Aircraft data link network routing
First Claim
1. A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks, the method comprising:
- selecting a first communications network from the plurality of communications networks for routing data link messages based on prescribed criteria, wherein the prescribed criteria changes based on a current flight phase of a plurality of flight phases for an aircraft, wherein the plurality of flight phases comprise at least two flight phases while the aircraft is off the ground;
transmitting each of the data link messages over the first communications network while the first communications network satisfies the prescribed criteria; and
when the prescribed criteria changes due to the aircraft entering a different flight phase, selecting a second communications network from the plurality of communications networks based on the latest prescribed criteria.
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Abstract
A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks is disclosed. The method assigns at least one data link message routing service for an aircraft having a first message processing application based on prescribed criteria, the prescribed criteria comprising preferred networks of the plurality of communications networks. As a first preferred communications network becomes available, the method selects a first message route from the assigned routing service and transmits each of the data link messages on the first message route while the first message route satisfies the prescribed criteria. When the prescribed criteria changes over a plurality of flight phases of the aircraft, the method reassigns the at least one data link message route to continue data link message transmissions to and from the aircraft based on the latest prescribed criteria.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for routing aircraft data link messages over a plurality of communications networks, the method comprising:
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selecting a first communications network from the plurality of communications networks for routing data link messages based on prescribed criteria, wherein the prescribed criteria changes based on a current flight phase of a plurality of flight phases for an aircraft, wherein the plurality of flight phases comprise at least two flight phases while the aircraft is off the ground; transmitting each of the data link messages over the first communications network while the first communications network satisfies the prescribed criteria; and when the prescribed criteria changes due to the aircraft entering a different flight phase, selecting a second communications network from the plurality of communications networks based on the latest prescribed criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 18)
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5. A computer program product comprising program instructions, embodied on a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, the program instructions cause at least one programmable processor in an aircraft communications management unit to:
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select a first communications network from the plurality of communications networks for routing data link messages based on prescribed criteria, wherein the prescribed criteria changes based on comprising a current flight phase of a plurality of flight phases for an aircraft, wherein the plurality of flight phases comprise at least two flight phases while the aircraft is off the ground; transmit each of the data link messages over the first communications network while the first communications network satisfies the prescribed criteria; and when the prescribed criteria changes due to the aircraft entering a different flight phase select a second communications network from the plurality of communications networks based on the latest prescribed criteria. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 19)
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9. An avionics communications system, comprising:
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a communications management unit having a plurality of routers; a plurality of message processing applications communicatively coupled to the communications management unit; a plurality of network interfaces, communicatively coupled to the communications management unit, each of the network interfaces responsive to at least one wireless communications network; and a processing unit within the communications management unit and responsive to the plurality of message processing applications and the plurality of network interfaces, the processing unit comprising; a message routing function block responsive to the plurality of message processing applications and the plurality of routers, the message routing function block operable to receive a plurality of programmable message routing rules from the communications management unit; a network selection and management function block responsive to the message routing function block and operable to select at least one of the plurality of network interfaces for routing at least one data link message based on; a plurality of aircraft state inputs based on a current flight phase of a plurality of flight phases for an aircraft hosting the system, wherein the plurality of flight phases comprise at least two flight phases while the aircraft is off the ground; and a plurality of network selection rules from the communications management unit; and a plurality of adaptation and control blocks responsive to the plurality of routers and the processing unit, wherein each of the adaptation and control blocks are operable to route aircraft data link messages through a preferred network interface as instructed by the programmable message routing and network selection rules. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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Specification