In-flight transceiver and locator system

• US 20070298786A1
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Hulcher, Philipp, Thorne, Christopher, Meyers, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/18 Military applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

Military systems in particular face two specific problems: field casualties typically increase as unit visibility decreases and it is often difficult for ground stations and/or headquarters to maintain control and visibility of geographically dispersed assets. The system provides satellite communications such as two-way messaging, Voice over Packet, and global positioning information and reporting for fixed and rotary wing aircrafts where traditional methods of communications are not otherwise practical. The system provides communications between remote users and other remote users as well as between remote users and control stations. In some embodiments there is an in-flight transceiver system that includes an antenna, an aviation box, and a switch. The aviation box conforms to a one-half, ½ short Air Transport Rack (ATR) form factor and includes a transceiver, an interface card, and a global positioning system (GPS) unit. The switch is located between the aviation box and the antenna for controlling a data signal between the antenna and the transceiver of the aviation box.

Claims

1. A in-flight transceiver system for communicating an information securely at a high data rate between an in-flight unit and a ground unit comprising:

an antenna;

an aviation box conforming to a one-half, half short Air Transport Rack (ATR) form factor comprising a transceiver and a global positioning system (GPS) unit; and

a switch between the aviation box and the antenna for controlling a data signal between the antenna and the transceiver.

2. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 further comprising an interface card.

3. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the GPS unit comprises a selective availability anti-spoofing module (SAASM).

4. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 further comprising a signal booster between the aviation box and the antenna.

5. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is located outside a body of an aviation platform and wherein the aviation box is located inside the body of the aviation platform.

6. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 5 wherein the antenna is located at a distance of not less than 15 feet from the aviation box.

7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the antenna is fin-shaped.

8. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is a dual-pole antenna.

9. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is an omni-directional antenna.

10. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the high data rate is on the order of 800 to 2800 bits per second or more.

11. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the information is communicated bidirectionally between the in-flight unit and the ground unit.

12. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the information is a packet encrypted using at least one of Triple Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithms, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithms, Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA) algorithms, or any combination thereof.

13. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the in-flight transceiver system is operable in at least one environmental condition comprising vibration, salt fog, or temperatures between minus twenty-six (−

26) degrees Centigrade and plus seventy-one (+71) degrees Centigrade, aircraft voltage transients, and external electromagnetic forces.

14. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the traffic is transmitted over an L Band satellite communication channel.

15. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 further comprising an interface comprising a servicing data connector and an in-flight data connector coupled to the in-flight unit wherein connecting a cable to the servicing data connector automatically disables the in-flight data connector.

16. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 15 wherein disconnecting the servicing data connector automatically enables the in-flight data connector.

17. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is Blue Force Tracking-capable.

18. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is operable to send and receive Voice over Packet transmissions.

19. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is assigned unique radio identifier.

20. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 19 wherein a customizable node name is associated with the unique radio identifier.

21. The in-flight transceiver system of claim 1 wherein the information is communicated beyond-line-of-sight.

22. A method for securely communicating between a first party and a second party comprising:

providing to the second party an in-flight transceiver system comprising;

an antenna;

an aviation box conforming to a one-half, half short Air Transport Rack (ATR) form factor comprising a transceiver and a global positioning system (GPS) unit; and

a switch between the aviation box and the antenna for controlling a data signal between the antenna and the transceiver;

sending a first communications packet over a first communications channel that is not allocated or predetermined; and

sending a second communications packet over a second communications channel before receiving acknowledgement of successful receipt of the first communications packet,

wherein the first and second communications packets are sent between the first and second party.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the first party is a ground station unit and the second party is an in-flight remote unit.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the first party is a remote ground unit and the second party is an in-flight remote unit.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the first channel and the second channel are the same channel.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the first channel and the second channel are different channels.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein at least one of the first or second communications packets is a Voice over Packet communications packet that utilizes the BlueForce Tracking system.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein at least one of the first or second communications packets is encrypted using at least one of Triple Data Encryption Standard (DES) algorithms, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithms, Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA) algorithms, or any combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the data rate from the second party to the first party is at or above about 800 bits per second.

30. The method of claims 22 wherein the data rate from the first party to the second party is at or above about 2800 bits per second.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein at least one of the first or second communications packets are transmitted using code divided multiple access (CDMA) protocols.

32. The method of any of claims 22 wherein at least one of the first or second communication packets includes at least one of GPS information, text message information, or voice communications.

33. The method of claim 22 wherein the first channel and the second channel are L Band satellite communication channels.

34. The method of claim 22 wherein the transceiver is assigned unique radio identifier.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein a customizable node name is associated with the unique radio identifier.

36. The method of claim 22 wherein sending the first and second communication packets offers beyond-line-of-sight communications.