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

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).

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...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, wireless connectivity has suffered from problems at many airports: limited WiFi infrastructure and bandwidth, and interference from passengers' WiFi-enabled devices

Widespread deployment of BPL could adversely affect military HF radio communications

[0006] Also, interference from nearby adjacent systems (such as the gate area of ​​an airport terminal with multiple BPL outdoor installations) causes further signal degradation because the BPL modem may not be able to determine specific frequencies among other signals in the same bandwidth

[0007] When errors in communication become significant, BPL devices become less efficient (drop packets and retransmit data), fail to function, or operate in undesired ways (data is corrupted or tainted but goes undetected)

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