Aerial vehicle management for an aeronautical communications network
First Claim
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1. A method of providing service coverage for the provision of data services to a target aircraft comprising:
- generating a data services availability map and an expected data usage profile aboard the target aircraft for each point in a flight plan of the target aircraft;
generating a metric for a level of available data services for each point in the flight plan based on the data services availability map;
comparing the metric with the expected data usage profile for each point in the flight plan; and
when the level of available data services is insufficient, configuring a pattern of communication links with one or more other aircraft and the target aircraft to achieve the expected data usage profile.
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Abstract
The invention provides a system and method of providing service coverage for the provision of data services to a target aircraft comprising the step of configuring one or more other aircraft in an area at a specific time such that the data services can be provided via a radio or communication link to the target aircraft via the one or more other aircraft; and predicting a data services requirement in an area and configuring a pattern of communication links with the one or more other aircraft and the target aircraft to maintain the predicted data services.
7 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of providing service coverage for the provision of data services to a target aircraft comprising:
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generating a data services availability map and an expected data usage profile aboard the target aircraft for each point in a flight plan of the target aircraft; generating a metric for a level of available data services for each point in the flight plan based on the data services availability map; comparing the metric with the expected data usage profile for each point in the flight plan; and when the level of available data services is insufficient, configuring a pattern of communication links with one or more other aircraft and the target aircraft to achieve the expected data usage profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network management system configured to provide service coverage for the provision of data services to a target aircraft comprising:
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a module adapted for generating a data services availability map and an expected data usage profile aboard the target aircraft for each point in a flight plan of the target aircraft; a module adapted for generating a metric for a level of available data services for each point in the flight plan based on the data services availability map; and a module adapted for comparing the metric with the expected data usage profile for each point in the flight plan and, when the level of available data service is insufficient, configuring a pattern of communication links with one or more other aircraft and the target aircraft to achieve the expected data usage profile. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions for providing data services to a target aircraft, including instructions for:
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generating a data services availability map and an expected data usage profile aboard the target aircraft for each point in a flight plan of the target aircraft; generating a metric for a level of available data services for each point in the flight plan based on the data services availability map; comparing the metric with the expected data usage profile for each point in the flight plan; and when the level of available data services is insufficient, configuring a pattern of communication links with one or more other aircraft and the target aircraft to achieve the expected data usage profile.
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Specification