Wireless aircraft gateway with auxiliary battery power

• US 8,493,906 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Troxel, Robert V., Nicponski, Dale L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKMAN, ANGEL T
• Application Number:
  US12/558,438
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 370/316
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

An aircraft gateway processing system for wirelessly transferring data between an aircraft and a ground server. The aircraft gateway processing system includes an aircraft gateway processor unit that includes a protocol data processing unit; and, a store and forward unit operably connected to the protocol data processing unit. An auxiliary battery power unit is operably connected to the aircraft gateway processor unit and configured to provide self-powered operation of the aircraft gateway processing system in the event of a loss of aircraft power during communications or initiation of communication when aircraft power is not available. At least one wireless communication interface is operably connected to the aircraft gateway processor unit for connection to the internet and ultimately to a ground server connected to the internet. At least one network data interface is operably connected to the aircraft gateway processor unit and operably connectable to another aircraft unit.

Claims

1. An aircraft gateway processing system for wirelessly transferring data between an aircraft and a ground server, comprising:

a) an aircraft gateway processor unit positioned on an aircraft, comprising;

i) protocol data processing unit; and

,

ii) a store and forward unit operably connected to said protocol data processing unit configured to transfer data from an aircraft to a ground server wherein aircraft weight on wheel keyline data is utilized to initiate the gather, store, and forward of maintenance data for a ground server offload;

b) an auxiliary battery power unit positioned on the aircraft, operably connected to said aircraft gateway processor unit and configured to provide self-powered operation of said aircraft gateway processing system in the event of a loss of aircraft power during communications or initiation of communication when aircraft power is not available;

c) at least one wireless communication interface positioned on the aircraft, operably connected to said aircraft gateway processor unit for connection to the internet and ultimately to a ground server connected to the internet;

d) at least one network data interface positioned on the aircraft, operably connected to said aircraft gateway processor unit and operably connectable to another aircraft unit; and

,

e) a wakeup timer positioned on the aircraft, operably connected to said auxiliary battery power unit and to said aircraft gateway processor unit for triggering the restoration of battery power to said aircraft gateway processing system.

2. The system of claim 1, further including said ground server operably connected to said wireless communication interface via the internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein communications between said aircraft gateway processor unit and the ground server are secure communications.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein communications between said aircraft gateway processor unit and another aircraft unit are secure communications.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one wireless communication interface comprises a plurality of wireless communication interfaces, said aircraft gateway processor unit directing communication over the least cost, available of said wireless communication interfaces.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said network data interface is a wireless or wired interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein store and forward unit comprises at least 16 GB of memory.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft gateway processor unit becomes periodically operational using the auxiliary battery power unit to communicate with the ground server to determine if data needs to be loaded to the aircraft.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft gateway processor unit can remain operational when offloading aircraft data to the ground server by using the auxiliary battery power unit, when aircraft power is not available, to enable the data offload operation to proceed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft gateway processor unit can remain operational when loading aircraft data from the ground server by using the auxiliary battery power unit, when aircraft power is not available, to enable the data loading operation to proceed.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the aircraft gateway processor unit becomes periodically operational using the auxiliary battery power unit to communicate with the ground server to determine if data needs to be loaded to the aircraft;

and, wherein

the aircraft gateway processor unit can remain operational when offloading aircraft data to the ground server by using the auxiliary battery power unit, when aircraft power is not available, to enable the data offload operation to proceed.

12. A system for wirelessly transferring data between an aircraft and a ground server, comprising:

a) an aircraft gateway processing system positioned on an aircraft, comprising;

i) an aircraft gateway processor unit comprising;

1. protocol data processing unit; and

,

2. a store and forward unit operably connected to said protocol data processing unit configured to transfer data from an aircraft to a ground server wherein aircraft weight on wheel keyline data is utilized to initiate the gather, store, and forward of maintenance data for a ground server offload;

ii) an auxiliary battery power unit operably connected to said aircraft gateway processor unit and configured to provide self-powered operation of said aircraft gateway processing system in the event of a loss of aircraft power during communications or initiation of communication when aircraft power is not available;

iii) at least one wireless communication interface operably connected to said aircraft gateway processor unit for connection to the internet and ultimately to a ground server connected to the internet;

iv) at least one network data interface operably connected to said aircraft gateway processor unit and operably connectable to another aircraft unit; and

,

v) a wakeup timer positioned on the aircraft, operably connected to said auxiliary battery power unit and to said aircraft gateway processor unit for triggering the restoration of battery power to said aircraft gateway processing system; and

,

b) aircraft communication hardware positioned on the aircraft, operatively connected to said aircraft gateway processing system, said aircraft communication hardware being operatively connectable to ground communication hardware that is operatively connected to a ground server.

13. The system of claim 12, further including said ground server operably connected to said wireless communication interface via the internet.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein communications between said aircraft gateway processor unit and the ground server are secure communications.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein communications between said aircraft gateway processor unit and another aircraft unit are secure communications.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said at least one wireless communication interface comprises a plurality of wireless communication interfaces, said aircraft gateway processor unit directing communication over the least cost, available of said wireless communication interfaces.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the aircraft gateway processor unit becomes periodically operational using the auxiliary battery power unit to communicate with the ground server to determine if data needs to be loaded to the aircraft;

and, wherein

the aircraft gateway processor unit can remain operational when offloading aircraft data to the ground server by using the auxiliary battery power unit, when aircraft power is not available, to enable the data offload operation to proceed.