ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20140226584A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Cullen, Elizabeth Jane, Herring, Richard Norman, Robson, David John Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/238,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20140226584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an adaptive communications network and a method of adapting the network. The network comprises, at least a first and second base station operable to communicate with one another and with a plurality of mobile client platforms (MCPs), at least a first and second MCP, each provided with a communications module, a processing module, and a means of manoeuvring. The first MCP is provided with and operable to execute: a first initial route plan and a first initial communications plan for maintaining a communication link with either of the base stations. Further, the first MCP is operable to collect and transmit first situational awareness data. Similarly, the second MCP is provided with and operable to execute: a second initial route plan and a second initial communications plan for maintaining a communication link with at least one of the base stations, and is operable to collect and transmit second situational awareness data. The method comprises the steps of: i) Establishing a first initial communications plan, the plan identifying an MCP- to-base communications link between the first MCP and the first base station, the first communications link having a first channel frequency ii) Generating first situational awareness data at the first MCP iii) Receiving second situational awareness data at the first MCP iv) Calculating for the first MCP a first updated communications plan.

Claims

1. A method of adapting a communications network, the method comprising:

providing at least a first and second base station operable to communicate with one another and with a plurality of mobile client platforms (MCPs);

providing at least a first and second MCP, each provided with a communications module, a processing module, and a navigation module,

the first MCP being provided with and operable to execute;

a first initial route plan; and

a first initial communications plan for maintaining a communication link with either of the base stations, and being operable to collect and transmit first situational awareness data,

and the second MCP being provided with and operable to execute;

a second initial route plan; and

a second initial communications plan for maintaining a communication link with at least one of the base stations, and being operable to collect and transmit second situational awareness data,

the method further comprising;

establishing a first initial communications plan, the plan identifying an MCP-to-base communications link between the first MCP and the first base station, the first communications link having a first channel frequency;

generating first situational awareness data at the first MCP;

receiving second situational awareness data at the first MCP; and

calculating for the first MCP a first updated communications plan.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the updated communication plan is calculated according to a metaheuristic algorithm.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the metaheuristic algorithm is a Random Neural Network (RNN) algorithm

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the RNN algorithm, given a set of link-to communication requests from a plurality of platforms, and a set of channels, allocates to each MCP a platform with which to form a link and a channel on which to communicate, by seeking to maximise the following cost function across the network:

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a second initial communications plan, the plan identifying an MCP-to-base communications link between a second MCP and a second base station at a second channel frequency;

generating second situational awareness data at the second MCP;

receiving first situational awareness data at the second MCP; and

calculating for the second MCP a first updated communications plan.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first or second MCP generates situational awareness data comprising:

a route plan, a communications requirements forecast, and a radio quality report.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first updated communications plan defines an updated channel frequency for the MCP-to-base link.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein each communications plan includes a channel allocation between the respective MCP and at least one of the base stations.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein a particular MCP transmits its respective situational awareness data, as an update, upon detection by the particular MCP of a predefined stimulus.

10. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a second initial communications plan, the plan identifying an MCP-to-base communications link between a second MCP and a second base station at a second channel frequency;

generating second situational awareness data at the second MCP;

receiving first situational awareness data at the second MCP; and

calculating for the second MCP a first updated communications plan;

wherein calculating a first updated communications plan for the first MCP and/or establishing a second initial communications plan are initiated after a predetermined time period has elapsed since the previous execution of that calculating and/or establishing.

11. An adaptive communications network, the network comprising:

at least a first and second base station operable to communicate with one another and with a plurality of mobile client platforms (MCPs);

at least a first and second MCP, each provided with a communications module, a processing module, and a navigation module;

the first MCP being provided with and operable to execute;

a first initial route plan; and

a first initial communications plan for maintaining a communication link with either of the base stations, and being operable to collect and transmit first situational awareness data,

and the second MCP being provided with and operable to execute;

a second initial route plan; and

a second initial communications plan for maintaining a communication link with at least one of the base stations, and being operable to collect and transmit second situational awareness data,

wherein the communications modules of the first and second MCP are configured to communicate situational awareness data with each other using their communications modules, to process the output from the communications module at the processing module to determine an updated route plan and updated communications plan, to implement the updated route plan at the navigation module, and to implement the updated communications plan at the communications module.

12. An adaptive communications network according to claim 11 wherein the communications module comprises an ATC communications module.

13. An adaptive communications network according to claim 11 wherein each communications module comprises a module for communicating directly with other MCPs.

14. An adaptive communications network according to claim 13 wherein each communications module comprises an IP network module such that each MCP is operable to form an IP network with other local MCPs and thereby share situational awareness data.

15. An adaptive communications network according to claim 11 wherein each MCP communications module comprises a Base Station communications module for establishing and maintaining a MCP-to-base link.

16. An adaptive communications network according to claim 15 wherein the Base Station communications module is operable over a 400-900 MHz UHF frequency range such that a MCP-to-base link may be provided within a 400-900 MHz UHF channel.

17. An adaptive communications network according to claim 11 wherein each MCP communications module comprises a Satellite Communication module.

18. An adaptive communications network according to claim 11 wherein at least the first and second base stations are electrically interconnected by a hardwired connection.