Method for providing continuous connectivity to a device

A communications method, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a network server, a first set of forwarded packets, said forwarded packets originating from a first end point device and being forwarded by one or more gateways;
• and
• determining, at the network server, if any packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway;
• and
• taking a transmission acknowledgement action based on said determining.

An end point (EP) device, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• operate the EP device to attempt to communicate, while operating in a terrestrial mode of operation, with a network server via one or more terrestrial gateways, said attempt to communicate including transmitting a packet;
• operate the EP device to monitor a first set of downlink receive windows for an acknowledgment from a terrestrial gateway following the transmission of said packet;
• determine, from a failure to receive an acknowledgement of the packet transmitted during said terrestrial mode of operation that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible;
• and
• in response to determining that communications via only terrestrial gateways at a desired data rate is not possible switch into a satellite compatible mode of operation.

A network server comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• operate the network server to receive, at the network server, a first set of forwarded packets, said forwarded packets originating from a first end point device and being forwarded by one or more gateways;
• and
• determine, at the network server, if any packet in the first set of packets was received and forwarded by a satellite gateway without also being received and forwarded by a terrestrial gateway;
• and
• operate the network server to take a transmission acknowledgement action based on said determining.