Method and apparatus for transmitting real time data from aircraft to ground stations using a data protocol over a satellite system

• US 6,549,162 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gage, Kenneth, Mortensen, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US10/003,222
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 342/353, 342/357.16, 455/428
• US Class Current: 342/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service

Abstract

Provided is a system and method for providing data originating from an aircraft to a ground-based device using a satellite communications link. The system includes an aircraft-based transceiver to transmit the data to a satellite. The data is associated with the operation of a particular aircraft. Also included is a ground-based receiver to receive the data transmitted from the aircraft-based transceiver through a communications link established by the satellite.

Claims

1. A method for providing information associated with aircraft operation using a communication system including at least one aircraft-based data output device, an aircraft-based transceiver coupled to the data output device, and a ground-based receiver, the aircraft-based transceiver being configured to connect to the ground-based receiver via a satellite communication link, the method comprising:

transmitting data signals associated with operation of the aircraft from the data output device to the aircraft-based transceiver;

fragmenting the data signals into a plurality of data segments; and

transmitting the plurality of data segments from the aircraft-based transceiver to the ground-based receiver via the satellite communication link, a first data segment of the plurality of data segments transmitted across a first communication path and a second data segment of the plurality of data segments transmitted near-simultaneously across a second communication path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signals associated with operation of the aircraft are selected from the group consisting of signals generated by a flight data device and signals generated by a cockpit voice device.

3. A system configured to provide data originating from an aircraft to a ground-based device through a satellite communication link, the system comprising:

an aircraft-based transceiver configured to transmit data associated with operation of the aircraft, said transceiver including a processor for fragmenting said data into a plurality of data segments, and for transmitting a first data segment of the plurality of data segments across a first communication path, and for transmitting a second data segment of the plurality of data segments near-simultaneously across a second communication path; and

a ground-based receiver configured to receive the data transmitted from the aircraft-based transceiver via the satellite communication link.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data includes at least one of aircraft flight data, cockpit voice data, and aircraft video data.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the aircraft-based transceiver, the ground-based receiver, and the satellite link form a communications network in accordance with a network protocol.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the network protocol includes at least a transmission control protocol/internet protocol.

7. A communications system comprising:

an aircraft-based communication module including;

at least one data production device configured to produce data representative of an output from at least one from a group including aircraft flight data, cockpit voice data, and aircraft video data; and

a data transmit module configured for receiving the data from the at least one data production device and for fragmenting said data into a plurality of data segments, and for transmitting a first data segment of the plurality of data segments across a first communication path, and for transmitting a second data segment of the plurality of data segments near-simultaneously across a second communication path;

a satellite network, the network including;

at least one low earth orbit satellite structured and arranged to receive the fragmented data transmitted from the data transmit module, the at least one low earth satellite being configured to retransmit the fragmented data; and

a ground-based gateway configured to receive and recombine the fragmented data transmitted from the satellite;

an aircraft data analysis facility configured to receive recombined data from the gateway across a data network.