Vehicle Internet Access Validation Through Ground-Based Identity Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in validating a user's identity before granting internet access on vehicles like aircraft, as manual verification processes are not feasible, and the association between passenger identity and user device identity is unknown to the ISP.
Innovation Solution
A ground-based server retrieves user identity or internet subscription plan information for user devices connected in a vehicle, using a repository that maps onboard IP addresses to a vehicle-based server, and communicates this information to a second server for validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual identity verification is used, then identity validation can be performed, but the process is not feasible inside an aircraft or vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground-based server as an intermediary to perform identity verification. The server receives user device information (MAC address, IP address) from the aircraft-based system, validates the user's identity against government-issued identification records, and returns validation results. This mediator approach enables reliable identity validation without requiring manual verification processes on the aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical verification process with an automated electronic system. Instead of manually inspecting government identification documents, the system automatically transmits user device identifiers to a ground-based server that electronically validates identities against stored records, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated digital processing.
2Reliability
If the association between passenger identity and user device identity is established, then identity verification becomes possible, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identity verification system into distinct functional components: an aircraft-based access control system that collects user device information, a ground-based server that performs identity validation, and a database that stores verification records. This segmentation allows each component to have specialized functionality, reducing overall system complexity while enabling reliable identity verification through clear separation of concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground-based server acts as an intermediary that handles the complex identity validation logic remotely. The aircraft-based system only needs to collect basic device identifiers and forward them to the server, avoiding the complexity of implementing comprehensive identity verification systems onboard the aircraft.
3Ease of operation
If internet access is granted without prior identity validation, then ease of access is improved, but regulatory compliance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary identity validation before granting internet access. The system checks the user's government-issued identification information against the user device identifiers (MAC address, IP address) in advance, and only after successful verification does it authorize internet access. This preliminary action ensures regulatory compliance is met before the actual internet access begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the ground-based server's identity validation results to control internet access authorization. The server returns validation status information to the aircraft-based system, which then uses this feedback to either grant or deny internet access. This feedback mechanism ensures that access decisions are based on verified identity information, maintaining regulatory compliance.
Data Source
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AI summary
An entertainment and connectivity system includes a processor for transferring information between a vehicle based user device and a server to validate a user's government identity before granting the user device access to the internet. The vehicle based server has an internet protocol address and communicates with user devices. The user devices each have an onboard internet protocol address mapped to the internet protocol address of the vehicle based server. A processor associated with the vehicle based server receives requests for internet service originating from the user devices. The requests include travel information or internet subscription plan information for a user of each of the user devices. The vehicle based server, or a ground based server that receives the request, generates an internet connection authorization decision based on validation of the user's government identity or the user's internet subscription plan information. The connection authorization decisions are then used to control whether the internet connections are established to the user devices. If the internet connections are established, internet session information for the user devices, including for each user device the onboard internet protocol address mapped to the internet protocol address of the vehicle based server, is stored in a ground based server and can be retrieved to identify the government identity of a user or a user's internet subscription plan information for each of the user devices.