Method for improving bandwidth performance of a mobile computer network

• US 20030076785A1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Purpura, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method for improving data throughput across a local area network (LAN) that is adapted for use onboard an aircraft (mobile LAN) and that may also be connected to at least one wide area network (WAN). To improve data throughput across the computer network, the mobile LAN'"'"'s system software automatically evaluates and modifies, if necessary, the operation parameter settings of a personal computer connected to the mobile LAN. The present invention also discloses a real-time throughput optimization procedure that is comprised of sending a series of sample file types to a predetermined recipient and setting the operational parameter settings on the user'"'"'s PC and the data packet size to a set of values that produce the fastest throughput for the file type associated with the user'"'"'s primary activity.

Claims

1. A method for improving the data throughput across a computer network, which is comprised of a local area network adapted for use onboard a platform and a computing device connected to the local area network, comprising the steps of:

determining the operational parameter settings on the computing device; and

changing the operational parameter settings on the computing device to values that result in improved data throughput across the computer network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

bypassing the step of changing the operational parameter settings for a given operational parameter when the operational parameter is already set to the value that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of changing the operational parameter settings on the computing device to values that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network further comprises the steps of:

determining a connection type used to connect the computing device to the local area network onboard the platform; and

using the connection type to determine the operational parameter settings that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining the connection type used to connect the computing device to the local area network onboard the platform further comprises the step of:

having a user of the computing device select the connection type when the computing device has more than one connection type available for use.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

changing a data packet size setting on the computing device to a value that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of changing the data packet size setting on the computing device to a value that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network further comprises the steps of:

determining a primary type of activity that a user of the computing will be performing; and

using the primary type of activity to determine the data packet size that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of using the primary type of activity to determine the data packet size that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network further comprises the step of:

setting the data packet size to its maximum value when the user'"'"'s primary type of activity does not require accessing a computer network other than the local area network onboard the platform.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a primary type of activity that a user of the computing device will be performing; and

using the primary type of activity to determine the operational parameter settings that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network.

9. A method for improving the data throughput across a computer network, which is comprised of a local area network adapted for use onboard a mobile platform and a computing device connected to the local area network, comprising the steps of:

sending a series of sample file types from the computing device to a predetermined recipient a predetermined number of times;

changing the operational parameter settings on the computing device to a predetermined set of values each time the series of sample files is sent to the predetermined recipient;

measuring and recording the time it takes for each sample file type to travel from the personal computer to the predetermined recipient;

changing the operational parameter settings on the computing device to a set of values that produce the shortest recorded transfer time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sample file types include at least one file type selected from a group comprising:

a sample graphics file, a sample text file, and a sample basic data file.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined recipient is not located onboard the mobile platform.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

having a user of the computing device select a primary type of activity they will be performing; and

using the primary type of activity to determine which set of operational parameters produces the shortest recorded transfer time.

13. A method for improving the data throughput across a computer network, which is comprised of a local area network adapted for use onboard a mobile platform and a computing device connected to the local area network, comprising the steps of:

determining which connection types are present on the computing device;

having the user of the computing device select a primary connection type when more than one connection type is available;

determining the operational parameter settings on the computing device;

using the primary connection type to determine the operational parameter settings that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network; and

changing the operational parameter settings on the computing device to the values that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

having a user of the computing device select the primary type of activity they will be performing;

using the primary type of activity to determine the data packet size that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network; and

setting the data packet size on the computing device to the size that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network for the primary type of activity being performed.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of returning the data packet size and operational parameters to their original settings when the user logs off from the computer network.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

having a user of the computing device select the primary type of activity they will be performing;

using the primary type of activity to determine the operational parameter settings that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network; and

setting the operational parameters on the computing device to the values that will result in improved data throughput across the computer network for the primary type of activity being performed.