STANDARDIZED CONNECTION INTERFACE BETWEEN AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT AND AN EXTERNAL WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION NETWORK

Abstract

Standardized connection interface between aircraft equipment and an external wireless data transmission network. This interface (10) includes a router (18), comprising a lookup table (28) between a plurality of connectivity link classes (29A to 29D) and one or more connectivity links (26A to 26E) associated with each connectivity link class (26A to 26E). The router (18) is designed to transmit to each device (12A to 12C) the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links, to establish data transmission between the device (12A to 12C) and at least one wireless data transmission network (14A to 14E) through an active connectivity link (26A to 26E), based on the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links and a list of classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links to which the device (12A to 12C) is authorized to connect. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Standardized connection interface between aircraft equipment and a wireless data transmission network external to the aircraft

[0001] The present invention relates to an aircraft connection interface, suitable for connecting at least one piece of equipment in the aircraft to a wireless data transmission network external to the aircraft, the interface comprising:

[0002] - a router, capable of connecting to a plurality of transmission networks wireless data via a connectivity link specific to each wireless data transmission network, with each piece of equipment being specific to connecting to the router.

[0003] This interface is intended in particular for the implementation of communications in an aircraft, in particular between the cockpit or cabin of the aircraft and external data transmission networks.

[0004] Modern aircraft are generally equipped with equipment that must connect to wireless transmission networks, in particular to access databases or external content, to receive data and store it in the aircraft, to export data collected in the aircraft and / or to update software or programs present in the aircraft.

[0005] For this purpose, it is known to equip the aircraft with a router enabling it to connect to different data transmission networks, depending on the aircraft's position, on the ground or in flight.

[0006] For example, when the aircraft is on the ground, on a field, it can generally connect to a Wi-Fi network, or to a cellular network, in particular a 3G cellular network.

[0007] In flight, the aircraft can connect to air-to-ground radio networks (“Air To Ground” or “ATG” in English), or to satellite transmission networks whose transmission speed and cost vary depending on the network.

[0008] A user connected to the aircraft router therefore has the possibility of using one or more connectivity links to each of the available networks, depending on the context, the speed of data transmission he needs, the volume of data to be exchanged, and / or the cost associated with data transmission.

[0009] For example, when the equipment is a comfort device, such as an in-flight entertainment system (“IFE”), it must regularly load large files, especially videos.

[0010] When the equipment is aircraft maintenance equipment, it must send maintenance data to a ground station.

[0011] Among the connectivity links available at any given time in the router, only one connectivity link is active at any given time to connect a device to an active wireless transmission network. The router generally chooses the active connectivity link according to a priority list, which depends in particular on the required speed and the cost of the communication.

[0012] Each device capable of connecting to the router therefore has a list of connectivity links with which it is authorized to connect. This avoids using a large portion of the bandwidth when it is relatively low and / or generating high connection costs.

[0013] For example, it is preferable to avoid downloading video files via a satellite connectivity link in flight, when they can be downloaded instead via a free connectivity link, such as a Wi-Fi network available on the ground. This way, the data transfer is carried out at the most opportune time, avoiding additional costs for the user and / or the aircraft operator.

[0014] An interface of the aforementioned type is therefore suitable for controlling the cost and available communication bandwidth.

[0015] However, it does not provide complete satisfaction. For example, the list of authorized connectivity links for each device is often loaded directly into the device.

[0016] In some cases, the aircraft operator wishes to add an additional connectivity link, for example because the router is capable of connecting to a new type of data transmission network.

[0017] When a new connectivity link is added to the router, or conversely, when a connectivity link is removed, it is necessary to modify each piece of equipment to take into account this new link, and to define, at the level of each piece of equipment, whether the user will be allowed to use this connectivity link.

[0018] Since this equipment is generally maintained by suppliers external to the aircraft operator, coordination with each equipment supplier is necessary to update the equipment, which generates substantial logistics, update delays, possibly aircraft immobilization and modification costs.

[0019] An object of the invention is therefore to have an interface for connecting equipment within an aircraft with external transmission networks, which adapts to many connectivity links, and which does not require significant maintenance in the event of changes to the available connectivity links.

