System and method for ATC voice quality assurance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for ATC voice quality assurance. A voice quality measurement system is provided. The voice quality measurement system includes a radio station, an air traffic control center (ACC), an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication system, and at least one IP probe, which connects the radio station and the ACC. The at least one IP probe is configured to monitor IP communications between the radio station and the ACC through the IP-based communication system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to monitoring IP-based communication connections in air traffic control (ATC). Background Art

[0002] ATC communications used to be handled only via analog RF communication channels. In the tower environment, there is a trend to replace this type of ATC communications via digital Internet Protocol (IP) based communication systems. In this type of communication system, monitoring of the quality of the connection is an unresolved issue.

[0003] For example, document US 9,281,890 B2 shows an IP-based air traffic control communication system. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is therefore an object to provide a system and method for high quality ATC communications allowing for simple voice quality measurements.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a voice quality measurement system is provided. The voice quality measurement system comprises a radio site, an air traffic control center (ACC), an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication system, and at least one IP probe, which connects the radio site and the ACC. The at least one IP probe is configured to monitor IP communications between the radio site and the ACC through the IP-based communication system. This allows high-quality communication connections, which can be easily monitored.

[0006] Advantageously, the radio station is located in a control tower. The radio station comprises at least one radio transceiver. This allows the speech quality measurement system to be applied to a communication connection with a control tower.

[0007] Preferably, the ACC comprises at least one air traffic control (ATC) workplace. This allows the speech quality measurement system to be applied to a communication connection with an air traffic control workplace.

[0008] Advantageously, the at least one detector is located within the IP-based communication system or at a point of the IP-based communication system. This allows a particularly precise monitoring of IP communications.

[0009] Preferably, the IP-based communication system includes at least one Air Traffic Navigation Service Provider Wide Area Network (ANSP WAN) connection. This allows monitoring of IP communications via the ANSP WAN connection.

[0010] Advantageously, the at least one IP detector is configured to monitor IP communications via the at least one ANSP WAN connection.A particularly simple implementation may thus be achieved.

[0011] Advantageously, the IP-based communication system comprises a plurality of interconnected communication devices. In this case, the voice quality measurement system comprises a plurality of IP probes, each IP probe being configured to monitor IP communications at one of the plurality of interconnected communication devices of the IP-based communication system. This allows the source of a fault within the IP-based communication system to be determined.

[0012] Preferably, the voice quality measurement system comprises a communication analyzer configured to analyze the IP communications monitored by the at least one IP probe. This allows for a very simple use.

[0013] Advantageously, the communication analyzer comprises a parameter determiner configured to determine at least one parameter of the IP communication monitored by the IP probe.This allows for a lower necessary skills of an operator.

[0014] Advantageously, the parameter determiner is configured to determine at least one parameter in a time slice of a predetermined duration. This allows a particularly precise determination of the parameter.

[0015] Preferably, the parameter determiner is configured to determine: a voice quality indicator (particularly a Mean Opinion Score (MOS) based on monitored IP communications), and / or a jitter value, and / or a round trip delay value, and / or a data packet arrival time histogram, and / or a packet loss rate, and / or a burst loss rate, and / or a loss density, and / or a transmission strategy. This allows very flexible monitoring.

[0016] Advantageously, the communication analyzer comprises a fault determiner configured to automatically determine a fault of the IP-based communication system and / or the radio site and / or the ACC based on at least one parameter of the IP communication determined by the parameter determiner. This allows a very simple automatic operation of the system.

[0017] Preferably, the fault determiner is configured to automatically determine a fault of the IP based communication system based on detecting a predetermined pattern of the at least one parameter of the IP communication determined by the parameter determiner.This allows for a particularly low necessary user experience.

[0018] Preferably, the parameter determiner is configured to determine a packet loss rate and a jitter value. The fault determiner is then configured to automatically determine a fiber break fault of the IP-based communication system based on detecting an increased packet loss rate and a nominal jitter value. This allows a particularly simple automatic detection of a fiber break fault.

[0019] Advantageously, the voice quality measurement system further comprises an aircraft, another communication system based on Internet Protocol (IP), and at least one other IP probe, wherein the other communication system based on IP connects the radio site to the aircraft. The radio site in this context is a next generation radio site (NGRS). The other IP probe is configured to monitor IP communications between the radio site and the aircraft via the other communication system based on IP. This allows monitoring not only the quality of communication between the ACC and the radio site, but also the quality of communication between the radio site and the aircraft.

