Internetworking air-to-air network and wireless network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating an aircraft communication system, the method comprising:
- establishing a connection between at least one aircraft that is a member of an air-to-air communication network of aircraft and a ground station that is a part of a wireless network;
using the connection to communicate messages between an aircraft in the air-to-air communication network and a terrestrial end system;
in response to establishing the connection between the aircraft and the ground station, sending a register message and topology information from the aircraft to a route computing system, wherein the register message and topology information are sent via the wireless network and a terrestrial network that is in communication with the wireless network;
in response to establishing the connection between the aircraft and the ground station, advertising by the aircraft to other aircraft in the air-to-air communication network that the aircraft is available as a gateway node between the air-to-air communication network and the wireless network; and
dynamically updating topology information maintained by the route computing system based on the topology information received from the aircraft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems of operating a communication system are provided. One method comprises establishing at least one communication link between a mobile-to-mobile communication network of mobile nodes and at least one route computing system via gateway node. The gateway node is one of the mobile nodes that is in communication with a wireless network. Moreover, the route computing system is in communication with a terrestrial network that is also in communication with the wireless network. The at least one established communication link is then used to communicate messages.
177 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of operating an aircraft communication system, the method comprising:
-
establishing a connection between at least one aircraft that is a member of an air-to-air communication network of aircraft and a ground station that is a part of a wireless network; using the connection to communicate messages between an aircraft in the air-to-air communication network and a terrestrial end system; in response to establishing the connection between the aircraft and the ground station, sending a register message and topology information from the aircraft to a route computing system, wherein the register message and topology information are sent via the wireless network and a terrestrial network that is in communication with the wireless network; in response to establishing the connection between the aircraft and the ground station, advertising by the aircraft to other aircraft in the air-to-air communication network that the aircraft is available as a gateway node between the air-to-air communication network and the wireless network; and dynamically updating topology information maintained by the route computing system based on the topology information received from the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An aircraft communication system for use in an aircraft, the system comprising:
-
a communication transceiver configured to communicate messages between aircraft in an associated ad-hoc air-to-air communication network; a wireless network transceiver configured to establish a connection with a wireless network; and a communication management function configured to switch the aircraft communication system into a gateway mode when the wireless network transceiver has established the connection with the wireless network, wherein the communication management function is configured to, in response to the connection with the wireless network being established, use the wireless network transceiver to send a register message and topology information to a route computing system, wherein the register message and topology information are sent via the wireless network and a terrestrial network that is in communication with the wireless network, and wherein topology information maintained by the route computing system is dynamically updated based on the topology information sent from the aircraft; and wherein the communication management function is configured to, in response to the connection with the wireless network being established, use the communication transceiver to advertise to other aircraft in the associated ad-hoc air-to-air communication network that the advertising aircraft is available as a gateway node between the associated ad-hoc air-to-air communication network and the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A communication system comprising:
-
a ground station controller in communication with at least one wireless network; and at least one ad-hoc air-to-air communication network, each ad-hoc communication network made up of a plurality of aircraft in communication with each other, at least one of the plurality of aircraft within the radio range of the wireless network being designated as a gateway to the ad-hoc air-to-air communication network, each gateway including, a communication transceiver configured to communicate messages between aircraft, a wireless network transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless network, and a communication management function configured to switch the aircraft communication system into a gateway mode when the wireless network transceiver has established the connection with the wireless network; wherein the communication management function is configured to, in response to the connection with the wireless network being established, use the wireless network transceiver to send a register message and topology information to the ground station controller, wherein the register message and topology information are sent via the wireless network and a terrestrial network that is in communication with the wireless network, and wherein topology information maintained by the ground station controller is dynamically updated based on the topology information sent from the aircraft; and wherein the communication management function is configured to, in response to the connection with the wireless network being established, use the communication transceiver to advertise to other aircraft in the ad-hoc air-to-air communication network that the advertising aircraft is available as a gateway node between the ad-hoc air-to-air communication network and the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
Specification