Aircraft Communication Control Reducing Steps via Group Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft communication systems require a large number of communication steps to share information among multiple aircraft, increasing with the number of participating aircraft, which limits efficiency and confidentiality.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft communication control apparatus and method that reduces communication steps by performing transmission and reception with a predetermined consort aircraft and then relaying information from that aircraft to others, allowing indirect information sharing without direct communication between all aircraft, and utilizing a routing table to optimize communication order based on distance and group formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If one-to-one communication is performed between all aircraft to share information, then information sharing is achieved, but the number of communication steps increases exponentially with the number of aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the formation of aircraft into multiple groups, with each group having a designated group master. Information sharing is performed within groups first, then between group masters, segmenting the communication process to reduce the total number of communication steps from exponential to linear or logarithmic complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces group masters as intermediary aircraft that collect information from their respective group members and relay it to other group masters. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for direct one-to-one communication between all aircraft pairs, significantly reducing communication steps while maintaining complete information sharing.
2Reliability
If direct one-to-one communication is used between all aircraft, then information confidentiality is maintained, but communication efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aircraft formation into groups with designated group masters, allowing information to be shared confidentially within each group while maintaining overall formation awareness. This segmentation preserves confidentiality by limiting direct communication to necessary pairs while improving efficiency through structured information relay.
Solution Approach 2:
Group masters serve as trusted intermediaries that receive information from their group members and relay it to other group masters. This intermediary approach maintains confidentiality by ensuring information passes through controlled channels rather than requiring all aircraft to communicate directly with all others.
3Productivity
If the number of communication steps is reduced through indirect communication, then communication efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces group-based segmentation with simple selection criteria (such as aircraft position or identification) to designate group masters. This segmentation reduces communication complexity by creating a hierarchical structure that is easier to manage than complete peer-to-peer communication, while the segmentation logic itself remains relatively simple.
4Loss of time
If information is relayed through intermediate aircraft, then the number of communication steps is reduced, but information transmission distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the formation into groups where information is first shared within the group (short distance), then relayed between group masters (longer distance but fewer hops). This two-level segmentation balances transmission path length by minimizing local communication distance while reducing the total number of communication hops through the group master hierarchy.
Data Source
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AI summary
When information sharing is performed among multiple aircrafts, the number of times of communication for the information sharing is reduced. An onboard terminal 30 is a communication control apparatus 20 of an aircraft 10 which performs transmission and reception of information with a consort aircraft. When performing information sharing between two or more consort aircrafts, the onboard terminal 30 performs transmission and reception of information with a predetermined consort aircraft and thereafter performs transmission and reception of information including information transmitted from the predetermined consort aircraft, with another consort aircraft. The onboard terminal 30 performs information sharing with the consort aircrafts in accordance with a routing table showing order of aircrafts 10 to perform transmission and reception of information.