecting a first one of the plurality of third devices for communication with the predetermined network by selecting one or more of said virtual connections based upon data indicating characteristics of said virtual connections;

establishing, in response to a movement of the vehicle, a second connection between a second communication interface of the first device and a second one of the plurality of second devices, wherein the second one of the plurality of second devices is different from the first one of the plurality of second devices; and

in response to establishing the second connection and in response to disconnection of the first connection, allocating the plurality of the virtual connections to the second one of said second devices, and selecting a second one of the plurality of third devices for communication with the predetermined network by selecting one or more of said allocated virtual connections based upon data indicating characteristics of said allocated virtual connections.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said characteristics of said virtual connections comprise a parameter associated with communication using said virtual connections.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said parameter is indicative of properties of a link between one of said second devices and one of said third devices.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said data provides an indication of a round trip time for data sent using each of said virtual connections.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein each of said virtual connections is a communication tunnel.

6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising storing a routing table comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associating particular routing data with a particular virtual connection.

7. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving a data packet comprising routing data; and

processing said received data packet with reference to said routing table to obtain a virtual connection associated with said routing data.

8. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

determining whether said obtained virtual connection is one of said one or more selected virtual connections.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein, if said obtained virtual connection is not one of said one or more selected virtual connections, obtaining another virtual connection to be associated with the routing data, the another virtual connection being one of said one or more selected virtual connections.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the another virtual connection is obtained if but only if there is no active TCP session associated with the routing data.

11. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising terminating use of a particular virtual connection if a time out time is reached.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said first device is arranged to receive data packets from client devices.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein said first device is arranged to wirelessly receive data packets from client devices.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying a computer program configured to cause a computer to carry out a method according to claim 1 .

15. A computer apparatus for providing communication to a first device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory storing processor readable instructions; and

a processor arranged to read and execute instructions stored in said memory,

wherein said processor readable instructions are arranged to control the computer to carry out a method according to claim 1 .

16. Apparatus for providing communication to a first device aboard a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing a first connection between a first communication interface of the first device and a first one of a plurality of second devices;

means for establishing a plurality of virtual connections, each virtual connection being between the first communication interface of said first device and one of a plurality of third devices through the first one of said second devices, wherein the first communication interface of the first device has an established virtual connection to each of the third devices, and wherein each of the third devices is adapted to provide communication between the first device and a predetermined network;

means for selecting a first one of the plurality of third devices for communication with the predetermined network by selecting one or more of said virtual connections based upon data indicating characteristics of said virtual connections;

means for establishing, in response to a movement of the vehicle, a second connection between a second communication interface of the first device and a second one of the plurality of second devices, wherein the second one of the plurality of the second devices is different from the first one of the plurality of second devices; and

means for, in response to establishing the second connection and in response to disconnection of the first connection, allocating the plurality of virtual connections to the second one of said second devices, and means for selecting a second one of the plurality of third devices for communication with the predetermined network by selecting one or more of said allocated virtual connections based upon data indicating characteristics of said allocated virtual connections.