TRAVEL CHARACTERISTICS-BASED AD-HOC COMMUNICATION NETWORK ALGORITHM SELECTION

• US 20090141669A1
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kauffman, Donald C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,570,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/026 Route selection considering the moving speed of individual devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method of operating an ad-hoc communication system is provided. The method comprises determining a pattern type relating to mobile node travel characteristics over a defined traveling region. Based on the pattern type, selecting a neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm. Implementing the neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm on received location and identification mobile node information to determine communication routes to at least one of mobile nodes and stationary communication stations in the ad-hoc communication system.

Claims

1. A method of operating an ad-hoc communication system, the method comprising:

determining a pattern type relating to mobile node travel characteristics over a defined traveling region;

based on the pattern type, selecting a neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm; and

implementing the neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm on received location and identification mobile node information to determine communication routes to at least one of mobile nodes and stationary communication stations in the ad-hoc communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the location and identification mobile node information via message exchange between the mobile nodes.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least part of the location and identification mobile node information via surveillance equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm comprises a first algorithm for neighbor discovery and a second associated algorithm for route determination.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the neighbor discovery and routing determination algorithm until a second different neighbor discovery and routing determination algorithm is established that is based on the then current determined pattern type.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

switching the neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm based on yield performance.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing a message pursuant to a determined communication route based on the neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile nodes are aircraft.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the pattern type further comprises:

processing a received air traffic control message, wherein at least one of message formats and message contents differ in different traveling regions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the pattern type further comprises:

comparing position data with stored map data defining the different traveling regions.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the pattern type further comprises:

monitoring transmissions of neighboring mobile nodes.

12. A method of operating an ad-hoc communication system, the method comprising:

determining a pattern type relating to mobile node travel characteristics over a defined traveling region;

based on the pattern type, selecting a neighbor discovery algorithm;

implementing the discovery algorithm on received location and identification mobile node information to determine a topology of the mobile nodes in the ad-hoc communication system;

based on the pattern type, selecting a routing algorithm; and

implementing the routing algorithm on the determined topology to determine at least one communication route.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the pattern type is done by one of processing a received traffic control message that is indicative of the defined travel region, comparing position data with stored map data defining different traveling regions and monitoring transmissions of neighboring mobile nodes.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining the location and identification mobile node information.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

passing a message pursuant to a determined communication route.

16. A communication system of a vehicle in an ad-hoc network, the communication system comprising:

a communication transceiver configured to send and receive messages; and

a communication management function (CMF) in communication with the communication transceiver, the CMF configured to apply select algorithms on mobile node position and ID information to determine neighbor discovery and routing paths of an ad-hoc network, wherein the select algorithms are based on mobile node travel characteristics over a defined traveling region.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the communication transceiver is further configured to send and receive messages including the mobile node position and ID information.

18. The communication system of claim 16, further comprising:

surveillance equipment in communication with the CMF, the surveillance equipment configured to receive and transmit the mobile node position and ID information.

19. The communication system of claim 18, further comprising:

a surveillance transceiver in communication with the surveillance equipment.

20. The communication system of claim 16, further comprising:

an aircraft communication addressing and reporting system (ACARS) transceiver in communication with the CMF, the ACARS transceiver configured to communicate with a ground station.