[0020] Preferably, the further IP probe is located on board the aircraft. This allows the delay in determining the quality of the connection by the aircraft operator to be particularly short.

[0021] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication system comprising the previously shown voice quality measurement system and an amplitude modulation (AM) based communication system, the AM based communication system connecting the radio station and the aircraft and / or connecting the ACC and the radio station. If the IP communication monitored by the IP detector and / or the IP communication monitored by the other IP detector has a quality parameter value below a quality threshold, the communication system is adapted to stop the communication of the IP based communication system and / or the communication of the other IP based communication system, and to start the communication of the AM based communication system. This allows particularly secure communication, since in the event that the quality of the connection via the IP based communication system is too low, it is possible to fall back to the AM based communication which has been proven to be reliable.

[0022] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for voice measurement is provided. The method comprises connecting a radio station to an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication system; connecting an air traffic control center (ACC) to the IP-based communication system; connecting at least one IP probe to the IP-based communication system; and monitoring IP communications between the radio station and the ACC via the IP-based communication system by the IP probe. This allows a high-quality communication connection that can be easily monitored. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 A first embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 A second embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is shown;

[0026] Figure 3 shows details of a third embodiment of the first aspect of the invention;

[0027] Figure 4 A fourth embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 5 A fifth embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 6 An embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] First, we refer to Figure 1 The general structure and function of the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention are described. Figure 2-Figure 4 Details of the structure and function of various embodiments are shown and described. Figure 5 , describes the structure and function of the second aspect of the present invention. Finally, refer to Figure 6 , describes the detailed functions of the implementation of the second aspect of the present invention. Similar entities and reference numerals in different figures have been partially omitted.

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, various modifications may be made to the following embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments.

[0032] Figure 1, a first embodiment of a speech quality measurement system according to a first aspect of the present invention is shown. The speech quality measurement system 1 comprises a radio station (RS) 10 and an air traffic control center (ACC) 11, the radio station 10 and the air traffic control center 11 being connected via an Internet Protocol (IP) based communication system 12. The speech quality measurement system further comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) probe (IP PRB) 13, the IP probe 13 being connected to the IP based communication system 12.

[0033] Preferably, the radio station 10 is located in a control tower and comprises at least one radio transceiver.

[0034] Advantageously, the ACC comprises at least one air traffic control (ATC) workplace.

[0035] Preferably, the IP-based communication system is or at least comprises an Air Traffic Navigation Service Provider Wide Area Network (ANSPWAN) connection.

[0036] Advantageously, communications within the IP-based communications system 12 are transmitted optically or over cables.

[0037] IP detector 13 of IP-based communication system 12 Figure 1 However, in reality, the IP detector 13 may be a part of the IP-based communication system 12 or may be located at a specific location within the IP-based communication system 12.

[0038] The radio site 10 and the ACC 11 communicate with each other using Internet Protocol based communications through an IP based communications system 12. The IP probe monitors the IP based communications. It is important to note that the communications run through the IP probe 13. In particular, the IP probe 13 monitors the communications between the radio site 10 and the ACC 11 through the IP based communications system. Based on this monitored IP communications, voice quality can be determined.

[0039] Figure 2 , a second embodiment of the speech quality measurement system according to the first aspect of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the speech quality measurement system 1 further comprises a communication analyzer (TRF ANA) 14 connected to the IP probe 13. The communication analyzer 14 is configured to analyze the IP communication monitored by at least one IP probe 13. In particular, the communication analyzer 14 is adapted to determine the speech quality based on the monitored IP communication.

[0040] Figure 3, details of a third embodiment of the speech quality measurement system 1 according to the first aspect of the invention are shown. In this embodiment, the inner workings of the communication analyzer 14 are shown. The communication analyzer 14 here comprises a parameter determiner (PARA DET) 140 connected to a fault determiner (FLT DET) 141.

[0041] The monitored IP communication is transmitted by the IP detector 13 to the parameter determiner 140. Then, the parameter determiner 140 determines at least one parameter of the IP communication monitored by the IP detector 13. In addition, more than one parameter can be determined. In particular, the at least one parameter is advantageously determined by the parameter determiner 140 in a time slice of a predetermined duration.

[0042] For example, the parameters that may be determined by the parameter determiner 140 may be:

[0043] - Voice quality indicators, in particular Mean Opinion Score (MOS) based on monitored IP communications, and / or

[0044] - Jitter value, and / or

[0045] - round trip delay, and / or

[0046] - Packet arrival time histogram, and / or

[0047] -packet loss rate, and / or

[0048] -Burst loss rate, and / or

[0049] - loss density, and / or

[0050] -Transmission strategy.

