High bandwidth open wired network

• US 20040235469A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Krug, William P.
• Application Number:
  US10/745,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An open network suitable for a mobile platform that contains a plurality of host and peripheral devices. Within the network, a central server communicates with at least one switch. In turn, a plurality of network devices communicate with the switch. In turn, a plurality of host devices connect to network devices; Thus, each of the plurality of peripheral devices communicates with one of the host devices. Moreover, the mobile platform may be an aircraft including a control panel to control the network. Additionally, a CoreNet and the in flight entertainment and cabin services subsystem may be in communication with the network. Additionally, the network may include a satellite transceiver/data router. In one embodiment, the peripherals use Bluetooth protocol devices to communicate with host devices on a virtual local area network within the network. The virtual network controls the security and quality of service of the network that interconnects the host, and other, devices.

Claims

1. A network suitable for a mobile platform to contain a plurality of peripheral devices, comprising:

a central server;

at least one switch to communicate with the server;

a plurality of network devices to communicate with the switch; and

a plurality of host devices to communicate with the network devices, the plurality of peripheral devices to communicate with at least one of the host devices, the network being open.

2. The network according to claim 1, wherein the mobile platform comprises an aircraft.

3. The network according to claim 1, further comprising a control panel to communicate with the switch and to administer the network.

4. The network according to claim 1, further comprising an in route entertainment server to communicate with the switch.

5. The network according to claim 1, further comprising a gateway to communicate with the switch.

6. The network according to claim 1, further comprising a satellite transceiver to communicate with the switch.

7. The network according to claim 1, wherein one of the host devices further comprises at least one port, the host device allows one of the plurality of peripheral devices to communicate with the switch via the port, the host device is associated with at least one seat on the mobile platform, and wherein the peripheral accesses at least one of audio data and video data.

8. The network according to claim 7, further comprising at least one of an audio, video, and telephone application software installed in the host device, the host device operating to access at least one of audio, video, and telephone data respectively.

9. The network according to claim 1, further comprising a Bluetooth protocol communication link between the plurality of peripheral devices and the at least one of the host devices.

10. The network according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the host devices further comprises a virtual local area network, and wherein the host device controls the security and the quality of service of the network for the peripheral devices.

11. The network according to claim 1, further comprising a ribbon fiber cable between the plurality of host devices and the switch to allow communication therebetween.

12. A mobile platform housing a plurality of peripheral devices, the mobile platform comprising:

an open network communicating with a component of the mobile platform and including;

a central server;

at least one switch to communicate with the server;

a plurality of network devices to communicate with the switch; and

a plurality of host devices to communicate with the network device, the plurality of peripheral devices communicating with at least one of the host devices.

13. The mobile platform according to claim 12, wherein the mobile platform comprises an aircraft.

14. The mobile platform according to claim 12, further comprising a control panel to communicate with the switch and to administer the network.

15. The mobile platform according to claim 12, further comprising an in-flight-entertainment server to communicate with the switch.

16. The mobile platform according to claim 12, further comprising a gateway to communicate with the switch.

17. The mobile platform according to claim 12, further comprising a satellite transceiver to communicate with the switch.

18. The mobile platform according to claim 12, wherein one of the host devices further comprises at least one port, the host device enabling one of the plurality of peripheral devices to communicate with the switch via the port, wherein the host device is associated with at least one seat on the mobile platform and wherein the peripheral accesses at least one of audio data and video data.

19. The mobile platform according to claim 12, further comprising at least one of an audio, video, and telephone application software installed in the host device, and wherein the host device is used to access at least one of audio data, video data, or telephone data.

20. The mobile platform according to claim 12, further comprising a Bluetooth protocol communication link between the plurality of peripheral devices and the at least one of the host devices.

21. The mobile platform according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the host devices further comprises a virtual local area network, the host device controlling the security and the quality of service of the network for the peripheral devices.

22. The mobile platform according to claim 12, further comprising a ribbon fiber cable between the plurality of host devices and the switch to allow communication therebetween.

23. A method of distributing information on a mobile platform to contain a plurality of peripheral devices, comprising:

placing a central server, a switch, a plurality of network devices, and a plurality of host devices on the mobile platform;

configuring the switch to communicate with the server;

configuring the network devices to communicate with the switch;

configuring the host devices to communicate with the network devices; and

configuring the host devices to communicate with at least one of the peripheral devices, thereby creating an open network on the mobile platform.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring the switch to communicate with a control panel to administer the network.

25. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring the switch to communicate with an in-flight-entertainment server.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring the switch to communicate with a gateway.

27. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring the switch to communicate with a satellite data transceiver.

28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring a port of one of the host devices to allow one of the plurality of peripheral devices to communicate with the switch, wherein the host device is associated with a seat on the mobile platform to obtain at least one of audio and visual data.

29. The method according to claim 23, further comprising installing at least one of audio, video, and telephone application software on at least one host device, and using the host device to access at least one of audio, video, and telephone data respectively with one of the peripheral devices.

30. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring at least one of the peripheral devices to communicate with at least one of the peripheral devices via a Bluetooth protocol communication link.

31. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring at least one of the host devices to provide a virtual local area network to control a security and a quality of service for the peripheral devices.

32. The method according to claim 23, further comprising configuring the network to allow communication between the switch and the plurality of host devices over a ribbon fiber cable.

33. An open network onboard a mobile platform, the network comprising:

at least one server;

at least one switch configured to communicate with the server;

a plurality of network devices configured to communicate with the switch, each said network device being associated with a particular grouping of one or more seats onboard the mobile platform; and

a plurality of hosts configured to communicate with the network devices, at least one of the hosts also being configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device, the hosts including at least one of a portable host and a host coupled to mobile platform structure.

34. The network according to claim 33, wherein at least one of the hosts comprises one of:

a personal electronic device of a user traveling onboard the mobile platform; and

an intelligent seatback display mounted to a seatback onboard the mobile platform.

35. The network according to claim 33, wherein:

the switch comprises at least one area distribution box; and

the network devices comprise a plurality of seat electronics boxes each of which is associated with a particular grouping of one or more seats onboard the mobile platform.

36. The network according to claim 33, wherein:

the switch comprises an OSI Layer 3;

the network devices comprise a plurality of OSI Layer 2 switches each of which is associated with a particular grouping of one or more seats onboard the mobile platform; and

each seat location includes at least one switched port to access the network.

37. The network according to claim 33, wherein each seat location onboard the mobile platform includes a plurality of switched ports to access the network comprising:

at least one switched port allocated to supporting one of a portable host and a peripheral device; and

at least one other switched port allocated to supporting a host coupled to mobile platform structure.

38. The network according to claim 33, wherein the network devices comprise at least one switch and at least one media converter.

39. The network according to claim 33, further comprising at least one fiber optic cable enabling communication between the switch and the network device.

40. The network according to claim 33, wherein the network is configured in one of a star topology and a daisy topology between the switch and the network devices.

41. The network according to claim 33, wherein the network comprises a virtual local area network for a particular grouping of seats onboard the mobile platform with access to the virtual local area network being controlled by the switch and with port protection limiting access between the seats within the virtual local area network.

42. A mobile platform including the network according to claim 33.

43. An aircraft including the network according to claim 33.