Mobile platform real time availability and content scheduling system and method

• US 6,643,510 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Taylor, Scott P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/941,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/427, 455/430, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/98, 455/428, 455/429, 455/424, 455/463, 455/426, 455/447, 455/448, 709/217, 709/227, 709/229, 379/28, 379/88.17, 379/88.2
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A system and method for managing the transmission of data content, in real time, to a plurality of mobile platforms operating within a given coverage region. The system makes use of a database which includes an identifier which uniquely identifies each mobile platform authorized to access the system, together with the specific types of data content to be provided to, and level of quality of service to be accorded to, each mobile platform. The system and method allows the delivery of data content to each one of a plurality of mobile platforms receiving data content to be better managed, in real time, whenever a mobile platform is available to receive data content.

Claims

1. A method for managing a delivery of information content by a ground based communication system to each one of a plurality of mobile platforms each having an on-board receiver system to provide customized information content to each said mobile platform;

the method comprising the steps of;

creating a database including identifiers uniquely identifying each said mobile platform;

assigning to each of said identifiers a specific type of information content to be provided to each of said mobile platforms and storing said assigned type of information content in said database;

assigning to each of said specific type of information content associated with each said identifier a level of quality of service, said level of quality of service prioritizing each of said specific type of information content, said level of quality of service stored in said database;

updating said database in real time with information as to which ones of said mobile platforms are available for receiving information content; and

delivering said specific types of information content to each of said mobile platforms, in real time, according to said priority assigned to each said specific type of information and in accordance with said level of quality of service required by each said mobile platform.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of having each of said mobile platforms inform a ground based system in communication with said database, in real time, when it is available for service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of having each said mobile platform inform said ground based communication system when it is available to receive said information content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile platform comprises an aircraft, and where said identifying code comprises a tail number of an aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using a data center to maintain said database, and allowing an operator of one or more of said mobile platforms access to a website in communication with said data center to provide information to said data center as to specific types of said information content to be supplied to said one or more mobile platforms.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of having said operator supply a designation of a level of quality of service to be provided to each one of said one or more mobile platforms.

7. A method for managing a delivery of information content by a ground based communication system to each one of a plurality of mobile platforms each having an on-board transceiver system to provide customized information content to each said mobile platform, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a database including;

identifiers uniquely identifying each said mobile platform;

specific types of information content required by each said mobile platform; and

a level of quality of service required by each said mobile platform;

assigning to each of said identifiers one of said specific type of information content;

assigning to each of said specific type of information content associated with each said identifier one of said level of quality of service, said level of quality of service prioritizing each of said specific type of information content;

having each mobile platform notify a ground based operations system managing said database when it is available for service and when it will no longer be available for service;

using said ground based operations center to continuously update said database, in real time, in response to said notifications from said mobile platforms, as to which ones of said mobile platforms are available for service; and

delivering said specific types of information content to each one of said mobile platforms available for service according to said priority assigned to each of said specific types of information and in accordance with said level of quality of service required by each one of said mobile platforms.

8. A method for managing a delivery of information content by a ground based communication system to each one of a plurality of mobile platforms each having an on-board receiver system to provide customized information content to each said mobile platform, the method comprising:

creating in a data center a database including identifiers uniquely identifying each said mobile platform;

assigning to each of said identifiers a specific type of information content to be provided to each of said mobile platforms and storing said assigned type of information content in said database;

assigning to each of said specific type of information content associated with each identifier a level of quality of service, said level of quality of service prioritizing each of said specific type of information content, said level of quality of service being stored in said database;

updating said database in real time with information as to which ones of said mobile platforms are available for receiving information content;

delivering said specific types of information content to each of said mobile platforms, in real time, according to said priority assigned to each of said specific types of information and in accordance with said level of quality of service required by each said mobile platform; and

allowing an operator of one or more of said mobile platforms access to a website in communication with said data center to provide information to said data center as to specific types of said information content to be supplied to said one or more mobile platforms and said level of quality of service to be provided.