[0020] To this end, the invention relates to a connection interface as defined above, characterized in that the router comprises a lookup table between a plurality of connectivity link classes and one or more connectivity links associated with each connectivity link class, the router being capable of establishing a list of active connectivity link classes by determining the active connectivity link or links between a wireless data transmission network and the router, and using the lookup table, the router being capable of transmitting to the equipment the list of active connectivity link classes, to establish a data transmission between the equipment and at least one wireless data transmission network through an active connectivity link, based on the list of active connectivity link classes and a list of connectivity link classes to which the equipment is authorized to connect.

[0021] The communication interface according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination:

[0022] - at least one connectivity link class is associated in the correspondence table weighting at least two connectivity links using distinct transmission protocols;

[0023] - at least one class of connectivity links in the lookup table is defined according to the speed of data transmission via the wireless transmission network;

[0024] - a class of connectivity links in the lookup table is defined in function of the cost of communication via the wireless data transmission network;

[0025] - a class of connectivity links in the lookup table is defined in function of the type of communication via the wireless data transmission network;

[0026] - the connectivity link classes are chosen from a communication class free communication, a cellular communication class, a high-speed communication class, and a low-speed communication class;

[0027] - the connectivity links are chosen from a Wi-Fi connectivity link, a link of cellular connectivity including via IG, 2G, 3G, 4G and / or 5G protocols, an air-to-ground connectivity link, a satellite connectivity link, including a SATCOM Ka link or a SATCOM L link;

[0028] - the router is capable of determining that a class of connectivity links is active, when at least one connectivity link associated with the connectivity link class is active to allow data transmission between the wireless data transmission network associated with the connectivity link and the router.

[0029] The invention relates to an aircraft communication system comprising an interface as defined above and at least one piece of equipment suitable for connecting to the router.

[0030] The assembly according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features the following, taken individually or in any technically possible combination:

[0031] - it includes embedded equipment or mobile equipment, the router being onboard.

[0032] - the equipment contains information on its ability to connect to each class of connectivity links, the list of connectivity link classes to which the equipment is authorized to connect being obtained from the capability information;

[0033] - the equipment is suitable for querying the router to obtain the list of classes of active connectivity links, and to compare the list of active connectivity link classes transmitted by the router to the list of connectivity link classes to which the equipment is allowed to connect to determine if at least one active connectivity link class belongs to the list of connectivity link classes to which the equipment is allowed to connect;

[0034] - when the equipment is authorized to implement a data transmission via at least one class of active connectivity links, the equipment is suitable for transmitting data to the router via an internal aircraft data transmission link, the data then being transmitted by the router to at least one data transmission network, implementing at least one active connectivity link of an active connectivity link class and where the equipment is not permitted to implement data transmission via at least one class of active connectivity links, the equipment blocks any transmission of data to the router via the internal aircraft data transmission link.

[0035] The invention also relates to a method for transmitting data in an aircraft, comprising the following steps:

[0036] - provision of a connection interface as defined above,

[0037] - connection of at least one piece of equipment to the router;

[0038] - establishment by the router of a list of classes of active connectivity links in determining the active connectivity link(s) between a wireless data transmission network and the router, and using the lookup table,

[0039] - transmission to the equipment or to each piece of equipment of the list of link classes of active connectivity,

[0040] - establishing a data transmission between the equipment and at least one wireless data transmission network through an active connectivity link of the router, depending on the list of active connectivity link classes and a list of connectivity link classes to which the equipment is allowed to connect.

[0041] The invention also relates to a method for updating a connection interface as defined above, comprising the following steps:

[0042] - the establishment of a new connectivity link between the router and a new wireless data transmission network;

[0043] - the modification of the lookup table to associate the new link of connectivity to an existing connectivity link class, without intervention on the equipment or on each piece of equipment and / or comprising the following steps:

[0044] - the removal of a connectivity link between the router and a network of wireless data transmission;

[0045] - modifying the lookup table to remove the association between the connectivity link removed and each class of connectivity links associated with the removed connectivity link, without intervention on the equipment.

[0046] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0047] - [fig.1] Fig.1 is a schematic view of a connection interface according to the invention;

[0048] - [fig.2] Fig.2 is a synoptic view of a connection using the interface of the [fig.l], using a lookup table linking connectivity link classes to available connectivity links;

[0049] - [fig.3] Fig.3 illustrates the update of the lookup table when adding of a new connectivity link.

[0050] A first connection interface 10 according to the invention is schematically illustrated by [fig.1].

[0051] The interface 10 is intended to be installed in an aircraft 11 to connect equipment 12A, 12B, 12C, present in the aircraft 11 to wireless data transmission networks 14A to 14E located outside the aircraft 11.

