Method and device for adaptively configuring wireless telecommunications

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adaptively configuring telecommunications, during a mission, by an aircraft (30), over wireless links (52), with a hub (80), the method comprising the steps of: - predicting the future state of the links by means of a connectivity predictor (22) according to the current state of the links and the mission conditions; - according to at least the prediction of the future state of the wireless links, predicting, by means of a communication profile predictor (21), an operating mode of at least one function from the set of one or more processing functions from among a plurality of operating modes of the function associated with separate communication profiles; - following this prediction, when the predicted operating mode of the function is different from an operating mode of the function in operation, switching at least the function to the predicted operating mode.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Method and device for adaptive configuration of wireless telecommunications Technical field:

[0001] The invention is in the field of wireless telecommunications. Previous technique:

[0002] The conditions in which tactical missions, for example air missions, take place are varied and can change rapidly (for example, jamming of a radio link between the aircraft and another platform, whether intentional or due to masking, for example, by the aircraft's aileron or rudder, or by clouds for certain frequency bands, etc.), leading to a loss of connectivity for aircraft during parts of their mission. Indeed, their wireless telecommunications systems, particularly radio systems, cannot adapt their parameters as quickly as the speed of change in conditions once the change is detected. This delay in switching to another transmission mode (for example, a satellite link) leads to a loss of communication during the adaptation interval, which can nevertheless be crucial.

[0003] There is therefore a need to ensure the maintenance of wireless communications from aircraft, and more generally from flying platforms, during their aerial missions. Summary of the invention:

[0004] To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention describes a method for adaptive configuration of wireless telecommunications implemented, in a mission, by a mobile machine, on one or more wireless links, with at least one platform of a set of platforms, said method comprising the following set of steps, iterated during successive moments of the mission, a electronic predictor of exchange templates and an electronic connectivity predictor being embedded, in the mobile machine, in an electronic processing block comprising a set of processing function(s): - prediction of the future state of the wireless links by the connectivity predictor over at least one predefined time horizon, based on at least the current state of the wireless links and one or more mission condition parameters among weather data, the current position of the mobile vehicle, the current attitude of the mobile vehicle, the trajectory followed, the speed of the mobile vehicle, the relief, the heading, the friendly positions, the enemy threats, the electromagnetic environment; - depending on at least the profile of said mission and / or depending on an estimate of the future exchange needs over said time horizon indicating at least one volume of data to be exchanged by all the processing functions via wireless links and depending on said prediction of the future state of the wireless links, prediction, by the exchange template predictor, of an operating mode of at least one function of the set of processing function(s) among several operating modes of said function associated with distinct exchange templates; - following said prediction, when said predicted operating mode of the function is different from an operating mode of the function currently in operation, triggering a switch of at least said function to said predicted operating mode.

[0005] In embodiments, such a method will further comprise at least one of the following features: - a selection has previously taken place, based on the profile of said mission, of an electronic connectivity predictor from among several electronic connectivity predictors and an electronic predictor of exchange templates from among several electronic predictors of exchange templates, said on-board predictors being those selected; - the processing block of the mobile device, based on at least the prediction of the future state of the wireless links, performs at least one action among: adapting the trajectory of the mobile machine or a platform to maintain an existing wireless link or create a new wireless link; redirecting flows within said wireless links; adapting the characteristics of said links; - the mobile device is an aircraft and the mission is an air mission which comprises several phases among at least a take-off phase, a transit phase, a theater of operations phase and a landing phase and the prediction of the future state of the wireless links by the connectivity predictor and the prediction of the future exchange templates by the exchange template predictor are each a function of the current phase of the mission; - at least one of the predictors among the connectivity predictor and the exchange template predictor comprises a neural network; and said predictor selection comprises the selection of a set of weights and biases of the neural network among a set of available sets of weights and biases, according to the mission profile; - at least one of the predictors among the connectivity predictor and the exchange template predictor comprises a neural network; and during the mission, data indicating the current connectivity state of the links, data indicating the exchanges carried out by the functions on the wireless links and data indicating the current mission conditions are collected and stored; and said collected data and the mission profile are used to continue the training of said neural network.

[0006] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a computer program intended to be stored in the memory of an electronic processing unit on board a mobile vehicle to adaptively configure telecommunications implemented during a mission, by the mobile vehicle, on one or more wireless links; the processing unit further comprising a microcomputer, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on the microcomputer, implement the steps of a method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0007] According to another aspect, the invention describes an electronic processing block adapted to be embarked in a mission, in a mobile machine adapted to implement, on one or more wireless links, telecommunications with at least one platform of a set of platforms, said electronic processing block comprising a set of processing function(s), an electronic predictor of the exchange templates and an electronic predictor of connectivity;in which: the connectivity predictor is adapted to, at successive times of the mission, predict the future state of the wireless links at least a predefined time horizon, as a function of at least the current state of the wireless links and one or more mission condition parameters among weather data, the current position of the mobile vehicle, the current attitude of the mobile vehicle, the trajectory followed, the speed of the mobile vehicle, the relief, the heading, the friendly positions, the enemy threats, the electromagnetic environment; - the exchange template predictor is adapted to, at successive times of the mission, as a function of at least the profile of said mission and / or as a function of an estimate of future exchange needs over said time horizon indicating at least one volume of data to be exchanged by all of the processing functions via wireless links and as a function of said prediction of the future state of the wireless links, predict an operating mode of at least one function of the set of processing function(s) from among several operating modes of said function associated with distinct exchange templates; - the processing block being adapted to, following said prediction, when said predicted operating mode of the function is different from an operating mode of the function currently in operation, trigger a switch of at least said function to said predicted operating mode.

