Aircraft Anomalous Data Transmission via Adaptive Wireless Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for downloading surveillance incident data from aircraft systems are costly, time-consuming, and prone to introducing malware, and require physical connection, whereas existing patents focus on obstacle detection and weather information transmission without addressing data completeness, integrity, and security in a comprehensive manner.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that detects anomalous incidents on aircraft and determines the availability of efficient wireless transmission modes such as Gatelink, Wi-Fi, or SatCom to transmit relevant data to an off-aircraft system, ensuring data completeness, integrity, and security, and selecting transmission modes based on priority and availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated wireless transmission is implemented, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple transmission mode capabilities (SatCom, VHF, HF, data link) into a single automated transmission system. The processing device automatically selects and switches between different transmission modes based on aircraft status and data priority, making the system universally adaptable to various transmission conditions without requiring separate manual systems for each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission system operates autonomously by automatically detecting anomalous incidents, determining data priority levels, selecting appropriate transmission modes, and executing transmissions without requiring manual intervention from airline personnel. The system monitors its own operational status and self-adjusts transmission parameters based on available communication resources and aircraft conditions.
2Loss of information
If all anomalous incident data is transmitted immediately, then data completeness is improved, but loss of energy increases due to continuous transmission modes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes transmission parameters including mode selection (SatCom, VHF, HF, data link), transmission timing, and data priority levels based on aircraft status, incident severity, and energy availability. High-priority data triggers immediate transmission while lower-priority data is deferred to energy-efficient modes when appropriate, optimizing the balance between data completeness and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous transmission, the system employs periodic status monitoring and conditional transmission triggers. The processing device periodically assesses aircraft status and incident data, initiating transmission only when anomalous incidents are detected or when energy-efficient opportunities arise, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining data completeness through systematic periodic checks.
3Reliability
If physical connection methods are used, then data security is improved, but loss of time increases due to scheduling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces physical mechanical connection methods with wireless transmission technologies (SatCom, VHF, HF, data link). This substitution eliminates the need for physical access to aircraft systems, removing the scheduling constraints and time losses associated with manual connection while maintaining data security through encrypted wireless communication protocols and authenticated transmission channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary automated data collection and preparation during flight operations. When anomalous incidents occur, data is immediately captured and prepared for transmission in advance, eliminating the need for post-flight manual data retrieval. This preliminary action ensures data security through controlled automated access while significantly reducing the time required for data acquisition.
4Ease of operation
If automated transmission systems are deployed, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated transmission system performs all operational tasks autonomously including incident detection, data identification, transmission mode selection, and execution. The processing device self-manages the entire transmission workflow without requiring operator intervention, simplifying ease of operation to a single automated process while the internal complexity is managed through integrated system architecture that combines multiple functions into unified control logic.
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure is directed to techniques for automated transmission of surveillance incident data or other anomalous incident data from an aircraft via a preferred transmission mode. An example method includes detecting, by a processing device onboard an aircraft, an anomalous incident involving the aircraft that qualifies for reporting relative to a set of anomalous incident reporting criteria. The method further includesidentifying, by the processing device, data onboard the aircraft relevant to the anomalous incident. The method further includes detecting that the aircraft is in a status that makes available a selected data transmission mode for transmitting the data relevant to the anomalous incident. The method further includes communicating the data relevant to the anomalous incident to a transmission system for transmission from the aircraft via the selected data transmission mode in response to detecting that the aircraft is in the status that makes available the selected data transmission mode.