[0052] Aircraft 11 is for example a civil aircraft, in particular a passenger transport aircraft, in particular a business jet.

[0053] The wireless transmission networks 14A to 14E are intended to transmit data between the equipment 12A to 12C present in the aircraft 11 and infrastructure 16 external to the aircraft 11.

[0054] External infrastructures include in particular servers, including Internet servers.

[0055] Wireless transmission networks 14A to 14E to which interface 10 is likely to connect include, for example, a terrestrial 14A Wi-Fi type network.

[0056] Such a network is, for example, operated using a protocol conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards. The range of the Wi-Fi network is generally several tens of meters indoors or outdoors, and from one or more access points. Data transfer is carried out by electromagnetic waves in frequency ranges defined in the aforementioned standards.

[0057] The transmission network 14A is, for example, accessible to the aircraft when the is on the ground, particularly on a field.

[0058] Another wireless transmission network 14B to which the connection interface 10 can connect is a cellular network. The cellular network is, for example, a 2G IG network as defined by the GSM standard, or a 3G network as defined by the UMTS, CDMA 2000, or EDGE standards. Alternatively, the cellular network is a 4G network as defined by the SDE standard or a 5G network as defined by the 5GNR standard.

[0059] Cellular networks are generally accessible when the aircraft 11 is on the ground.

[0060] Another wireless transmission network 14C to which the connection interface 10 is likely to connect is an air-to-ground type network, for example an "Air To Ground" or "ATG" radio network.

[0061] Another wireless transmission network 14D to which the connection interface 10 is likely to connect is a high-speed satellite transmission network, for example a SATCOM type network operating on the Ka band.

[0062] Another wireless transmission network 14E to which the connection interface 10 is likely to connect is a low-speed satellite transmission network, for example a SATCOM-type network operating on the L band.

[0063] The connection interface 10 is installed in the aircraft 11. By "installed in the aircraft", it is understood that the connection interface 10 meets the certification requirements of the aircraft 11. It is mounted in the aircraft 11, to be kept there permanently during a flight of the aircraft.

[0064] In the example shown in [fig.1], the interface 10 includes a router 18 comprising at least one processor 20 and at least one memory 22 comprising software modules designed to be executed by the processor 20 to implement functions.

[0065] Alternatively, the modules are implemented at least partially in the form of programmable logic components or in the form of dedicated integrated circuits.

[0066] In the example of [fig.1], the router 18 includes a connection module 24 to each of the networks 14A to 14E accessible to the aircraft, comprising for each network 14A to 14E, a connectivity link 26A to 26E specific to the network 14A to 14E.

[0067] The router 18 further comprises, according to the invention, a lookup table 28, defining a correspondence between a plurality of connectivity link classes 29A to 29D and each connectivity link 26A to 26E associated with the connectivity link class 29A to 29D. It also includes a connection module 30 for equipment 12A, 12B, 12C depending on the available connectivity link class 29A to 29D.

[0068] The connection module 24 is used to determine whether one or more networks 14A to 14E are available in the vicinity of the aircraft 11 for a connection to the router 18. It is also capable of establishing a connection with the available network or networks 14A to 14E, for example by allowing identification of router 18 on the transmission network 14A to 14E.

[0069] It is thus suitable for switching each connectivity link 26A to 26E from an inactive configuration, when no communication is possible through the connectivity link 26A to 26E associated with the network 14A to 14E, and an active configuration, when communication between the network 14A to 14E and the router 18 is available, through the connectivity link 26A to 26E.

[0070] As indicated above, with reference to [fig.2], the correspondence table 28 establishes a correspondence between classes 29A to 29D of predefined connectivity links, intended to be used by the equipment 12A, 12B, 12C of the aircraft 11, and connectivity links 26A to 26E to the respective networks 14A to 14E.

[0071] In this example, each class 29A to 29D of connectivity links is associated with at least one connectivity link 26A to 26E. At least one class 29C of connectivity links is here associated with a plurality of connectivity links 26A, 26B.

[0072] Each connectivity link 26A to 26E also preferably belongs to a single class 29A to 29D of connectivity links.

[0073] More generally, the lookup table 28 may include an empty connectivity link class, i.e. not associated with a connectivity link 26A to 26E available at this stage on the aircraft 11.

