MULTIBAND WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION BETWEEN AIRCRAFT AND GROUND SYSTEMS BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF THE GROUND SYSTEMS

• US 20160112071A1
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Timothy M., Shelton, Jason W., Nguyen, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,847,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for multiband wireless data transmission between aircraft and ground systems. The transmission uses different wavelength ranges, each wavelength range corresponding to a different data domain and establishing a different communication channel. This wavelength differentiation provides physical separation between different data domains and, as a result, improves data security. Furthermore, a single broadband antenna is used on the exterior of the aircraft for transmitting data sets from different data domains. The single antenna configuration reduces drag and weight and improves structural integrity of the aircraft in comparison to multi-antenna configurations. Different aircraft communication modules, which are connected to different aircraft systems, handle different data domains and operate at different wavelength ranges. These modules are connected to the same antenna using a multiplexer. This connection may be controlled using gate devices and may be conditioned on verification of communication channel availability, security status, and other factors.

Claims

1. A method for multiband wireless data transmission between an aircraft and one or more ground systems, the method comprising:

determining availability of a first ground system;

receiving a first data set at a first aircraft communication module;

generating a first radio frequency (RF) signal based on the first data set,

wherein the first RF signal is generated using the first aircraft communication module, and

sending the first RF signal to a multiplexer connected to an aircraft broadband antenna positioned on an exterior of the aircraft if the first ground system is available;

transmitting the first RF signal using the aircraft broadband antenna to the first ground system if the first RF signal is sent to the multiplexer;

receiving a second data set at a second aircraft communication module;

generating a second RF signal based on the second data set,

wherein the second RF signal is generated using a second aircraft communication module,

sending the second RF signal to the multiplexer; and

transmitting the second RF signal using the aircraft broadband antenna to a second ground system,

wherein a wavelength range of the first RF signal is different from a wavelength range of the second RF signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining availability of the first ground system comprises receiving a third data set, wherein the third data set comprises information about availability of the first ground system in a current location of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third data set is received from a communication database of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the third data set is received by the second aircraft communication module from the second ground system based while the aircraft is in the current location.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the third data set is used to control a connection between the first aircraft communication module and the multiplexer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third data set is used to control operation of a first gate device connecting first aircraft communication module and the multiplexer.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the third data set is used for selecting information for the first data set.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the third data set comprises an encryption key for encrypting information of the first data set.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the first ground system is not available, sending a fourth data set to the second ground communication module, and wherein the fourth data set indicated that the first ground system is not available.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wavelength range of the first RF signal does not overlap with the wavelength range of the second RF signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first RF signal at least partially overlaps in time with transmitting the second RF signal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein an antenna of the first ground system is a WiFi antenna, and wherein an antenna of the second ground system is a WiMAX antenna, a cellular antenna, or a SatCom.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data set is received from a first aircraft system, wherein the second data set is received from a second aircraft system, and wherein the first aircraft system and the second aircraft system are communicatively separated.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aircraft system and the second aircraft system are physically separated.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aircraft system is an aircraft control system, and wherein the second aircraft system is one of an airline information services system or a passenger information and entertainment services system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first aircraft communication module is not operable within the wavelength range of the second RF signal, and wherein the second aircraft communication module is not operable within the wavelength range of the first RF signal.

17. A system for multiband wireless data transmission between an aircraft and one or more ground systems, the system comprising:

a first aircraft communication module configured to operate within a first wavelength operating range;

a second aircraft communication module configured to operate within a second wavelength operating range,

wherein the second wavelength operating range does not overlap with the first wavelength operating range;

a communication database comprising availability of ground systems in multiple locations;

a multiplexer connected to the first aircraft communication module and to the second aircraft communication module,

wherein the multiplexer is configured to combine RF signals from the first aircraft communication module in the first wavelength operating range and from the second aircraft communication module in the second wavelength operating range; and

a broadband antenna positioned on exterior of the aircraft,

wherein the broadband antenna is connected to the multiplexer and configured to transmit the RF signals in the first wavelength operating range and the second wavelength operating range.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication database is configured to be updated by the first aircraft communication module.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first aircraft communication module is connected to a first aircraft system, wherein the second aircraft communication module is connected to the second aircraft system, and wherein the first aircraft system and the second aircraft system are communicatively separated.

20. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for multiband wireless data transmission between an aircraft and one or more ground systems, the method comprising:

determining availability of a first ground system;

receiving a first data set at a first aircraft communication module;

generating a first radio frequency (RF) signal based on the first data set,

wherein the first RF signal is generated using the first aircraft communication module, and

sending the first RF signal to a multiplexer connected to an aircraft broadband antenna positioned on an exterior of the aircraft if the first ground system is available;

transmitting the first RF signal using the aircraft broadband antenna to the first ground system if the first RF signal is sent to the multiplexer;

receiving a second data set at a second aircraft communication module;

generating a second RF signal based on the second data set,

wherein the second RF signal is generated using a second aircraft communication module,

sending the second RF signal to the multiplexer; and

transmitting the second RF signal using the aircraft broadband antenna to a second ground system,

wherein a wavelength range of the first RF signal is different from a wavelength range of the second RF signal.