[0008] In embodiments, such a processing block will further comprise at least one of the following features: - It is adapted to, depending on at least the prediction of the future state of the wireless links, perform at least one action among: the adaptation of the trajectory of the mobile machine (30) or of a platform (70, 80) to maintain an existing wireless link or create a new wireless link; the re-direction of flows within said wireless links; the adaptation of the characteristics of said links; - the mobile device (30) is an aircraft and the mission is an air mission which comprises several phases among at least a take-off phase, a transit phase, a theater of operation phase and a landing phase and the prediction of the future state of the wireless links by the connectivity predictor (22) and the prediction of the future exchange templates by the exchange template predictor (21) are each a function of the current phase of the mission. Brief description of the figures:

[0009] The invention will be better understood and other characteristics, details and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given without limitation, and thanks to the appended figures, given by way of example.

[0010] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is an illustration of an air mission processing system 1 implementing an embodiment of the invention;

[0011] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 represents the steps of an air mission processing method 1 implementing an embodiment of the invention.

[0012] Identical references may be used in different figures when they designate the same or comparable elements. Detailed description:

[0013] An air mission processing system 1 is shown in FIG. 1 incorporating an embodiment of the invention.

[0014] The air mission processing system 1 comprises, in the case shown, a configuration platform 10, a fleet of mobile vehicles equipped with wireless transmission means (for example fighter planes, reconnaissance planes, refueling planes), in particular in the example considered, aircraft including an aircraft 30, an aircraft 80 and a rolling vehicle 70.

[0015] The air missions are implemented by the air mission processing system 1, in an embodiment subsequently described with reference to FIG. 2 with reference to an air mission involving several aircraft, in particular the aircraft 30 alone shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] The configuration platform 10 comprises a server 11 and a database 12.

[0017] The server 11 includes an electronic configuration module 13.

[0018] Database 12 includes a set of exchange template predictor configuration parameter sets and a set of connectivity state predictor configuration parameter sets.

[0019] Aircraft 30 has a processing block 20.

[0020] The processing block 20 of the aircraft 30 comprises an electronic block predicting exchange templates 21, an electronic block predicting connectivity state 22, a control block 23, a sensor block 24, a trajectory calculation block 25 and a wireless telecommunications block 26.

[0021] The wireless telecommunication block 26 comprises a plurality of wireless telecommunication sub-blocks, for example: - a set of wireless telecommunications sub-block(s) each adapted to, during the mission execution phase, establish a wireless telecommunications link (for example VHF, UHF, satellite type) with a remote platform, for example as detailed later, a link 51 with the rolling vehicle 70, a link 52 with the aircraft 80.

[0022] The wireless telecommunications links implemented by the wireless telecommunications block 26 are constrained: the telecommunications capacity is limited (compared to gigabit fiber optic networks) and not very stable: the telecommunications links in the context of air missions are frequently deployed locally and punctually in a health or military intervention area (a disaster zone, geological or other, a conflict zone, etc.); these transmission links are frequently broken without warning (for example by intentional or unintentional jamming), some are very limited in terms of bandwidth or experience occurrences, much more frequent than in conventional public networks, of variations in bandwidth or latency.

[0023] Each or at least some of one or more blocks among the control blocks 23, sensors 24, trajectory calculation 25 implement for example one or more functions, in particular software applications, which are executed during the performance of an aerial mission, and which, during this execution, transmit and / or receive data (measurement, analysis, control, alert, observations, etc.) via one or more wireless telecommunication links established by the wireless telecommunication block 26.

[0024] For example, a software application of a video sensor of block 24 captures images and transmits them remotely, etc.

[0025] Some of these blocks, and / or some of the functions of the blocks are further adapted to operate selectively according to an operating mode selected from several of their operating modes, for example nominal mode, degraded mode 1, ..., degraded mode n (n>1) associated respectively with distinct characteristics, of volumes of data sent and / or of lifetime of the information (which will condition the maximum latency that the network must respect between the source and the recipient) and / or the tolerated jitter, the supported error rate, the sovereignty of this data, the level of protection associated with the transmission of the data, etc. (in fact, everything that will have an impact on the transport conditions can be taken into account). Each operating mode is thus associated with a corresponding transport template, which translates the characteristics of the operating mode into transport characteristics by the network.

