Wireless aircraft communication system

An aircraft communication system for use in an aircraft including one or more on-aircraft communication networks, comprising:

• a first communication module configured to establish communication with one or more external communication networks off the aircraft via one or more first module wireless data links;
• and
• a second communication module configured to establish communication with one or more external communication networks off the aircraft via one or more second module wireless data links;
• one or more connection detectors configured to determine availability of the one or more first module wireless data links and availability of the one or more second module wireless data links;
• and
• a connection manager configured to:
• store prioritization information associated with the one or more first module wireless data links and the one or more second module wireless data links;
• determine a priority data link of the available one or more first module wireless data links and the available one or more second module wireless data links based upon the prioritization information;
• when the priority data link is one of the one or more first module wireless data links, cause the first communication module to couple the one or more on-aircraft communication networks, via the priority data link of the first module wireless data links, to an associated external communication network;
• and
• when the priority data link is one of the one or more second module wireless data links, cause the second communication module to couple the one or more on-aircraft communication networks, via the priority data link of the second module wireless data links, to an associated external communication network;
• and
• wherein:
• the one or more on-aircraft communication networks is coupled to the first communication module;
• the communication system further comprises a data communication connection coupling the first communication module to the second communication module;
• and
• when the priority data link is the one of the one or more second module wireless data links, the one or more on-aircraft communication networks are coupled to the second communication module via the data communication connection.

A method for controlling wireless communication between one or more on-aircraft communication networks, including a wireless cabin communication network, and a plurality of external communication networks by first and second communication modules, wherein the first communication module establishes wireless communication with one or more of the external communication networks via one or more first module data links, and the second communication module establishes wireless communication with one or more of the external communication networks via one or more second module data links, comprising:

• determining availability of the one or more first module data links and the one or more second module data links;
• determining a priority data link of the available one or more first module data links and the available one or more second module data links based upon a prioritization scheme;
• causing the first communication module to couple one or more of the on-aircraft communication networks to one of the external communication networks via the priority data link when the priority data link is one of the first module data links;
• and
• causing the second communication module to couple one or more of the on-aircraft communication networks to one of the external communication networks via the priority data link when the priority data link is one of the second module data links;
• wherein:
• the first communication module is coupled to the wireless cabin communication network;
• the method further comprises providing link status information to the first communication module indicating status of availability of at least one of the second module data links;
• determining availability of the second module data links includes determining availability based upon the link status information;
• and
• causing the second communication module to couple one or more of the on-aircraft communication networks to one of the external communication networks includes (1) causing the wireless cabin communication network to be coupled to the second communication module via the first communication module, and (2) causing the second communication module to couple the wireless cabin communication network to one of the external communication networks via one of the second module data links.