[0074] Alternatively, each class 29A to 29D of connectivity links is associated at most with only one connectivity link 26A to 26E.

[0075] In all cases, this makes it possible to define a standardized fixed list of connectivity link classes 29A to 29D, for example common to a fleet of aircraft. For each connectivity link class 29A to 29D in the standardized list, each aircraft 11 has either none, one, or several connectivity links associated with the connectivity link class 29A to 29D, as defined in the lookup table 28.

[0076] Preferably, connectivity link classes 29A to 29D are defined in the lookup table 28 according to connection speed, connection type, and / or connection cost.

[0077] In an example shown in [fig.2], the lookup table 28 comprises four classes 29A to 29D of connectivity links.

[0078] A first class 29A of connectivity links is, for example, a free connection class (represented by the letter F in [fig.2]). It is associated with the connectivity link 26A to the terrestrial network 14A, advantageously to the terrestrial network 14A of the Wi-Fi type.

[0079] A second class 29B of connectivity links is a communication class cellular (represented by the letter C in [fig.2]). It is here associated with the connectivity link 26B to the cellular network 14B.

[0080] A third class 29C of connectivity links is a class defined according to the speed of connection, for example a high-speed connection class (“high speed” in English, represented by the letters HS on [fig.2]).

[0081] In this example, the third class 29C of connectivity links is associated with two connectivity links 26C, 26D, namely the connectivity link 26C to a 14C air-to-ground network, and a connectivity link 26D to a 14D high-speed satellite network.

[0082] Finally, the fourth connectivity link class 29D is a low-speed connection class (represented by the letters LS in [Fig. 2]). It is associated with connectivity link 26E to the low-speed satellite transmission network 14E.

[0083] Connectivity link classes 29A to 29D are generic and permanent.

[0084] Thus, as will be seen below with reference to [fig.3], if a connectivity link An additional 26F is added to the mapping table 28 to allow the connection interface 10 to connect to another type of transmission network 14F. This additional connectivity link 26F is associated with an existing class 29D of connectivity links. Similarly, if a connectivity link is removed from the connection interface 10, for example, to be replaced by another connectivity link, the new connectivity link is also associated with an existing class of connectivity links.

[0085] A class 29A to 29D of connectivity links is active, when at least one connectivity link 26A to 26E within the class 29A to 29D is active to allow data transmission through the connection interface 10 via the connectivity link 26A to 26E.

[0086] Conversely, a connectivity link class 29A to 29D is inactive when all connectivity links 26A to 26E within the class 29A to 29D are inactive, as no transmission through a connectivity link 26A to 26E of the connectivity link class 29A to 29D is then possible. This is also the case if the connectivity link class 29A to 29D is not associated with any connectivity link 26A to 26E in the lookup table 28.

[0087] The connection module 30 for each piece of equipment 12A to 12C is designed to determine at any given time a list of classes 29A to 29D of active connectivity links by determining which connectivity links 26A to 26E are active, and by querying the correspondence table 28 to determine to which class 29A to 29D each active connectivity link 26A to 26E belongs respectively.

[0088] The connection module 30 is designed to receive a request from each equipment 12A to 12C requesting the list of classes 29A to 29D of active connectivity links within connection interface 10, and in response, to transmit to equipment 12A to 12C the list of classes 29A to 29B of active connectivity links within connection interface 10.

[0089] When equipment 12A to 12C is authorized to implement data transmission via at least one class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links, equipment 12A to 12C is then suitable for transmitting data to router 18 via an internal aircraft data transmission link, the data then being transmitted by router 18 to at least one data transmission network 14A to 14E, implementing at least one active connectivity link 26A to 26E of a class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links.

[0090] On the contrary, when equipment 12A to 12C is not permitted to implement data transmission via at least one class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links, equipment 12A to 12C does not transmit data to router 18 via the aircraft internal data transmission link 11.

[0091] The internal data transmission link of the aircraft 11 is a data transmission network between the router 18 and each piece of equipment 12A, 12B, for example a wireless transmission network, in particular of the WIFI or Bluetooth type or a wired transmission network on board the aircraft 11.

[0092] Equipment 12A to 12C is, for example, onboard equipment, permanently mounted in the aircraft 11, and meeting certification requirements. Alternatively, equipment 12A to 12C is non-onboard equipment, not meeting certification requirements, for example, portable equipment brought into the aircraft by an aircraft occupant.

[0093] Equipment 12A to 12C advantageously includes in-flight entertainment systems, systems permanently mounted in the aircraft, aircraft maintenance systems, whether onboard or not, and mobile devices.

[0094] Equipment 12A to 12C includes, for example, a calculator, a computer, a tablet, a mobile phone.

[0095] Each equipment 12A to 12C has an equipment interface 40A, 40B, 40C specific to querying the connection module 30 to obtain the list of classes 29A to 29D of active connectivity links during the query.

[0096] The equipment interface 40A to 40C contains at least one suitability information defining the class or each class 29A to 29D of connectivity links by which the equipment 12A to 12C is able to connect to a wireless transmission network 14A to 14E through the interface 10.

[0097] In the example shown in [fig.2], the interface 40A of the equipment 12A contains information on its ability to connect to transmission networks of data via class 29A free connection, class 29B cellular connection, or class 29D low speed connection.

[0098] The 12A equipment is thus prevented from connecting to the class 29C high-speed connection.

[0099] Still in the example of [fig.2], the equipment 12B includes an equipment interface 40B containing information on its ability to connect to the high-speed connection class 29C.

[0100] The equipment interface 40A to 40C, however, lacks information on the particular connectivity links 26A to 26E that the equipment 12A to 12C is capable of using within each class of connectivity links 29A to 29D.

[0101] The capability information is exclusively a capability to connect to a class 29A to 29D of connectivity links, without information on the possibility of connecting to a specific connectivity link 26A to 26E within the class in question.

[0102] Thus, as will be seen below, when a new connectivity link 26F is added to interface 10, this connectivity link 26F is associated with an existing connectivity link class 29B, and no modification is required on equipment 12A, 12B, particularly in their equipment interfaces 40A, 40B. Indeed, the connectivity link class 29B associated with the new connectivity link 26F is already identified in the capability information present within equipment 12A, 12B.

[0103] A method of transmitting data between equipment 12A, 12B in aircraft 11 and a wireless data transmission network 14A to 14E external to aircraft 11, by means of the connection interface 10 according to the invention, will now be described.

[0104] Initially, the connection interface 10 determines, using its connection module 24, the one or each wireless data transmission network 14A to 14E available in the vicinity of the aircraft 11.

[0105] The router 18 connects to at least one available network 14A to 14E, via the connection module 24 to this network 14A to 14E, for example by providing credentials and / or a password and by activating the connectivity link 26A to 26E corresponding to the network 14A to 14E. Preferably, when several networks 14A to 14E are available, the router 18 connects to only one of them, according to a predefined order of preference.

[0106] Thus, at least one communication link is established between the router 18 and a wireless transmission network 14A to 14E.

[0107] In the example of [fig.2], the air-to-ground network 14C is the only one available. The connection module 24 connects to it via the connectivity link 26C.

[0108] At any time or upon request, the connection module 30 to each device 12A to 12C queries lookup table 28 to determine the class or each class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links, and the class or each class 29A to 29D of inactive connectivity links, by determining the class or each class 29A to 29D having at least one active connectivity link 26A to 26E among the connectivity link(s) associated with class 29A to 29D.

[0109] Thus, the connection module 30 establishes at each instant a list of classes 29A to 29D of active connectivity links, generally comprising a single class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links and possibly a list of classes 29A to 29D of inactive connectivity links.

[0110] For example, on [fig.2], the connection module 30 establishes that the high-speed connection class 29C is active and that the free connection classes 29A, the cellular connection class 29B, and the low-speed connection class 29D are inactive.

[0111] When a device 12A, 12B needs to connect to a wireless transmission network 14A to 14E via router 18, it sends a request to the connection module 30 and queries the connection module 30 to determine the class or each class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links.

[0112] Then, the connection module 30 transmits to the equipment 12A, 12B, the list of the or each class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links, established from the lookup table 28. If no class 29A to 29D of connectivity link is active, the connection module 30 transmits to the equipment 12A, 12B the information that no class is active.

[0113] The equipment interface 40A, 40B of equipment 12A, 12B compares the or each class 29A to 29D of active connection links received from router 18 to the or each class 29A to 29D of connectivity links to which equipment 12A is allowed to connect, obtained from the suitability information stored in equipment 12A, 12B.

[0114] If at least one class 29A to 29D of active connectivity links corresponds to a class 29A to 29D of connectivity links to which the equipment 12A, 12B is authorized to connect, the equipment 12A, 12B transmits data to the router 18 via the internal transmission link in the aircraft 11. Then, the router 18 transmits the data received from the equipment 12A, 12B to a network 14A to 14E, using an active connectivity link 26A to 26E of an active class 29A to 29D of connectivity links.

[0115] A communication link is therefore established between the equipment 12A, 12B and at least one network 14A to 14E, using an active connectivity link 26A to 26E of an active class 29A to 29D of connectivity links to which the equipment 12A, 12B is authorized to connect.

[0116] On the contrary, if no class 29A to 29D active connectivity links corresponds to a class 29A to 29D of connectivity links to which equipment 12A, 12B is allowed to connect, equipment 12A, 12B does not transmit data to router 18 and remains disconnected from each network 14A to 14E.

[0117] In the example of [Fig. 2], equipment 12A receives information that the high-speed connection class 29C is active and the other connectivity link classes 29A, 29B, and 29D are inactive. Since the equipment interface 40A contains the capability information that equipment 12A is authorized to connect only to classes 29A, 29B, and 29D, no data is transmitted to router 18, and consequently, no communication is established between equipment 12A and the active transmission network 14C.

[0118] Equipment 12B also receives information that the high-speed connection class 29C is active. Based on the capability information present in the equipment interface 40B, indicating that equipment 12B is authorized to connect to the high-speed connection class 29C, equipment 12B transmits data to router 18, which retransmits it to the network 14C via the connectivity link 26C. Communication is thus established between equipment 12B and the transmission network 14C via router 18.

[0119] With reference to [Fig. 3], when a new connectivity link 26F is installed between the connection interface 10 and another type of wireless data transmission network 14F (corresponding, for example, to an (N+1)G network in the figure), the lookup table 28 is modified. The new connectivity link 26F (in this example for the (N+1)G network) is then associated with a class 29A to 29D of already existing connectivity links, here with the cellular communication class 29B.

[0120] This modification is made at the level of the connection interface 10 within the aircraft 11, without it being necessary to modify the equipment 12A, 12B, in particular their equipment interfaces 40A, 40B.

[0121] The suitability information already present in interfaces 40A, 40B is sufficient to determine whether each piece of equipment 12A, 12B is suitable for use of the class 29B of connectivity links associated with the new connectivity link 26F, and therefore, if so, to allow a connection to the new network 14F via the new connectivity link 26F.

[0122] Thanks to the definition of connectivity link classes 29A to 29D, via a lookup table 28 between classes 29A to 29D and connectivity links 26A to 26E contained in each class 29A to 29D, the interfacing between equipment 12A to 12C intended to connect to connection interface 10 and connection interface 10 is simplified, even if the transmission networks 14A to 14F specific to connecting to connection interface 10 are modified, to allow connection to a new type of network 14F or to remove a network.

[0123] Connectivity link classes 29A to 29D are defined according to the characteristics of the connectivity links 26A to 26E they contain, for example, cost, throughput, type of communication, and / or availability on the ground or in flight. Alternatively, connectivity link classes 29A to 29D include a class whose criteria are the energy performance and / or environmental impact of the connectivity links 26A to 26E.

[0124] Connectivity link classes 29A to 29D are defined permanently, even if changes occur within the connectivity links 26A to 26E available to router 18, either because new links are added, or because some links are removed or replaced.

[0125] Thus, the equipment 12A to 12C does not have to be modified, the modifications to be made when adding or removing a connectivity link 26F are made at the router 18 level, in particular in the lookup table 28.

[0126] The connection interface 10 greatly facilitates the configuration of equipment 12A to 12C using connectivity, such as in-flight entertainment equipment or aircraft maintenance equipment 11. Thus, costly and complex change requests to coordinate on equipment 12A to 12C are no longer necessary, which reduces costs and increases the availability time of aircraft 11.

Claims

Claims

1. Aircraft connection interface (10), suitable for connecting at least one piece of equipment (12A to 12C) in the aircraft (11) to a wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F) external to the aircraft (11), the interface (10) comprising: - a router (18), suitable for connecting to a plurality of wireless data transmission networks (14A to 14F) via a connectivity link (26A to 26E) specific to each wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F), the or each piece of equipment (12A to 12C) being suitable for connecting to the router (18), characterized in that the router (18) comprises a correspondence table (28) between a plurality of classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links and one or more connectivity links (26A to 26E) associated with each class of connectivity links (26A to 26E),the router (18) being able to establish a list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links by determining the or each active connectivity link (26A to 26E) between a wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F) and the router (18), and using the correspondence table (28), the router (18) being able to transmit to the or each equipment (12A to 12C) the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links, to establish a data transmission between the equipment (12A to 12C) and at least one wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F) through an active connectivity link (26A to 26E), according to the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links and a list of classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links to which the equipment (12A to 12C) is allowed to log in.,

2. Interface (10) according to claim 1, in which at least one class (29A to 29D) of connectivity links is associated in the correspondence table (28) with at least two connectivity links (26A to 26E) using distinct transmission protocols.

3. An interface (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one class (29A to 29D) of connectivity links in the mapping table (28) is defined as a function of the data transmission speed via the wireless transmission network.

4. An interface (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one class (29A to 29D) of connectivity links in the correspondence table (28) is defined according to the cost of a communication via the wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F).

5. Interface (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one class (29A to 29D) of connectivity links in the correspondence table (28) is defined according to the type of communication via the wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F).

6. An interface (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links are selected from a free communication class, a cellular communication class, a high-speed communication class, and a low-speed communication class.

7. Interface (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the connectivity links (26A to 26E) are chosen from a Wi-Fi connectivity link, a cellular connectivity link in particular by IG, 2G, 3G, 4G or / and 5G protocol, an air-to-ground connectivity link, a satellite connectivity link, in particular a SATCOM Ka link or a SATCOM L link.

8. Interface (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the router (18) is adapted to determine that a class (29A to 29D) of connectivity links is active, when at least one connectivity link (26A to 26E) associated with the class (29A to 29D) of connectivity links is active to allow the transmission of data between the wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F) associated with the connectivity link (26A to 26E) and the router (18).

9. Aircraft communication assembly comprising an interface (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one piece of equipment (12A to 12C) capable of connecting to the router (18).

10. Assembly according to claim 9, in which the equipment (12A to 12C) is on-board equipment or mobile equipment, the router (18) being on-board.

11. Assembly according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the equipment (12A, 12B) contains information on the ability to connect to each class (29A to 29D) of connectivity links, the list of classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links to which the equipment (12A to 12C) is authorized to connect being obtained from the ability information.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the equipment (12A, 12B) is capable of interrogating the router (18) to obtain the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links, and of comparing the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links transmitted by the router (18) with the list of classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links to which the equipment (12A to 12C) is authorized to connect to determine whether at least one class (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links belongs to the list of classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links to which the equipment (12A to 12C) is authorized to connect.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein when the equipment (12A to 12C) is authorized to implement a data transmission via at least one class (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links, the equipment (12A to 12C) is capable of transmitting data to the router (18) via a data transmission link internal to the aircraft (11), the data then being transmitted by the router (18) to at least one data transmission network (14A to 14E), by implementing at least one active connectivity link (26A to 26E) of a class (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links and wherein when the equipment (12A to 12C) is not authorized to implement a data transmission via at least one class (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links, the equipment (12A to 12C) blocks any transmission data to the router (18) via the aircraft's internal data transmission link (H).

14. A method of transmitting data in an aircraft (11), comprising the following steps: - providing a connection interface (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, - connecting at least one equipment (12A, 12B) to the router (18); - establishing by the router (18) a list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links by determining the or each active connectivity link (26A to 26E) between a wireless data transmission network (14A to 14F) and the router (18), and using the correspondence table (28), - transmitting to the or each equipment (12A to 12C) the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links, - establishing a data transmission between the equipment (12A to 12C) and at least one data transmission network (14A to 14F) wirelessly through an active connectivity link (26A to 26E) of the router (18), depending on the list of classes (29A to 29D) of active connectivity links and a list of classes (29A to 29D) of connectivity links to which the equipment (12A to 12C) is authorized to connect.

15. Method for updating a connection interface (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the following steps: - establishing a new connectivity link (26F) between the router (18) and a new wireless data transmission network (14F); - modifying the correspondence table (28) to associate the new connectivity link (26F) with an existing connectivity link class (29C), without intervention on the or each device (12A to 12C) and / or comprising the following steps: - deleting a connectivity link between the router (18) and a wireless data transmission network; - modification of the correspondence table (28) to remove the association between the deleted connectivity link and the or each class of connectivity links associated with the deleted connectivity link, without intervention on the or each piece of equipment (12A to 12C).

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