Aircraft communications system selectively allocating data communications channel capacity and associated methods

• US 8,233,425 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Lynch, Michael J., Keen, Robert M., Frisco, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US12/047,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/316
• 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 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/214 Specialised server platform, e.g. server located in an airplane, hotel, hospital arrangements specially adapted for local area broadcast systems H04H20/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A communications system for an aircraft carrying personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. At least one data traffic controller selectively allocates data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network.

Claims

1. A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising:

a ground-based communications network;

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with said ground-based communications network; and

at least one data traffic controller for selectively allocating data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network based on a data communications channel capacity usage of the PEDs, with the data communications channel capacity usage corresponding to bandwidth of the data communications with the PEDs so that data communications does not exceed a predetermined portion of the data communications channel capacity for a given PED.

2. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one data traffic controller comprises a ground-based data traffic controller associated with said ground-based communications network.

3. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one data traffic controller comprises an aircraft-based data traffic controller associated with said at least one access point and said air-to-ground transceiver.

4. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one data traffic controller further allocates the data communications channel capacity based on a priority of service.

5. The communications system according to claim 4 wherein the data communications comprise flight operational data and non-flight operational data;

and wherein said at least one data traffic controller allocates a higher priority of service to the flight operation data.

6. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the data communications comprises at least one of email data and text message data.

7. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

8. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one access point comprises a picocell.

9. An aircraft communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with a ground-based communications network, the aircraft communications system comprising:

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network; and

an aircraft data traffic controller in the aircraft for selectively allocating data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network based on a data communications channel capacity usage of the PEDs, with the data communications channel capacity usage corresponding to bandwidth of the data communications with the PEDs so that data communications does not exceed a predetermined portion of the data communications channel capacity for a given PED.

10. The aircraft communications system according to claim 9 wherein said aircraft data traffic controller further allocates the data communications channel capacity based on a priority of service.

11. The aircraft communications system according to claim 10 wherein the data communications comprise flight operational data and non-flight operational data;

and

wherein said aircraft data traffic controller allocates a higher priority of service to the flight operation data.

12. The aircraft communications system according to claim 9 wherein the data communications comprises at least one of email data and text message data.

13. The aircraft communications system according to claim 9 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

14. A method for operating a communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with a ground-based communications network, the communications system comprising at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs, and an air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network, the method comprising:

selectively allocating data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network using at least one data traffic controller based on a data communications channel capacity usage of the PEDs, with the data communications channel capacity usage corresponding to bandwidth of the data communications with the PEDs so that data communications does not exceed a predetermined portion of the data communications channel capacity for a given PED.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the at least one data traffic controller comprises a ground-based data traffic controller associated with the ground-based communications network.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the at least one data traffic controller comprises an aircraft-based data traffic controller associated with the at least one access point and the air-to-ground transceiver.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the allocating further comprises allocating the data communications channel capacity based on a priority of service.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the data communications comprise flight operational data and non-flight operational data;

and wherein the allocating comprises allocating a higher priority of service to the flight operation data.

19. The method according to claim 14 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data and text message data.

20. The method according to claim 14 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

21. A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft, the communications system comprising:

a satellite-based communications network;

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

a satellite transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with said satellite-based communications network; and

at least one data traffic controller for selectively allocating data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the satellite-based communications network based on a data communications channel capacity usage of the PEDs, with the data communications channel capacity usage corresponding to bandwidth of the data communications with the PEDs so that data communications does not exceed a predetermined portion of the data communications channel capacity for a given PED.

22. The communications system according to claim 21 wherein said at least one data traffic controller comprises a satellite-based data traffic controller associated with said satellite-based communications network.

23. The communications system according to claim 21 wherein said at least one data traffic controller comprises an aircraft-based data traffic controller associated with said at least one access point and said satellite transceiver.

24. The communications system according to claim 21 wherein said at least one data traffic controller further allocates the data communications channel capacity based on a priority of service,

25. The communications system according to claim 24 wherein the data communications comprise flight operational data and non-flight operational data;

and wherein said at least one data traffic controller allocates a higher priority of service to the flight operation data.

26. The communications system according to claim 21 wherein the data communications comprises at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

27. The communications system according to claim 21 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

28. The communications system according to claim 21 wherein said at least one access point comprises a picocell.

29. An aircraft communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with a satellite-based communications network, the aircraft communications system comprising:

at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs;

a satellite transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with said at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network; and

an aircraft data traffic controller in the aircraft for selectively allocating data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the satellite-based communications network based on a data communications channel capacity usage of the PEDs, with the data communications channel capacity usage corresponding to bandwidth of the data communications with the PEDs so that data communications does not exceed predetermined portion of the data communications channel capacity for a given PED.

30. The aircraft communications system according to claim 29 wherein said aircraft data traffic controller further allocates the data communications channel capacity based on a priority of service.

31. The aircraft communications system according to claim 30 wherein the data communications comprise flight operational data and non-flight operational data;

and wherein said aircraft data traffic controller allocates a higher priority of service to the flight operation data.

32. The aircraft communications system according to claim 29 wherein the data communications comprises at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

33. The aircraft communications system according to claim 29 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

34. A method for operating a communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft with a satellite-based communications network, the communications system comprising at least one access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs, and a satellite transceiver in the aircraft cooperating with the at least one access point for data communications with the satellite-based communications network, the method comprising:

selectively allocating data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the satellite-based communications network using at least one data traffic controller based on a data communications channel capacity usage of the PEDs, with the data communications channel capacity usage corresponding to bandwidth of the data communications with the PEDs so that data communications does not exceed a predetermined portion of the data communications channel capacity for a given PED.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein the at least one data traffic controller comprises a satellite-based data traffic controller associated with the satellite-based communications network.

36. The method according to claim 34 wherein the at least one data traffic controller comprises an aircraft-based data traffic controller associated with the at least one access point and the satellite transceiver.

37. The method according to claim 34 wherein the allocating further comprises allocating the data communications channel capacity based on a priority of service.

38. The method according to claim 37 wherein the data communications comprise flight operational data and non-flight operational data;

and wherein the allocating comprises allocating a higher priority of service to the flight operation data.

39. The method according to claim 34 wherein the data communications comprise at least one of email data, text message data and entertainment data.

40. The method according to claim 34 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.