[0026] Distinct modes of operation of a function of a block are distinguished for example by the format of the transmission data considered (in particular compression mode, coding) delivered by the function, by the transmission protocol used by the function, by the precision of the processing carried out by the function (example: resolution of the images transmitted), by a level of filtering playing on the completeness of the data transmitted etc., which result in distinct characteristics regarding the transmission: certain less relevant data may for example not be transmitted if resources were to be lacking, corresponding for example to a narrowing of the field of observation), or an adaptable selectivity of the information transmitted (certain information could be deleted for reasons of priority or security level for example).

[0027] The configuration platform 10 is adapted to determine the configuration parameters of the connectivity state predictor 22 and exchange predictor 21 blocks, during the preparation of the mission, in the manner described below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0028] The connectivity state predictor block 22, hereinafter called connectivity predictor 22, is adapted, once configured as described later, to predict, during the performance of the mission, the changes in connectivity states of the links established by the wireless telecommunication block 26, such as a break in a wireless telecommunication link implemented in the mission being performed, a reduction in the bandwidth below a predefined threshold, or an increase in the error rate above a predefined threshold, i.e. before these changes in states occur.

[0029] In the embodiment considered, the connectivity state predictor 22 comprises a neural network which performs the prediction based on current input data provided to the connectivity state predictor 22.

[0030] The exchange template predictor block 21, once configured as described below, is adapted, during the performance of the mission, to, as a function of input data including in particular a connectivity state predicted by the connectivity state predictor 22, deduce, from this predicted connectivity state related to the exchange needs of the blocks 24 and 25 of the processing block 20 (indicated for example by the mission profile and / or the mission phase), operating modes of the (functions of the) sensor blocks 24 and / or trajectory calculation 25 (associated with respective exchange templates), to be applied in anticipation of a future change, then deduce therefrom one or more corresponding commands intended for this or these sensor blocks 24, trajectory calculation 25 to adapt their operating modes where appropriate so as to adapt their transmitted and / or received flows, for example for at least a predetermined time: the exchange template predictor block 21 thus predicts the exchange needs of block 24 and block 25 to anticipate the operating mode to be applied and thus adapt the transmitted flows to the observed or predicted transport conditions.

[0031] For each function, one or more operating modes have been defined, as indicated above. An operating mode groups together a set of characteristics allowing the quantification and qualification of the data flows generated by the application. An operating mode is therefore specific to an application.

[0032] At any given time, for each application, one and only one operating mode is active.

[0033] An exchange template (also called a transport template) is the counterpart of an operating mode, from the point of view of the telecommunications network and reflects the way in which the network takes this operating mode into account. It expresses the point of view of the container, while the operating mode expresses the point of view of the content. For example, generated data will have a lifespan (content point of view) and for the data to still be relevant upon receipt, its transport by the network must be carried out with maximum latency (container point of view). Each operating mode of the application is associated with one and only one network exchange template.

[0034] The characteristics of an operating mode are used to define the characteristics of the corresponding template, via a translation. Then, based on the observed transport conditions, the network determines, for each data flow, the template to be applied among those that have been predefined. Knowledge of the template then makes it possible to identify the operating mode with which it is associated. The network thus knows how to restore to the function the operating mode that it must implement for optimal operation given the current transport conditions.

[0035] The exchange template predictor makes it possible to determine the templates that would be relevant to respect given the anticipated network events, and by transitivity the operating modes to be implemented by the functions.

[0036] In the embodiment considered, the exchange template predictor 21 comprises a neural network which determines the prediction based on the current input data provided to the exchange template predictor 21.

[0037] Figure 2 represents a method 100 for mission planning and adaptive configuration of telecommunications implemented in the air mission in an embodiment of the invention.

[0038] The method 100 comprises 3 phases: a mission communications preparation phase 200 which takes place before the mission, a mission execution phase 300 which takes place during the mission and a mission restitution phase 400 which takes place after the mission. f00391 Mission preparation phase

[0040] During the mission communications preparation phase 200, which therefore takes place before the mission, the configuration module 13 in the server 10 receives the mission profile as input.

[0041] The mission profile indicates in particular the following elements, or at least some of them: - the flight plan / planned trajectory of each of the aircraft / vehicles involved in the mission, including aircraft 30; - the type of mission: observation, interception, surveillance, combat, need for discretion, etc.; - the different phases of the mission, their duration, their locations, etc.; - the exchange requirements between the different aircraft / vehicles, and in the case considered, depending on the respective phases of the mission; these exchanges (wireless telecommunications) will be implemented via functions, including software applications, running in the processing module 20 of the aircraft 30 during the respective phase(s) of the mission; - identification of the interlocutors (aircraft / vehicles) involved in said exchanges; the start date and end date of the mission; - the mode of activation of communications, i.e. at the request of an operator or by default at the start of the mission; - the priority of each exchange need;

[0042] Typically, the mission phases successively comprise a take-off phase, a transit phase (to reach a target zone, the so-called theatre zone), a theatre phase (at the theatre zone level, which may itself comprise one or more phases each associated with an action such as observation of the theatre zone and / or interception and / or combat etc.), a transit phase and a landing phase.

[0043] Each phase of this mission, depending on the mission profile, is thus associated with specific functions which are then executed in the blocks of the processing block 20 of the aircraft 30 (trajectory calculation, sensors) and which then generate data exchanges (in reception and / or transmission) with interlocutors, including for example the aircraft 80 and / or the vehicle 70.

[0044] The exchange needs and connectivity are of course dependent on the mission profile.

[0045] The configuration module 13 of the server 10, executing in the server 11, selects, in step 200, as a function of the mission profile received, a set of configuration parameters of the exchange template predictor from the set of template predictor configuration parameter sets stored in the database 12 and selects a set of connectivity predictor configuration parameters from the set of connectivity predictor configuration parameter sets stored in the database 12 (for example, the parameter sets are each associated with a typical mission profile and the selection rules include the identification (possibly by mission phase) of the typical profile that is “closest” to the mission profile received as input, according to a proximity criterion, for example, resulting from the comparison between each (or at least some) of the elements of the mission profile received as input and the corresponding element of the typical profiles).

[0046] In the case considered, the configuration module 13 delivers the sets of configuration parameters of the selected predictors. The configuration parameters of each predictor comprise, in the embodiment considered, respective values ​​of the weights and biases for the neural network of the predictor.

[0047] In the embodiment considered, the set of configuration parameters comprises a specific subset of configuration parameters per mission phase included in the mission for the exchange template predictor and / or the connectivity predictor. The use of the network is thus segmented according to the mission phase, with for each phase, taking into account measurable conditions likely to influence the upcoming transmissions of each platform: terrain models, weather, enemy threats, electromagnetic environment with disturbances, etc.

[0048] The configuration module 13 of the server 10 further determines the configuration parameters of the wireless transmission links used during the mission: allocation of frequencies for the radio links involved. It further determines the configuration parameters of the network underpinned by the transmission links (routing rules, QoS policies, security associations, filtering rules, etc.) as well as the configuration parameters of the communication services to be implemented to ensure the exchange requirements (service names, operating modes, exchange identification rules, etc.). For example, it further determines one or more elements from among: the TRANSEC and COMSEC secret keys, the addresses to be used (MAC and network), the waveform implementation parameters, the frequency hopping laws where applicable, etc.

[0049] In one embodiment, these wireless link configuration parameters are themselves delivered by a link configuration predictor comprising a neural network receiving the mission profile as input. This predictor in a learning phase using the learning base comprising the connectivity data, the mission conditions and the exchanges carried out will have learned to identify the configuration parameters of the transmission modes relevant to the mission.

[0050] At the end of this preparation phase 200 for the upcoming mission, each of the predictors of the exchange templates 21 and connectivity 22 is configured with the respective set of parameters selected.

[0051] It is therefore a question of anticipating the type of exchanges required (priority, volume, typology of exchanges, etc.) per mission phase as well as the state of connectivity, in the sense of end-to-end transport conditions).

[0052] Initial learning

[0053] An initial training phase, prior to step 200, made it possible to obtain the sets of exchange template predictor configuration parameter sets and the sets of connectivity predictor configuration parameter sets.

[0054] It is described below.

[0055] Typical air mission profiles were defined. For each typical air mission profile, multiple missions of this type were carried out, in real deployment or by simulations; and connectivity data, exchange data and mission conditions were collected forming a learning database, hereinafter called learning database.

[0056] Initial training of the neural network to obtain the connectivity predictor 22.

[0057] A neural network training for the connectivity predictor 22 is performed for each type of mission profile.

[0058] The input data of the neural network intended for the connectivity predictor 22, extracted from the training base, for a given mission, include: - values ​​relating to the observed or calculated connectivity considered at each instant 0i (of a plurality of instants successively considered) and resulting from measurements (and possibly prior to Si, within a time window F0i of duration A0 ending at 0i; for example A0 included between a few tens of ms and a few hundred ms or a few seconds); these connectivity measurements typically indicate for each wireless telecommunications link involved in the mission the value of one or more of its transmission characteristics: bandwidth, error rate, latency, jitter; and beyond the measurements made for each transmission link, the end-to-end transport conditions are also provided as input to the neural network, i.e. the local node to all nodes in the network, including the identification of unreachable nodes; it is also a question of providing the congestion levels of the network queues and the number of packets lost due to queue overflow; - the current mission phase at time Si; and - indications of mission conditions at time Si (and possibly prior to Si, within the time window FSi); for example, these mission indications indicate at least some of the data among weather data, current position and attitude of the aircraft, trajectory followed (turn, climb, descent), speed of the aircraft, acceleration, relief (terrain model), heading, friendly positions and enemy threats, electromagnetic environment including jamming, etc. It will be noted that these indications may include indications relating to the current time or sampled for the window F0i.

[0059] Learning makes it possible to successively adjust the value of the weights and biases in the neural network intended for the predictor 22, for a given number of layers of neurons and a given number of neurons in each layer, until the error between the result output by the neural network and the connectivity state, as indicated in the learning base, which actually followed any instant ti in a time window of non-zero duration AT starting at ti is less than a predefined threshold. For example, the prediction covers several tens of seconds (e.g., k seconds, with k between 10 and 90), or even a few minutes (e.g., k' minutes, with k' between 1 and 10).

[0060] Typically, the predicted connectivity states indicate, for example, for each wireless telecommunication link involved in the mission the value (or selectively indicates a sub-range of values ​​in which this value falls, within a range of values ​​comprising several sub-ranges) of one or more of its transmission characteristics: bandwidth, error rate, latency, jitter.

[0061] This results in a set of parameters (learned weights and biases), associated with each typical mission profile, to configure the neural network of the connectivity state predictor 22.

[0062] Initial training of the neural network to obtain the predictor of exchange templates 21

[0063] Similarly in one embodiment, training of the neural network intended for the exchange template predictor 21 was carried out for each type of mission profile.

[0064] The input data of the neural network intended for the exchange template predictor 21, extracted from the learning base, for a given mission, comprise, relative to each instant ti of a plurality of instants ti: - the connectivity state predicted by the connectivity state predictor 22 from the input data relating to the initial time ti; and - the current mission phase at time ti (which defines the nature and volume of exchanges, i.e. the need for exchanges for the type of mission considered, during the phase considered); - optionally: types and characteristics of the exchanges observed at time ti (these elements could in fact condition future exchange needs in the event of a variation in the connectivity state).

[0065] Learning makes it possible to successively adjust the value of the weights and biases in the neural network intended for the predictor 21, for a given number of layers of neurons and a given number of neurons in each layer, until the error between the result output by the neural network (i.e. the predicted templates of the functions) and the observed exchange templates of the functions as indicated in the learning base, which actually occurred at any instant t'i in a time window of duration AT' (for example AT' <AT) débutant à t’i (correspondant à la fenêtre temporelle prédéterminée de prédiction du prédicteur 21 ) soit inférieure à un seuil prédéfini.

[0066] The exchange templates which followed instant ti during duration Fti are deduced from one or some of the following information present, directly or indirectly, in the learning base because associated with the type and phase of mission considered (or derived from these), for the period of duration Fti after instant ti: - volume of exchanges indicating the volume of data exchanged; - flow rate used; - duration of exchanges; - recipient(s) (in particular if the exchange is point-to-point or point-to-multipoint); relative priority of flows typology of exchanges (typically is it clear voice, encrypted voice, tactical messages, images, video, file transfers, database exchanges;

[0067] The exchange gauge predictor 21 makes it possible to identify the most relevant gauge adjustment rules (and therefore operating modes) which will minimize the impact of a variation in transport conditions.

[0068] This results in a set of parameters (learned weights and biases), associated with each mission type profile, to configure the neural network of the exchange predictor 21. f00691 Mission realization phase

[0070] The mission begins, the aircraft successively executing the mission phases, wireless telecommunications being implemented, for example in the present case between the aircraft 30 and the control tower during the take-off phase by means of wireless links implemented by the telecommunications block 26 and later in the intervention zone, between aircraft 30 and rolling vehicle 70. Throughout the execution of the mission, the set 300 of steps, comprising steps 301 to 307, is implemented.

[0071] At each instant Ti of a set of successive instants Ti, in an evaluation step 301, the control block 23 evaluates: the current mission conditions; as seen previously, they include at least some of the data among: weather data, current position and attitude of the aircraft, trajectory followed (turn, climb, descent), speed of the aircraft, acceleration, relief (terrain model), heading, friendly positions and enemy threats, electromagnetic environment including jamming) and - values ​​relating to the connectivity considered at a time Ti (and possibly prior to Ti, within a time window Fti of duration At ending at Ti; these measurements relating to connectivity typically indicate for each wireless telecommunications link involved in the mission the value of one or more of its transmission characteristics: bandwidth, error rate, latency, jitter.

[0072] This evaluation is carried out based on the obtaining, by the control block 23, of measurements carried out in the aircraft 30 and where appropriate carried out in the platforms in connection with the aircraft 30 and then transmitted to the latter (the internal signaling in the network completes the local measurements, the local evaluation is however not conditioned on the reception of network signaling and takes place in all cases with a variable level of precision).

[0073] The data indicating the current mission conditions and the data relating to the connectivity considered at an instant Ti evaluated are transmitted to the connectivity state predictor 22.

[0074] In a connectivity anticipation step 302, as a function of this transmitted data and in addition of the indication of the current mission phase that it receives as input, the connectivity predictor 22 determines the future connectivity state, in a time window of duration AT starting at Ti, of the wireless links involved in the mission: for example, the connectivity state of the link 51, in the theater phase. As indicated previously in relation to learning, the predicted connectivity states indicate, for example, for each wireless telecommunications link involved in the mission, the value (or selectively indicates a sub-range of values ​​in which this value lies, within a range of values ​​comprising several sub-ranges) of one or more of its transmission characteristics: bandwidth, error rate, latency, jitter.

[0075] In a step 303 which is for example parallel to step 301, all of the data indicating, at time Ti, the current mission conditions and the connectivity data considered at step 301 as well as all of the data characterizing the exchanges at time Ti (volume of the exchanges (volume of data exchanged, bit rate used, duration of the exchanges, etc.), relative priority of the flows, typology of the exchanges, etc.), are stored by the control block 23 in a memory of the processing module 20.

[0076] In a step 304, the exchange template predictor 21 receives as input the current mission phase indication and the future connectivity state predicted by the predictor 22 in step 302 (and optionally the types and characteristics of the exchanges observed at time T). Then, as a function of this current mission phase and furthermore as a function of the predicted connectivity state, the exchange template predictor 21 predicts the exchange adjustment rules (in the duration window AT' starting at Ti), in particular the operating modes of the sensor blocks 24 and / or trajectory calculation 25.The exchange template predictor 21 or the control block 23 determines, where appropriate, notifications intended for a block or blocks among the sensor blocks 24 and / or trajectory calculation blocks 25, when their respective predicted operating mode differs from their current operating mode, to switch them to their predicted mode, and thus adapt the flows emitted by the aircraft.

[0077] In a step 305, each of the blocks receiving such a notification switches from its current operating mode to the predicted operating mode.

[0078] If the predicted connectivity state is a drop in bandwidth below a first predefined threshold and above a second predefined threshold, the exchange predictor block 21 or the control block 23 determines, for example, that it would be appropriate for a video sensor to switch to its degraded operating mode 1, a notification then being transmitted in this sense to the video sensor; if the predicted connectivity state is a drop in bandwidth below the second predefined threshold and above a third predefined threshold, the exchange predictor block 21 or the control block 23 determines that it would be appropriate for a video sensor to switch to its degraded mode 2, a notification then being transmitted in this sense to the video sensor (or that it would be appropriate to switch another application from its nominal operating mode to its degraded mode 1) etc. Conversely, if the predicted connectivity state is an increase in bandwidth, the opposite changes are notified. Hysteresis mechanisms are further implemented to maintain a certain stability.

[0079] The predictor block 21 provides the operating modes to be applied, in particular to the sensors to minimize the impact of variations in available resources. Each sensor will thus anticipate a future decrease in resources: for example, it will prepare a buffer with compressed files (image / video / other sensors) with the quality adapted to the transmission mode to be applied from now on or it will reduce its transmission frequency...

[0080] In the event of an early communication breakdown (i.e. no applicable operating mode), the sensor can buffer the data it produces until communication is reestablished. It can then release the stored data according to the operating mode that will be active upon return of communication. The transition to a degraded operating mode can be accompanied by a change in encoding to reduce the throughput or to accommodate greater latency, filtering of the data exchanged to reduce the throughput, filtering of a certain type of information to be compatible with an exchange on a civil network (as opposed to a legacy network). In a trajectory adaptation step 306 (for example parallel to step 304 or 305), the control block 23, as a function of the connectivity state predicted in step 302, determines a trajectory adaptation of the aircraft 30.For example, one adaptation to maintain satisfactory transport conditions is to extract oneself from a masking zone linked to the terrain for example; another adaptation is to bypass an enemy to avoid being detected because of the transmissions implemented in the mission. This then involves providing the avionics system with elements allowing it to modify the trajectory of the aircraft.

[0081] In a step 307 of adapting the telecommunication links (for example parallel to step 304 or 305 or 306), the control block 23, as a function of the connectivity state predicted in step 302, adapts the wireless telecommunication links involved in the mission: for example, to avoid a loss (or drop) of connectivity predicted in the connectivity state and relating to the link 51, flows that must normally transit on the radio link 51 are redirected, as a function of their relative priority, to a satellite link implemented by the transmission block 26 of the aircraft 30; or else the frequency used (or any other transmission resource) to implement the radio link 51 is modified;or an adaptation of the network topology by the control block is carried out by creating a new wireless link (for example, the aircraft 86 is then sent close to the aircraft 30 to serve as a wireless telecommunications relay, by implementing a wireless link 52 with the aircraft 30, to compensate for a predicted break on the link 51).;

[0082] Since the connectivity conditions of each mission phase also imply respective maximum distances to ensure transmission, the mission platforms will be positioned in such a way as to respect these distances, and therefore to ensure a certain topology of the aircraft network during the respective phase of the mission. Since these topologies vary from one phase of the mission to another, the aircraft will have to be commanded to follow their main mission but also to ensure this connectivity.

[0083] Steps 304, 305, 306, 307 are implemented in an embodiment further depending on at least one desired QoS level in the operation in the mission therefore impacting the telecommunications implemented wirelessly, and more generally the functions executing in the aircraft (including the aircraft 30) and involved in these mission telecommunications.

[0084] In one embodiment, the orchestration of the various steps is performed by the control block 23. For example, the control block comprises a processor and a memory storing software instructions which, when executed on the processor, implement the orchestration of these steps.

[0085] Thus the aim of the invention is as follows: before the occurrence of an event that may break a wireless telecommunications link implemented in the mission, or affect such a link in such a way that a result rendered by a function executing in the aircraft cannot be delivered by the latter, the event is predicted and an action is triggered based on this prediction of connectivity event and based on the prediction of the need for exchanges to allow continuity of service, by: - implementing a replacement link, and / or - by switching to a degraded operating mode of the functions; and / or - by adapting the links, by implementing the configuration parameters of the transmission means best suited to the predictions of available communication routes and road conditions, etc.

[0086] The invention, by combining connectivity state prediction and exchange prediction, anticipates connectivity variations in order to maintain the overall QoS of the system per mission phase and jointly anticipates resource allocations and adaptations of operating modes, before losses occur in transmission.

[0087] Post-mission phase

[0088] In mission restitution, the learning of predictors is continued, with the connectivity, exchange and mission condition data collected during the mission, in order to continuously improve the relevance of the anticipation.

[0089] The invention makes it possible to anticipate variations in connectivity and exchange requirements (configuration of network parameters and source and channel transmission modes, anticipation of changes in topology and link states, evaluation of exchange requirements, trajectory prediction) during these mission phases and to make the necessary adaptations to maintain connectivity, based on these predictions, during the mission. It makes it possible to ensure exchanges as best as possible, to reduce communication losses (by implementing an alternative solution in advance to maintain communication in the event of loss of link), to better manage transmission resources, to reduce switching times between two configurations and to be more resilient to the various hazards of the mission.

[0090] The invention relates to the dynamic configuration of a telecommunications network core consisting of transmission means, for example heterogeneous (V / UHF links, high-speed links in C / K / Ku band, GEO / MEO / LEO satellite link, etc.) and proposes a data-centric network management solution (collection of mission data, use of this off-line data to feed the learning of predictors, determination of the parameters of the predictors for future missions, anticipation of connectivity changes using the predictors, self-adaptation of the network to maximize its level of service, storage of mission data).

[0091] The present invention proposes a dynamic configuration of a communication network between aircraft (or other mobile platforms) based on mission data (weather, terrain, electromagnetic environment, cyber threats, platform attitude, etc.) and to adapt the exchange flows by feedback from the network to the applications. The data to be exchanged depends on the mission phase and the requests of the aircraft on mission (in the example presented, aircraft 30 in particular) and of the other aircraft / platforms; indeed, there is a “dynamic” component which corresponds to what the other aircraft / platforms will request, for example in terms of QoS which will have an impact on the volume of data to be exchanged.

[0092] A first prediction function takes for example at least some of the information among the weather information along the trajectory followed by the mobile vehicle, the topography of the terrain flown over, the speed of the mobile vehicle and its attitude on the 3 axes, the type and position of the enemy platforms, the position of the friendly platforms, the electromagnetic environment of the area of ​​operation, ..., and produces a prediction of the available telecommunication routes and their technical characteristics (bandwidth, latency, error rate, spatial and temporal stability) characterizing the state of the corresponding communication links. The processing block is adapted to then deduce the configuration parameters of the transmission means according to these predictions of available routes and the predictions of link states, ie the processing block thus determines the parameters of the transmission means best suited to the predicted future state of the network. These transmission parameters include the RF frequency of the transmission and / or the modulation used by the waveform and / or the error correction algorithm and / or the size of the inter-slot steps for a TDMA waveform, and / or any other parameter having an impact on the maintenance (even in a degraded mode) of communications during the mission phase. These parameters make it possible to act on the bandwidth, range, resistance to jamming, etc. of the transmission links.

[0093] The aim here is to adapt to future variations in network topology by deducing the configuration parameters of the transmission means best suited to this predicted future state (of network topology), and to apply these parameters in the time window corresponding to the prediction period.

[0094] A second prediction function takes for example the mission phase (transit, surveillance, combat, ...) and produces a prediction of the types of exchanges from the mobile device to the other platforms (voice, images, video, formatted data, raw data, ...), a prediction of the exchange modes (point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, with or without acknowledgment of receipt, ...), the respective priorities and the corresponding volumes. The purpose is to anticipate the types of flows to be routed in the network.

[0095] Depending on at least the results of the first and / or second prediction function, the solution proposes one or more adaptation mechanisms: adaptation of transmission modes (bandwidth, power, range, resistance to jamming, etc.), adaptation of the routing of already active flows (switching of transmission means for example), adaptation of trajectories, adaptation of exchanges (change of format, temporary storage, periodicity, etc.).

[0096] The invention has been described above with reference to aerial missions using in particular an airplane, it is of course applicable to aerial missions relating to any type of flying machine (airplane, helicopter, drone, etc.) and to a coordinated set of machines, some mobile or not, comprising wireless transmission means. More generally, the invention is also applicable to collaborative tactical missions in environments other than the air environment, for example the naval environment or the terrestrial environment.

[0097] The invention has been described above in an embodiment using Machine Learning techniques to define the predictors 21, 22, by learning from mission data or data obtained in simulation.

[0098] In another embodiment, the predictions are determined by deterministic functions (rules) derived from known models implemented by the predictors 21, 22.

[0099] In step 200 described above, a set of configuration parameters for each predictor was selected; in another embodiment, each connectivity predictor, respectively of exchanges, is selected from several connectivity predictors, respectively of exchanges, according to the mission profile.

Claims

CLAIMS Method for adaptive configuration of wireless telecommunications implemented, in a mission, by a mobile vehicle (30), on one or more wireless links (51, 52), with at least one platform (70, 80) of a set of platforms, said method comprising the following set of steps, iterated during successive moments of the mission, an electronic predictor of the exchange templates (21) and an electronic predictor of connectivity (22) being embedded, in the mobile vehicle, in an electronic processing block (20) comprising a set of processing function(s): - prediction of the future state of the wireless links by the connectivity predictor (22) over at least one predefined time horizon, as a function of at least the current state of the wireless links (51, 52) and one or more mission condition parameters among weather data, the current position of the mobile vehicle, the current attitude of the mobile vehicle, the trajectory followed, the speed of the mobile vehicle, the relief, the heading, the friendly positions, the enemy threats, the electromagnetic environment; - depending on at least the profile of said mission and / or depending on an estimate of the future exchange needs over said time horizon indicating at least one volume of data to be exchanged by all of the processing functions via wireless links and depending on said prediction of the future state of the wireless links, prediction, by the exchange template predictor (21), of an operating mode of at least one function of the set of processing function(s) among several operating modes of said function associated with distinct exchange templates; - following said prediction, when said predicted operating mode of the function is different from an operating mode of the function currently in operation, triggering a switch of at least said function to said predicted operating mode; according to which the processing block (20) of the mobile machine (30), as a function of at least the prediction of the future state of the wireless links, performs at least one action among: adapting the trajectory of the mobile machine (30) or a platform (70, 80) to maintain an existing wireless link or create a new wireless link; re-directing flows within said wireless links; adapting the characteristics of said links.

2. Method for adaptive configuration of wireless telecommunications according to claim 1, according to which a selection has previously taken place, depending on the profile of said mission, of an electronic connectivity predictor (22) from among several electronic connectivity predictors and of an electronic predictor of the exchange templates (21) from among several electronic predictors of the exchange templates, said on-board predictors being those selected.

3. A method for adaptive configuration of wireless telecommunications according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile device (30) is an aircraft and the mission is an air mission which comprises several phases among at least a take-off phase, a transit phase, a theater of operation phase and a landing phase and the prediction of the future state of the wireless links by the connectivity predictor (22) and the prediction of the future exchange templates by the exchange template predictor (21) are each a function of the current phase of the mission.

4. A method for adaptive configuration of wireless telecommunications according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the predictors among the connectivity predictor (22) and the exchange template predictor (21) comprises a neural network; and said predictor selection comprises selecting a set of weights and biases of the neural network from a set of available sets of weights and biases, depending on the mission profile. A method for adaptive configuration of wireless telecommunications according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the predictors among the connectivity predictor (22) and the exchange template predictor (21) comprises a neural network; and - during the mission, data indicating the current connectivity status of the links, data indicating the exchanges carried out by the functions on the wireless links and data indicating the current mission conditions are collected and stored; - and said collected data and the mission profile are used to continue training said neural network. Computer program intended to be stored in the memory of an electronic processing unit on board a mobile vehicle to adaptively configure telecommunications implemented during a mission, by the mobile vehicle, on one or more wireless links; the processing unit further comprising a microcomputer, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on the microcomputer, implement the steps of a method according to one of the preceding claims.Electronic processing block (20) adapted to be embarked in a mission, in a mobile machine (30) adapted to implement, on one or more wireless links (51, 52), telecommunications with at least one platform (70, 80) of a set of platforms, said electronic processing block (20) comprising a set of processing function(s), an electronic predictor of exchange templates (21) and an electronic connectivity predictor (22); in which: the connectivity predictor (22) is adapted to, at successive instants of the mission, predict the future state of the wireless links at least a predefined time horizon, as a function of at least the current state of the wireless links (51, 52) and one or more mission condition parameters among weather data, the current position of the mobile machine, the current attitude of the mobile machine, the. trajectory followed, speed of the mobile device, relief, heading, friendly positions, enemy threats, electromagnetic environment; - the exchange template predictor (21) is adapted to, during successive moments of the mission, as a function of at least the profile of said mission and / or as a function of an estimate of the future exchange needs over said time horizon indicating at least one volume of data to be exchanged by all of the processing functions via wireless links and as a function of said prediction of the future state of the wireless links, predict an operating mode of at least one function of the set of processing function(s) from among several operating modes of said function associated with distinct exchange templates; - the processing block (20) being adapted to, following said prediction, when said predicted operating mode of the function is different from an operating mode of the function currently in operation, trigger a switch of at least said function to said predicted operating mode. said electronic processing block being adapted to, depending on at least the prediction of the future state of the wireless links, perform at least one action from among: adapting the trajectory of the mobile machine (30) or a platform (70, 80) to maintain an existing wireless link or create a new wireless link; redirecting flows within said wireless links; adapting the characteristics of said links.Electronic processing block according to claim 7, in which the mobile device (30) is an aircraft and the mission is an air mission which comprises several phases among at least a take-off phase, a transit phase, a theater of operation phase and a landing phase and the prediction of the future state of the wireless links by the connectivity predictor (22) and the prediction of the future exchange templates by the exchange template predictor (21) are each a function of the current phase of the mission.

Images