METHOD AND SYSTEM OF TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING DATA ORIGINATING FROM AN AIRCRAFT BLACK BOX

• US 20130317673A1
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus, Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Leroy, Amaury, Vermande, Sverine
• Granted Patent: US 9,221,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0008 with other aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/42 for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transmitting data, characterized in that it includes a step of transmitting in-flight data between a first aircraft and at least a second aircraft, the data transmitted being data stored in at least one black box on board the first aircraft.

Claims

1. A data transmission method, comprising a step of transmitting data in flight between a first aircraft and at least a second aircraft, the data transmitted being data stored in at least one black box on board the first aircraft.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data originating from the at least one black box requires for its transmission a bandwidth of at least 100 kbits/s.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising a prior step of selecting a communication means from a plurality of communication means.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the means of communication comprise radio, satellite or any other wireless communication.

5. A method according to one of claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted on a communication network comprising mobile communication nodes that are aircraft in flight.

6. A method according to claim 5, comprising, prior to the transmission step, a step of selecting in flight at least one non-predetermined mobile communication node, the at least one node being selected from a set of mobile communication nodes in the network as a function of at least one predetermined selection criterion.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one predetermined selection criterion is at least one of the following criteria:

an aircraft producing a signal-to-noise ratio above a predetermined threshold, an aircraft having a similar or identical flight plan(s), an aircraft belonging to the same airline or the same alliance of several airlines, an aircraft made by the same manufacturer, an aircraft within communication range, the aircraft furthest away from the first aircraft, an aircraft in descent phase.

8. A method according to claim 6, comprising a step of requesting the establishment of a connection with the at least one selected node, prior to the transmission of the data.

9. A data receiving method, comprising a step of receiving in flight, from a first aircraft, data stored in at least one black box on board the first aircraft, the receiving step taking place on board at least a second aircraft.

10. A method according to claim 9, comprising a prior step of checking the availability of a storage space with a view to storing the data to be received.

11. A method according to claim 9, comprising a step of storing the data received either in an available storage space or, if this is unavailable, in a reserved storage space.

12. A data transmission system, comprising means of transmitting data in flight between a first aircraft and at least a second aircraft, the data transmitted being data stored in at least one black box on board the first aircraft.

14. An aircraft comprising a transmission system according to claim 12.

13. A data receiving system on board an aircraft, comprising means of receiving in flight, from a first aircraft, data stored in at least one black box on board the first aircraft, the system being on board a second aircraft.

15. An aircraft comprising a receiving system according to claim 13.