The Airborne Communication Gateway (ACG) provides in-flight telephone (voice) and data (wired and wireless) service consolidation to multiple simultaneous cabin space users. The ACG provides least cost routing services from one of four sources, including Iridium and multiple Satcom sources. The ACG is a complete cabin communications system, including voice and fax services, voice mail, conference bridges and wired and wired LAN (Internet) services. The ACG operates as an airborne data network router, telecommunication exchange device and communications gateway. The ACG’s data network routing function connects airborne users, via on-board networks or network equipment, with ground-based networks. In its role as a telecommunications exchange, the ACG furnishes bi-directionally-initiated (i.e., air-to-ground/ground-to-air) telephony services (e.g., voice, FAX, narrowband/baseband PC data) to multiple simultaneous cabin users over various air/ground bearer system links. This combination of information-interchange capabilities in the ACGpermits it to transfer voice and data messages not only amongst networked terminals aboard the aircraft, but between airborne and ground networks as well.

1.  Voice Calls:
A.  Transmit and Receive Voice Calls:
I.   Wired and Wireless VoIP telephones – directly interfacing to the ACG via       Ethernet interface
II.  VoIP or other digital phones serviced by some other third party IP-PBX (e.g.       AirCell) and interfacing to the ACG via Ethernet interface.
III. Two wire, POTs telephone interfacing to the ACG FXS interface

B.  Voice Calls via different WAN side Satellite Network links:
I.   Inmarsat Classic Aero – CEPT E1 interface : max. 6 (six) concurrent calls
II.  Inmarsat Swift 64 – ISDN interface : max. 2 (two) concurrent calls
III. Inmarsat Swift Broadband
a.  Circuit Mode – AMBE+2 ISDN interface : single call – send or receive
b.  VoIP – over Streaming IP class - Ethernet interface:  < 16 kbps per channel:      max. 4 (four) concurrent calls
IV. Iridium Aero – via FXO interface: max. 2 (two) concurrent calls
V.  Iridium Aero – via Ethernet interface to some other third party IP-PBX (e.g.       AirCell)

C.  Operator Configurable Call Routing options:
I.   Least Cost Routing – after validating WAN side link availability {e.g. always       place first outgoing call via Inmarsat Swift Broadband AMBE+2 link – if available,       else next choice Iridium link}
II.  Preferred Satellite Link Routing – after validating WAN side link availability {e.g.       set preference to VoIP calls always}

 D.  Onboard IP-PBX functions:
I.   Call Hold
II.  Seat to seat (terminal to terminal) Call Transfer
III. Seat to Seat (terminal to terminal) Calling
IV.  Call Conferencing
a.  Multiple terminals on board to a single number on the ground
b.  Multiple terminals on board joining a conference call # in on the ground
V.  Ground to Air call routing to specific terminals (handsets) on the aircraft

E.  Support DTMF (In Band / Out of Band) Tones:
I.   Enable access to user voice mail boxes, automatic call attendant, voice response      systems etc. (e.g. be able to interface to systems which are expecting key      entries for menu options – “Enter 1 for Sales, 2 for Accounting” etc.}

F.  Incoming Call Notification:
I.   Audio Ringing – selectable ring tones and volume
II.  Drive an external signal discrete – to drive an visual indicator

G.  Concurrent Voice Calls and Data Communications –
I.   Support at least two concurrent voice calls while some data communication       application is in progress.


2.  Data Communications :
A.  Support Air to Ground Data Links:
I.   Wired and Wireless network devices – directly interfacing to the ACG       Ethernet interface
II.  Typical usage – Internet Browsing, file transfers via FTP, viewing streaming       video (e.g. U-Tube, News clips); financial market reporting (etc.

B.  Data Links via different WAN side Satellite Network links:
I.   Support PPPoE and Multi-Link PPP support Service Names for PPoE contexts,       Multi-context as per ARINC 781 specification
II.  Inmarsat Swift 64 – ISDN interface – two 64 kbps channels
III. Inmarsat Swift Broadband interface
a.  Via Standard, “Background” class 432 kbps (shared), always on IP link
b.  Via Streaming IP class, “on demand”/ “leased” IP links in increments of 16 kbps       or 32 kbps channels: max. 128 kbps or 256 kbps link
IV. Iridium Aero:
a.  Via RS-232 serial MODEM interface { AT commands}
b.  Via 2-wire POTs MODEM interface { AT commands}

C.  Support multiple channel aggregation – “Bandwidth ON Demand, BOND”:
I.   BRI 0&1 of Inmarsat Swift 64 ISDN channels: two 64Kbps channels -> a 128       Kbps link
II.  Aggregate two separate Swift Broadband channels – that is two SBB WAN       interfaces to enhance total data throughput. Suggest “Inverse Multiplexing”       scheme. ** May require coordination with Ground Gateway unit.

D.  Support optional Data Compression & Bandwidth Optimization application:
I.   Support option of routing data traffic with or without Data Compression &       Bandwidth Optimization

3.  ACG Advanced Functions & Features :
A.  Subsystem Monitoring and Status Display:
I.   Read and drive discrete I/O inputs to indicate selected system status, e.g. call in      progress, incoming call etc.
II. Query other system component maintenance interfaces over RS-232 serial      interface
III. Query other system component maintenance interfaces over Ethernet interface
IV. The gathered data is available via web browser interface to show subsystem       operational status and some particular status conditions would generate       automatic system alerts or notifications

B.  Captive Portal – controlled access option:
I.   This is a system configurable option – may be turned off for private owner user       systems.
II.  Support for PIN entry with local (on board lookup) or Credit Card info entry for       validation and approval via Ground Gateway system

C.  Transmit and Receive FAX:
I.   Support either “Store Forward” FAX operation, else IP FAX solution