Flight Data Recorder Streaming (FDRS) Solution

• US 20170063944A1
• Filed: 08/27/2015
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Nyikos, Siobvan M., Reiss, Amy, de La Chapelle, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,348,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, the method for a streaming flight data from an aircraft involves transmitting, from a flight data unit(s), the flight data to a flight data recorder streaming (FDRS) server. The method further involves determining, by the FDRS server, at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data. Also, the method involves generating, by the FDRS server, an antenna selection signal according to the antenna(s) to use for streaming. In addition, the method involves transmitting, by the FDRS server, an antenna selection signal to an antenna switch unit. Additionally, the method involves selecting, by the antenna switch unit, the antenna(s) to use for streaming according to the antenna selection signal. Further, the method involves streaming, by the antenna(s) to use for streaming, the flight data to a satellite(s).

Claims

1. A method for a streaming flight data from an aircraft, the method comprising:

transmitting, from at least one flight data unit, the flight data to a flight data recorder streaming (FDRS) server;

determining, by the FDRS server, at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data, wherein the at least one antenna comprises at least one of a first antenna and a second antenna;

generating, by the FDRS server, an antenna selection signal according to the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data;

transmitting, by the FDRS server, the antenna selection signal to an antenna switch unit;

selecting, by the antenna switch unit, the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data according to the antenna selection signal; and

streaming, by the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data, the flight data to at least one of at least one satellite.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one flight data unit is at least one of a flight data recorder (FDR) and a cockpit voice recorder/flight data recorder (CVR/FDR) combination recorder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the at least one flight data unit is a FDR, the flight data is transmitted to the FDRS server via one of a digital flight data acquisition unit (DFDAU) playback bus or a FDR playback bus.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein when the at least one flight data unit is a CVR/FDR combination recorder, the flight data is transmitted to the FDRS server via one of an Ethernet hub or a CVR/FDR combination recorder playback bus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a crown antenna and the second antenna is an undercarriage antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a left saddlebag antenna and the second antenna is a right saddlebag antenna.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the FDRS server determines the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data to determine the at least one antenna that has visibility to at least one of the at least one satellite.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the FDRS server determines the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data to determine whether at least one triggering condition has occurred.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the FDRS server determines that at least one of the at least one triggering condition has occurred, the FDRS server determines that both of the at least one antenna are to be used for streaming the flight data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining, by the FDRS server, a data rate of transmission for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data to determine whether at least one triggering condition has occurred.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one triggering condition is at least one of a rate of descent threshold has been exceeded, an attitude threshold has been crossed, a collision warning threshold has been exceeded, the aircraft has been sabotaged, the aircraft is flying in an unexpected matter, an adverse security condition exists onboard the aircraft, and a deviation from a flight plan threshold has been exceeded.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein when the FDRS server determines that at least one of the at least one triggering condition has occurred, the FDRS server sets the data rate of transmission for streaming to a fast stream data rate of transmission.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein when the FDRS server determines that at least one of the at least one triggering condition has not occurred, the FDRS server sets the data rate of transmission for streaming to a slow stream data rate of transmission.

14. A system for a streaming flight data from an aircraft, the system comprising:

at least one flight data unit to transmit the flight data to a flight data recorder streaming (FDRS) server;

the FDRS server to determine at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data, wherein the at least one antenna comprises at least one of a first antenna and a second antenna, to generate an antenna selection signal according to the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data, and to transmit the antenna selection signal to an antenna switch unit;

the antenna switch unit to select the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data according to the antenna selection signal; and

the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data to stream the flight data to at least one of at least one satellite.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one flight data unit is at least one of a flight data recorder (FDR) and a cockpit voice recorder/flight data recorder (CVR/FDR) combination recorder.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein when the at least one flight data unit is a FDR, the flight data is transmitted to the FDRS server via one of a digital flight data acquisition unit (DFDAU) playback bus or a FDR playback bus.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein when the at least one flight data unit is a CVR/FDR combination recorder, the flight data is transmitted to the FDRS server via one of an Ethernet hub or a CVR/FDR combination recorder playback bus.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first antenna is a crown antenna and the second antenna is an undercarriage antenna.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first antenna is a left saddlebag antenna and the second antenna is a right saddlebag antenna.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the FDRS server determines the at least one antenna to use for streaming the flight data by analyzing the flight data to determine the at least one antenna that has visibility to at least one of the at least one satellite.