AIRCRAFT DATA LINK NETWORK ROUTING
First Claim
1. A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks, the method comprising:
- assigning at least one data link message routing service for an aircraft having a first message processing application based on prescribed criteria, the prescribed criteria comprising preferred networks of the plurality of communications networks;
as a first preferred communications network becomes available, selecting a first message route from the assigned routing service;
transmitting each of the data link messages on the first message route while the first message route satisfies the prescribed criteria; and
when the prescribed criteria changes over a plurality of flight phases of the aircraft, reassigning the at least one data link message route to continue data link message transmissions to and from the aircraft based on the latest prescribed criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks is disclosed. The method assigns at least one data link message routing service for an aircraft having a first message processing application based on prescribed criteria, the prescribed criteria comprising preferred networks of the plurality of communications networks. As a first preferred communications network becomes available, the method selects a first message route from the assigned routing service and transmits each of the data link messages on the first message route while the first message route satisfies the prescribed criteria. When the prescribed criteria changes over a plurality of flight phases of the aircraft, the method reassigns the at least one data link message route to continue data link message transmissions to and from the aircraft based on the latest prescribed criteria.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks, the method comprising:
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assigning at least one data link message routing service for an aircraft having a first message processing application based on prescribed criteria, the prescribed criteria comprising preferred networks of the plurality of communications networks; as a first preferred communications network becomes available, selecting a first message route from the assigned routing service; transmitting each of the data link messages on the first message route while the first message route satisfies the prescribed criteria; and when the prescribed criteria changes over a plurality of flight phases of the aircraft, reassigning the at least one data link message route to continue data link message transmissions to and from the aircraft based on the latest prescribed criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product comprising program instructions, embodied on a machine-readable medium, the program instructions cause at least one programmable processor in an aircraft communications management unit to:
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assign at least one data link message routing service for a first message routing application based on prescribed criteria in a message routing function block, the prescribed criteria comprising preferred networks of a plurality of communications networks; as a first communications network becomes available, select a first message route from the assigned routing service in a network selection and management function block; transfer data link messages for the first routing application on the first message route through a network adaptation interface while the first message route satisfies the prescribed criteria; and when the prescribed criteria changes over a plurality of flight phases of the aircraft, reassign the first message route using a plurality of routers to continue data link message transmissions to and from the aircraft based on the latest prescribed criteria for the first message processing application. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An avionics communications system, comprising:
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a communications management unit having a plurality of routers; a plurality of message processing applications communicatively coupled to the communications management unit; a plurality of network interfaces, communicatively coupled to the communications management unit, each of the network interfaces responsive to at least one wireless communications network; and a processing unit within the communications management unit and responsive to the plurality of message processing applications and the plurality of network interfaces, the processing unit comprising; a message routing function block responsive to the plurality of message processing applications and the plurality of routers, the message routing function block operable to receive a plurality of programmable message routing rules from the communications management unit; a network selection and management function block responsive to the message routing function block, the network selection and management function block operable to receive; a plurality of aircraft state inputs based on a current flight phase of an aircraft hosting the system; and a plurality of network selection rules from the communications management unit; and a plurality of adaptation and control blocks responsive to the plurality of routers and the processing unit, wherein each of the adaptation and control blocks are operable to route aircraft data link messages through a preferred network interface as instructed by the programmable message routing and network selection rules. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification