Management of mobile networks

• US 20050221814A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Fagan, C. L., Forbes, Ben C., D'Annunzio, Michael A., Phan, Tri M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,328,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

Exemplary methods and systems manage a mobile network. A mobile network node is managed when the node is connected to the network. However, an alarm is not necessarily generated when the node is not connected to the network. A status message is periodically generated and transmitted from the mobile network node to a network control facility. The status message may include any status information regarding the mobile network node as desired. When the status message is indicative of a predetermined condition, an alarm is automatically generated. When no status message is received from the mobile network node, a determination is made whether connectivity exists between the mobile network node and the network. If connectivity does not exist between the mobile network node and the network, then no alarm is generated. If connectivity does exist between the mobile network node and the network, then an alarm is generated.

Claims

1. A method for managing a mobile communications network, the method comprising:

periodically transmitting from a mobile platform a message including status information regarding at least one of services and equipment for providing mobile communications onboard the mobile platform;

generating an event when the message is not received by a ground station of the mobile communications network and connectivity is established between the mobile platform and the ground station;

analyzing the message when the message is received by the ground station; and

generating a plurality of events responsive to a first plurality of predetermined conditions indicated by the message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically collecting the status information onboard the mobile platform.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting additional information from the mobile platform responsive to a second plurality of predetermined conditions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes attributes regarding at least one of services that are offered onboard the mobile platform and equipment that is installed onboard the mobile platform.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message further includes information regarding status of at least one of services that are offered onboard the mobile platform and equipment that is installed onboard the mobile platform.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information regarding status includes information indicative of severity of a detected fault.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the message is not received by the ground station and connectivity with the mobile platform is not established, determining if connectivity with the mobile platform is scheduled.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the message is not received by the ground station and connectivity with the mobile platform is established, polling the mobile platform for the message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether or not to ignore the message when the message is received.

10. A system for managing a mobile communications network, the system comprising:

a server onboard a mobile platform, the server having a first component that is configured to periodically generate a message including status information regarding at least one of services and equipment for providing mobile communications onboard the mobile platform; and

a network management system including;

a first component configured to generate an event when the message is not received by a ground station of the mobile communications network and connectivity is established between the mobile platform and the ground station;

a second component configured to analyze the message when the message is received; and

a third component configured to generate a plurality of events responsive to a first plurality of predetermined conditions indicated by the message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the server has a fourth component that is configured to automatically collect the status information onboard the mobile platform.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the network management system includes a fifth component that is configured to request additional information from the mobile platform responsive to a second plurality of predetermined conditions.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the message includes attributes regarding at least one of services that are offered onboard the mobile platform and equipment that is installed onboard the mobile platform.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the message further includes information regarding status of at least one of services that are offered onboard the mobile platform and equipment that is installed onboard the mobile platform.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the network management system further includes a sixth component configured to, when the message is not received by the ground station and connectivity with the mobile platform is not established, determine if connectivity with the mobile platform is scheduled.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the network management system further includes a seventh component configured to, when the message is not received by the ground station and connectivity with the mobile platform is established, poll the mobile platform for the message.

17. A system for generating a status message for managing a mobile network, the system comprising:

a first component that is configured to automatically request status information regarding at least one of services and equipment for providing mobile communications onboard a mobile platform; and

a second component configured to collect the status information responsive to the request from the first component.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first component is further configured to generate a message including the status information.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a third component configured to transmit the status message.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first component includes a software agent.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the second component includes built-in-test functionality.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the first and second components reside on a server.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile platform includes an aircraft.