System and method of transmitting data from an aircraft

• US 20060057974A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallagher, Shawn, Ziarno, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile 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: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system and method of transmitting data from an aircraft includes a PC card that acquires aircraft data and transmits the aircraft data over a radio frequency communications signal into the skin of the aircraft, which radiates the radio frequency communications signal to a location remote from the aircraft.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting data from an aircraft comprising:

an aircraft component;

a PC card interfaced to the aircraft component for acquiring aircraft data from the aircraft component, said PC card including a radio transmitter for transmitting the aircraft data over a radio frequency communications signal into the skin of the aircraft, which radiates the radio frequency communications signal to a location remote from the aircraft.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said aircraft component comprises a Data Acquisition Unit that records flight data.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency communications signal comprises a spread spectrum communications signal.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the spread spectrum communications signal comprises a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications signal.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the spread spectrum communications signal comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum communications signal.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said PC card comprises a memory for storing aircraft data received from the aircraft component.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said PC card comprises a processor for reading and forwarding data from the memory to the radio transmitter, and a logic circuit operative with the processor and memory for controlling downloading of data from the aircraft component to the memory, and reading and forwarding of data from the memory to the radio transmitter without conflict between the processor and aircraft component.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said logic circuit comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said PC card comprises a PC card body having a PCMCIA form factor.

10. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising a Central Maintenance Display Unit (CMDU) for receiving the aircraft data and indicating in real-time the health and status of aircraft systems.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said aircraft data comprises flight performance data.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft data comprises aircraft engine data.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft data comprises in-flight entertainment data.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the aircraft data comprises data relating to one of aircraft contents, passenger data, aircraft departure and arrival, passenger transactions or data from a sky marshall.

15. A system for transmitting data from an aircraft comprising:

an aircraft component;

a PC card interfaced to the aircraft component for acquiring aircraft data from the aircraft component, said PC card including a radio transceiver for transmitting the aircraft data over a radio frequency communications signal into the skin of the aircraft, which radiates the radio frequency communications signal to a location remote from the aircraft, and receiving data over a radio frequency communications signal for onboard data processing.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein received data comprises data for specifying one of the power limits, frequency, or type of aircraft data.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein said aircraft component comprises a Data Acquisition Unit that records flight data.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the radio frequency communications signal comprises a spread spectrum communications signal.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the spread spectrum communications signal comprises a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications signal.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the spread spectrum communications signal comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum communications signal.

21. A system according to claim 15, wherein said PC card comprises a memory for storing aircraft data received from the aircraft component.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said PC card comprises a processor for reading and forwarding data from memory to the radio transmitter, and a logic circuit operative with the processor and memory for controlling downloading of data from the aircraft component to the memory and reading and forwarding of data from the memory to the radio transmitter without conflict between the processor and aircraft component.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said logic circuit comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

24. A system according to claim 15, wherein said PC card comprises a PC card body having a PCMCIA form factor.

25. A system according to claim 15, and further comprising a Central Maintenance Display Unit (CMDU) for receiving the aircraft data and indicating in real-time the health and status of aircraft systems.

26. A system according to claim 15, wherein said aircraft data comprises flight performance data.

27. A system according to claim 15, wherein the aircraft data comprises aircraft engine data.

28. A system according to claim 15, wherein the aircraft data comprises in-flight entertainment data.

29. A system according to claim 15, wherein the aircraft data comprises data relating to one of aircraft contents, passenger data, aircraft departure and arrival, passenger transactions or data from a sky marshall.

30. A system for transmitting data from an aircraft comprising:

an aircraft component;

a radio transmitter positioned within the aircraft for acquiring aircraft data from the aircraft component and transmitting the aircraft data over a radio frequency communications signal into the skin of the aircraft, which radiates the radio frequency communications signal to a location remote from the aircraft.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein said aircraft component comprises a Data Acquisition Unit that records flight data.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein the radio frequency communications signal comprises a spread spectrum communications signal.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the spread spectrum communications signal comprises a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications signal.

34. A system according to claim 32, wherein the spread spectrum communications signal comprises a direct sequence spread spectrum communications signal.

35. A system according to claim 30, and further comprising a Central Maintenance Display Unit (CMDU) for receiving the aircraft data and indicating in real-time the health and status of aircraft systems.

36. A system according to claim 30, wherein said aircraft data comprises flight performance data.

37. A system according to claim 30, wherein the aircraft data comprises aircraft engine data.

38. A system according to claim 30, wherein the aircraft data comprises in-flight entertainment data.

39. A system according to claim 30, wherein the aircraft data comprises data relating to one of aircraft contents, passenger data, aircraft departure and arrival, passenger transactions or data from a sky marshall.

40. A method of transmitting data from an aircraft comprising:

acquiring aircraft data; and

transmitting the aircraft data over a radio frequency communications signal into the skin of the aircraft, which radiates the radio frequency communications signal to a location remote from the aircraft.

41. A method according to claim 40, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data over a spread spectrum communications signal.

42. A method according to claim 41, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data over a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications signal.

43. A method according to claim 41, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data over a direct sequence spread spectrum communications signal.