[0051] The determined at least one parameter is then passed to a fault determiner 141 which is configured to detect a pattern within said at least one parameter and thereby infer a fault within the IP-based communication system and / or the radio site and / or the ACC.

[0052] For example, the fault determiner 141 may determine a fiber break fault existing within the IP-based communication system from an increased packet loss rate and a nominal jitter value.

[0053] Preferably, control plane monitoring and / or voice plane monitoring of IP communications are performed by the communications analyzer 14 .

[0054] Advantageously, the fault determiner 141 also determines whether the MOS determined by the parameter determiner 140 is at least 4.0 (as required in chapter 6.3.1 of the standard ED136).

[0055] Figure 4, a fourth embodiment of the speech quality measurement system according to the first aspect of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the IP-based communication system 12 comprises separate IP probes 131, 132, 133 within the IP-based communication system 12.

[0056] Each of the IP detectors 131, 132, 133 monitors a different link of the communication connection. This means that the first communication link is monitored by the IP detector 131, the second communication link is monitored by the IP detector 132, and the third communication link is monitored by the IP detector 133. By monitoring the IP communications on each communication link, the functionality of each communication link can be determined.

[0057] The monitored communications are then transmitted to the communications analyzer 14. The communications analyzer 14 then analyzes the IP communications of all connected IP probes 131-133. This is particularly useful for determining the location of a fault within the IP-based communications system 12.

[0058] Figure 5 In FIG. 5 , a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown. In particular, this embodiment shows a communication system 2 including a speech quality measurement system 1 and an aircraft 51. The speech quality measurement system 1 includes an air traffic control center (ACC) 11 connected to a radio site, in particular a Next Generation Radio Site (NGRS) 50, via an IP-based communication system not shown. The IP-based communication system includes an IP detector 13, which monitors IP communications between the Next Generation Radio Site 50 and the ACC. For the functions of the speech quality measurement system 1, refer to the previous Figure 1-Figure 4 Detailed description.

[0059] Furthermore, the next generation radio site 50 and the aircraft 51 are connected via another IP-based communication system 52. Another IP detector 53 (preferably a part of the another IP-based communication system 52 and preferably located on the aircraft 51) is adapted to monitor the IP communication between the next generation radio communication site 50 and the aircraft 51 via the another IP-based communication system 52.

[0060] The IP detector 13 reports the monitoring results of the IP communication between the ACC 11 and the NGRS 50 to a user 54 located at the ACC 11, for example. Advantageously, the IP detector 53 also reports the results of the monitoring of the IP-based communication between the NGRS 50 and the aircraft 51 to the user 54.

[0061] Advantageously, the monitoring results of IP communications by the IP detector 13 and / or the IP detector 53 are transmitted to the communication analyzer, such as Figure 2-Figure 3As shown and described. A corresponding analysis may then be performed on the IP communications. In particular, the parameter determiner of the communication analyzer may determine the quality parameters of the IP-based communications monitored by the IP detector 13 and the quality parameters of the IP-based communications monitored by the IP detector 53. In the event that the quality parameters of one or both of these IP communications are below a preset or adjustable quality threshold, the communication system 2 is adapted to notify the user 54 of this situation.

[0062] Alternatively or additionally, automatic switching from IP-based communication to conventional amplitude modulation-based communication is possible. In particular, switching to AM-based communication may be performed once the quality of at least one of the IP-based communications is below a quality threshold. Alternatively, only communication links with low communication quality may be switched to AM-based communication.

[0063] For example, if the quality parameter of the IP communication monitored by the IP detector 13 is above the quality threshold, and the quality parameter of the IP communication monitored by the IP detector 53 is below the quality threshold, the communication between the NGRS 50 and the aircraft 51 can be switched from the IP-based communication system 52 to the AM-based communication system (not shown herein).

[0064] Figure 6 In the figure, an implementation of the speech quality measurement method according to the second aspect of the present invention is shown in a flow chart.

[0065] In a first step 100, the radio site is connected to the IP-based communication system. In a second step 101, the ACC is connected to the IP-based communication system. In a third step 102, at least one IP probe is connected to the IP-based communication system. In a final step 103, IP communications between the radio site and the ACC via the IP-based communication system are monitored by the IP probe.

[0066] The embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by hardware, software or any combination thereof. Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processors (DSP), digital signal processing devices (DSPD), programmable logic devices (PLD), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors or the like.

