Data communications network for an aircraft

• US 10,057,793 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Mueller, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghafoerkhan, Faiyazkhan
• Application Number:
  US14/940,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20160157111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition

Abstract

A data communications network for an aircraft includes a first branch for establishing a wireless data connection to a first group of end devices, a primary control unit connected to the first branch, and a backup control unit connected to the first branch. The primary control unit is configured for data transmission to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch. The backup control unit is configured for detecting an operating state of the primary control unit and for taking over data transmission to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit.

Claims

1. A data communications network for an aircraft, the network comprising:

a first branch for establishing a wireless data connection to a first group of end devices;

a primary control unit connected to the first branch;

a backup control unit connected to the first branch;

a first group of connection units;

a second group of connection units;

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch, and

wherein the backup control unit, in a first operational state, detects an operating state of the primary control unit and, in a second operational state, takes over data transmission to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit,

a second branch for establishing a wireless data connection to a second group of end devices;

wherein the primary control unit, is connected to the second branch,

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the second group of end devices via the second branch, and

wherein the backup control unit, in an operational state, takes over data transmission to and from the second group of end devices from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit,

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the second group of end devices via the first branch in case of a failure of the second branch, and

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmitting data to and from the first group of end devices via the second branch in case of a failure of the first branch,

wherein the first group of connection units is connected to the first branch and, in an operational state, establishes a wireless data connection to at least one of the end devices from the first group of end devices,

wherein the second group of connection units is connected to the second branch and, in an operational state, establishes a wireless data connection to at least one of the end devices from the second group of end devices,

wherein the at least one end device from the first group of end devices is connectable to at least one of the primary control unit and the backup control unit via both, the first group of connection units and via the second group of connection units, and

wherein the at least one end device from the second group of end devices is connectable to at least one of the primary control unit and the backup control unit via both, the first group of connection units and via the second group of connection units.

2. The data communications network according to claim 1, wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, supplies electrical energy to the first branch.

3. The data communications network according to claim 2, wherein the backup control unit, in an operational state, takes over supplying electrical energy to the first branch from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit.

4. The data communications network according to claim 1,

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, supplies electrical energy to the second branch, and

wherein the backup control unit, in an operational state, takes over supplying electrical energy to the second branch from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit.

5. A data communications system for an aircraft, comprising:

a data communications network;

wherein the data communications network comprises;

a first branch for establishing a wireless data connection to a first group of end devices;

a primary control unit connected to the first branch;

a backup control unit connected to the first branch;

a first group of connection units;

a second group of connection units;

wherein the primary control unit in an operational state, transmits data to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch,

wherein the backup control unit, in a first operational state, detects an operating state of the primary control unit and, in a second operational state, takes over data transmission to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit, and

wherein the data communications system comprises a multitude of end devices wirelessly connected to the first branch and configured for transmitting data to the primary control unit,

a second branch for establishing a wireless data connection to a second group of end devices;

wherein the primary control unit is connected to the second branch,

wherein the primary control unit in an operational state, transmits data to and from the second group of end devices via the second branch, and

wherein the backup control unit, in an operational state, takes over data transmission to and from the second group of end devices from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit,

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the second group of end devices via the first branch in case of a failure of the second branch, and

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the first group of end devices via the second branch in case of a failure of the first branch,

wherein the first group of connection units is connected to the first branch and, in an operational state, establishes a wireless data connection to at least one of the end devices from the first group of end devices,

wherein the second group of connection units is connected to the second branch and, in an operational state, establishes a wireless data connection to at least one of the end devices from the second group of end devices,

wherein the at least one end device from the first group of end devices is connectable to at least one of the primary control unit and the backup control unit via both, the first group of connection units and via the second group of connection units, and

wherein the at least one end device from the second group of end devices is connectable to at least one of the primary control unit and the backup control unit via both, the first group of connection units and via the second group of connection units.

6. The data communications system according to claim 5,

comprising at least one end device of a first type and at least one end device of a second type;

wherein the second type end device comprises an autonomous energy supply unit.

7. The data communications system according to claim 6, wherein the second type end device, in an operational state, detects an operating state of the primary control unit and the backup control unit and determines whether a data connection to the primary and the backup control units is interrupted.

8. The data communications system according to claim 6, wherein the second type end device, in an operational state, establishes an ad hoc data connection with another second type end device for transmitting data via the ad hoc data connection.

9. An aircraft, comprising a data communications system;

wherein the data communications system comprises a data communications network;

wherein the data communications network comprises;

a first branch for establishing a wireless data connection to a first group of end devices;

a primary control unit connected to the first branch;

a backup control unit connected to the first branch;

a first group of connection units;

a second group of connection units;

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch,

wherein the backup control unit, in a first operational state, detects an operating state of the primary control unit and, in a second operational state, takes over data to and from the first group of end devices via the first branch from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit, and

wherein the data communications system comprises a multitude of end devices wirelessly connected to the first branch and configured for transmitting data to the primary control unit,

a second branch for establishing a wireless data connection to a second group of end devices;

wherein the primary control unit is connected to the second branch,

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the second group of end devices via the second branch, and

wherein the backup control unit, in operational state, takes over data to and from the second group of end devices from the primary control unit in case of a failure of the primary control unit,

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the second group of end devices via the first branch in case of a failure of the second branch, and

wherein the primary control unit, in an operational state, transmits data to and from the first group of end devices via the second branch in case of a failure of the first branch,

wherein the first group of connection units is connected to the first branch and, in an operational state, establishes a wireless data connection to at least one of the end devices from the first group of end devices,

wherein the second group of connection units is connected to the second branch and, in an operational state, establishes a wireless data connection to at least one of the end devices from the second group of end devices,

wherein the at least one end device from the first group of end devices is connectable to at least one of the primary control unit and the backup control unit via both, the first group of connection units and via the second group of connection units, and

wherein the at least one end device from the second group of end devices is connectable to at least one of the primary control unit and the backup control unit via both, the first group of connection units and via the second group of connection units.

10. The aircraft according to claim 9, wherein the end devices are sensors for determining operational parameters of the aircraft.

11. The aircraft according to claim 9, wherein the first branch and a second branch of the data communications network are arranged in the aircraft such that they are spatially separated.