44. A method according to claim 41, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data to a Central Maintenance Display Unit (CMDU) indicating in real time the health and status of aircraft systems.

45. A method according to claim 41, which further comprises acquiring aircraft data in a PC card having a radio transmitter for generating a radio frequency carrier signal on which the aircraft data is carried.

46. A method according to claim 41, which further comprises controlling the PC card through a logic circuit and processor built into the PC card.

47. A method according to claim 40, wherein the aircraft data comprises flight performance data.

48. A method according to claim 40, wherein the aircraft data comprises aircraft engine data.

49. A method according to claim 40, wherein the aircraft data comprises in-flight entertainment data.

50. A method according to claim 40, wherein the aircraft data is related to at least one of aircraft contents, passenger data, aircraft departure and arrival, passenger transactions or data from a sky marshall.

51. A method according to claim 40, which further comprises collecting data from a Data Acquisition Unit (DAU) relating to the flight performance of the aircraft.

52. A method according to claim 40, which further comprises receiving data for controlling frequency or power of the radio frequency communications signals.

53. A method according to claim 40, which further comprises receiving data for on-board processing.

54. A method of transmitting aircraft data comprising:

acquiring data within a memory of a PC card that is interfaced with an aircraft component;

retrieving the aircraft data from the memory based on commands received from a processor contained within the PC card; and

transmitting the retrieved aircraft data from a transmitter contained within the PC card along a radio frequency signal.

55. A method according to claim 54, which further comprises interfacing the PC card to the aircraft component using a PCMCIA slot.

56. A method according to claim 54, wherein the aircraft data comprises flight performance data.

57. A method according to claim 54, wherein the aircraft data comprises aircraft engine data.

58. A method according to claim 54, wherein the aircraft data comprises in-flight entertainment data.

59. A method according to claim 54, wherein the aircraft data is related to at least one of aircraft contents, passenger data, aircraft departure and arrival, passenger transactions, or data from a sky marshall.

60. A method according to claim 54, which further comprises collecting aircraft data from a Data Acquisition Unit (DAU).

61. A method according to claim 54, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data over a spread spectrum communications signal.

62. A method according to claim 61, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data over a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications signal.

63. A method according to claim 61, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data over a direct sequence spread spectrum communications signal.

64. A method according to claim 54, which further comprises transmitting the aircraft data to a Central Maintenance Display Unit (CMDU) indicating in real-time the health and status of aircraft systems.

65. A PC card that interfaces with an aircraft component for transmitting aircraft data received from the aircraft component comprising:

a PC card interface adapted for connecting to an aircraft component;

a memory for storing aircraft data received from the aircraft component;

a radio transmitter for receiving aircraft data from the memory and transmitting the aircraft data over a radio frequency signal;

a processor operatively connected to the PC card interface, memory and radio transmitter for reading and forwarding data from memory to the radio transmitter; and

a logic circuit operative with the memory, processor and PC card interface for controlling the downloading of data from the aircraft component to the memory and the reading and forwarding of data from the memory to the radio transmitter without conflict between the processor and aircraft component.

66. A PC card according to claim 65, wherein said logic circuit comprises a field programmable gate array.

67. A PC card according to claim 65, and further comprising a PC card body having a PCMCIA form factor.

68. A PC card according to claim 65, wherein said transmitter comprises a spread spectrum transmitter for transmitting aircraft data over a spread spectrum communications signal.

69. A PC card according to claim 68, wherein said transmitter is operative for transmitting said spread spectrum communications signal over a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications signal.

70. A PC card according to claim 68, wherein said transmitter is operative for transmitting said spread spectrum communications signal over a direct sequence spread spectrum communications signal.

71. A PC card that interfaces with an aircraft component for transmitting aircraft data received from the aircraft component comprising:

a PC card interface adapted for connecting to the aircraft component;

a memory for storing aircraft data received from the aircraft component;

a radio transceiver for receiving aircraft data from the memory and transmitting the aircraft data over a radio frequency communications signal, and receiving data over a radio frequency communications signal for onboard processing;

a processor operatively connected to the PC card interface, memory and radio transmitter for reading and forwarding data from memory to the radio transmitter and controlling receipt of data for onboard processing; and

a logic circuit operative with the memory, processor and PC card interface to aid in controlling the downloading of data from the aircraft component to the memory, and the reading and forwarding of data from the memory to the radio transmitter without conflict between the processor and aircraft component.

72. A PC card according to claim 71, wherein said logic circuit comprises a field programmable gate array.

73. A PC card according to claim 71, and further comprising a PC card body having a PCMCIA form factor.

74. A PC card according to claim 71, wherein said transceiver comprises a spread spectrum transceiver for transmitting and receiving data over a spread spectrum communications signal.

75. A PC card according to claim 74, wherein said transceiver is operative for transmitting and receiving said spread spectrum communications signal over a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications signal.

76. A PC card according to claim 75, wherein said transceiver is operative for transmitting and receiving said spread spectrum communications signal over a direct sequence spread spectrum communications signal.

77. A PC card according to claim 71, wherein said transceiver is operative for receiving data for transfer to an aircraft component via the PC card interface.

78. A PC card according to claim 71, wherein said transceiver is operative for receiving and transmitting the data using the radio transmitter.