Aircraft IP Router Segmentation for Cost-Effective Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing complexity and data volume from aircraft to ground stations in aircraft communications systems lead to high operational costs due to the current transmission methods, necessitating a more efficient data transmission approach.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an Internet protocol network router within the aircraft communications system to transmit data using Internet protocol communications links, allowing for the selection of either standard aircraft communications addressing and reporting system links or Internet protocol links based on data type, thereby reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is transmitted using traditional aircraft communications addressing and reporting system links, then reliability is maintained for safety-critical communications, but operational costs increase and bandwidth is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidoperational cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data transmission into two separate pathways: traditional ACARS links for safety-critical data and Internet protocol links for non-safety data. This segmentation allows each communication channel to be optimized for its specific purpose, maintaining reliability for essential communications while reducing costs for routine data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary routing system that determines whether data should be transmitted via ACARS or Internet protocol links based on data type and availability. This intermediary layer enables intelligent selection of transmission pathways, ensuring safety-critical data uses reliable ACARS while other data utilizes cost-effective Internet links.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If data volume transmitted from aircraft to ground station increases, then information completeness improves, but transmission cost increases proportionally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidtransmission cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data into safety-critical and non-safety categories, transmitting only essential safety data through expensive ACARS links while routing other data through cost-effective Internet protocol links. This segmentation maintains information completeness for safety purposes while dramatically reducing overall transmission costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different transmission qualities and channels to different types of data based on their importance. Safety-critical data receives premium treatment through reliable ACARS links, while non-critical data uses economical Internet links, optimizing the balance between information completeness and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If traditional aircraft communications links are used for all data transmission, then system simplicity is maintained, but transmission speed and bandwidth are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtransmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the communication system universal by enabling it to handle both traditional ACARS communications and modern Internet protocol communications through a single integrated architecture. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain simplicity for legacy safety communications while incorporating high-speed Internet links for additional data transmission capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3382905B1Aircraft communications system for transmitting data
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 THE BOEING CO
  • EP3382905B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3382905B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3382905B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and system for an aircraft communications system (108). The aircraft communications system (108) comprises an Internet protocol network router (122) and an aircraft communications addressing and reporting system network router (114). The Internet protocol network router (122), located within an aircraft (100), is configured to transmit data (106) to a group of ground stations (104) remote to the aircraft (100) using an Internet protocol communications link. The aircraft communications addressing and reporting system network router (114), located within the aircraft (100), is connected to the Internet protocol network router (122). The aircraft communications addressing and reporting system network router (114) is configured to transmit the data (106) from aircraft systems (116) to the group of ground stations (104) using at least one of an aircraft communications addressing and reporting system communications link (126) or, via the Internet protocol network router (122), using at least one of an Internet protocol communications link.