Communication between a vehicle and a ground terminal over a ground power line

A vehicle and power line technology, applied in power line communication systems, distribution line transmission systems, electrical components, etc., can solve problems such as WiFi infrastructure interference, inability to determine the specific frequency of other signals, and signal degradation

CN109391289AActive Publication Date: 2019-02-26THE BOEING CO
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2019-02-26

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Abstract

This application disclsoes communication between a vehicle and a ground terminal over a ground power line. A method and apparatus is provided for communicating data over a ground power line between avehicle and a ground terminal. In one example, a first power unit detects a signal indicating connection between the first power unit and a remote power unit. Responsive to detecting the signal, one or more modems associated with the first power unit automatically establish a data connection with one or more remote modems associated with the remote power unit. After establishing the connection between the one or more modems in the first power unit and the one or more modems in the remote power unit, the one or more modems in the first power unit exchange data with the one or more modems in theremote power unit over the power line. In one example, the first power unit may comprise an onboard power unit in a vehicle (e.g., aircraft) and the remote power unit may comprise a ground power unit. Alternatively, the first power unit may comprise a ground power unit and the remote power unit may comprise in a vehicle (e.g., aircraft).
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Description

technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to broadband communications over power lines, and more particularly to multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications between an aircraft or other vehicle and a ground station over terrestrial power lines. Background technique

[0002] Newer aircraft are equipped with wireless communication capabilities (eg, WiFi) to facilitate the exchange of large amounts of data between the aircraft and the aviation operations center during aircraft gate turn times. However, wireless connectivity has encountered problems at many airports: limited WiFi infrastructure and bandwidth, and interference from passengers' WiFi-enabled devices. Additionally, there are data security risks associated with sharing common wireless channels.

[0003] An alternative to wireless communication is to use wired data communication over the already existing airport ground power lines. However, data transmission over power lines faces two...

Examples

Embodiment 1

[0094] Embodiment 1: A first power unit for a vehicle or a ground terminal, comprising: a connector configured to connect the first power unit to a remote power unit through a power line having a plurality of conductors; a power circuit a controller configured to detect a connection between the first power unit and the remote power unit; and one or more modems, configured to transmit and receive data over the power line when the first power unit is connected to the remote power unit, the one or more modems configured to: a data connection, automatically establishing a data connection with one or more remote modems in the remote power unit; and exchanging data with the one or more remote modems over the power line after establishing the data connection with the one or more remote modems .

Embodiment 2

[0095] Embodiment 2: The first power unit of embodiment 1, wherein the controller is configured to electrically connect the first subset of the wires in the power line before electrically connecting the second subset of the wires in the power line.

Embodiment 3

[0096] Embodiment 3: The first power unit of embodiment 2, wherein the controller is configured to detect signals on wires of the second subset of wires and initiate a data connection by the one or more modems.