[0067] Various embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented in the form of software modules, processes, functions, etc. that perform the above-mentioned features or operations. The software code may be stored in a storage unit so that it can be executed by a processor. The storage unit may be located inside or outside the processor and may communicate with the processor in various known ways.

[0068] The invention is not limited to the examples, in particular not to a specific number of communication links or IP-based communication devices. Furthermore, the invention can be applied in communication systems with more than two participants. The features of the exemplary embodiments can be used in any advantageous combination.

[0069] Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A voice quality measurement system, comprising: - Radio stations; - Air traffic control centre; - an Internet Protocol IP-based communication system connecting the radio station and the air traffic control center; - At least one IP detector; -Communications analyzer; - parameter determiner; as well as - fault determiner, wherein the at least one IP detector is configured to monitor IP communications between the radio site and the air traffic control center via the IP-based communication system, and Wherein, the communication analyzer is configured as follows: - analyzing IP communications monitored by said at least one IP probe, and -determine voice quality based on monitored IP communications, wherein the parameter determiner is configured to determine at least one parameter of the IP communication monitored by the IP detector, and Wherein, the fault determiner is configured to automatically determine a fault of the IP-based communication system based on detecting a predetermined pattern of the at least one parameter of the IP communication determined by the parameter determiner.

2. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 1, in, The radio site is located in a control tower; and The radio station includes at least one radio transceiver.

3. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 1, in, The air traffic control center includes at least one air traffic control workplace.

4. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 1, in, The at least one IP probe is located within the IP-based communication system or at a point in the IP-based communication system.

5. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 1, in, The IP-based communication system includes at least one air traffic navigation service provider wide area network connection.

6. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 5, in, The at least one IP detector is configured to monitor IP communications over the at least one air traffic navigation service provider wide area network connection.

7. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 1, in, The IP-based communication system includes a plurality of interconnected communication devices, and The voice quality measurement system includes a plurality of IP probes, each of which is configured to monitor IP communications at one of the plurality of interconnected communication devices of the IP-based communication system.

8. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 1, in, The parameter determiner is configured to determine at least one parameter in a time slice of a predetermined duration.

9. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 8, in, The parameter determiner is configured to determine: - a voice quality indicator, the voice quality indicator being a Mean Opinion Score (MOS) based on the monitored IP communications, and / or - Jitter value, and / or - round trip delay, and / or - Packet arrival time histogram, and / or -Packet loss rate, and / or -Burst loss rate, and / or - loss density, and / or -Transmission strategy.

10. The speech quality measurement system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in, The fault determiner is configured to automatically determine a fault of the IP-based communication system and / or the radio site and / or the air traffic control center based on the at least one parameter of the IP communication determined by the parameter determiner.

11. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 1, in, The parameter determiner is configured to determine a packet loss rate and a jitter value, and The fault determiner is configured to automatically determine a fiber break fault of the IP-based communication system based on detecting an increased packet loss rate and a nominal jitter value.

12. The speech quality measurement system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: -airplane; - another IP-based communication system connecting the radio station with the aircraft, and - at least one other IP detector; wherein the radio site is a next generation radio site, and Wherein, the further IP detector is configured to monitor IP communications between the radio station and the aircraft via the further IP-based communication system.

13. The speech quality measurement system according to claim 12, in, The other IP detector is located on the aircraft.

14. A communication system comprising the speech quality measurement system according to claim 12 or 13, and an amplitude modulation based communication system connecting the radio station with the aircraft and / or connecting the air traffic control center with the radio station; in, If the IP communication monitored by the IP probe and / or the IP communication monitored by the further IP probe has a quality parameter value below a quality threshold, the communication system is adapted to: - ceasing communications via said IP-based communications system and / or communications with said further IP-based communications system, and - Initiating communication via said amplitude modulation based communication system.

15. A method for measuring voice quality, comprising the following steps: - Connecting radio stations to Internet Protocol IP-based communication systems; - Connecting an air traffic control center to said IP-based communication system; - connecting at least one IP detector to said IP-based communication system; - monitoring, by the IP detector, IP communications between the radio station and the air traffic control center via the IP-based communication system; - analyzing IP communications monitored by said at least one IP detector; -determine voice quality based on monitored IP communications; - determining at least one parameter of the IP communications monitored by said IP probe, and - automatically determining a malfunction of said IP based communication system based on detecting a predetermined pattern of said at least one parameter of said IP communication.

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