Aircraft Network Issue Detection via Ground Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft communication systems lack effective methods for detecting and reporting network issues across multiple communication links, making it difficult for ground-based stakeholders to identify and rectify systemic problems affecting air-ground data communication links.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising aircraft processors that compile and report network event information related to degraded communication links, which is analyzed by a network issue detector to identify systemic problems, enabling ground-based stakeholders to take corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If aircraft communicate through multiple communication links without systematic monitoring, then communication coverage is extended, but network issue detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where aircraft continuously monitor and report communication link status to ground systems. The CMU collects performance data from multiple communication links and provides feedback reports to ground-based stakeholders, enabling systematic detection of network issues across the fleet while maintaining multi-link communication capability
Solution Approach 2:
The Communication Management Unit (CMU) acts as an intermediary between multiple communication links and ground systems. It consolidates status information from various communication links (VHF, HF, satellite, etc.) and presents unified network health reports to ground stakeholders, simplifying the detection complexity despite multiple communication paths
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive network event information is collected from multiple aircraft, then issue detection accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges network event information from multiple aircraft into consolidated reports at ground systems. The CMU aggregates communication link status data from various aircraft and combines it with configuration database information to produce unified network health assessments, improving detection accuracy while managing complexity through centralized processing
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration database serves as a universal reference that standardizes network event information collection across different aircraft types and communication systems. By using a common data structure and configuration framework, the system achieves comprehensive monitoring without proportionally increasing processing complexity for each individual aircraft
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for detection of network issues and health reporting to ground-based stakeholders are described herein. In exemplary embodiments, a system includes multiple aircraft, wherein an aircraft in the multiple aircraft communicates through one or more communication links. The aircraft includes processors that compile network event information related to degraded communication link events. Further, the aircraft includes memory units that store a degraded link event report and a configuration database, wherein the degraded link event report stores the network event information related to the degraded communication link events as directed the configuration database. The system additionally includes a network issue detector, in communication with the multiple aircraft, which receives degraded link event reports from the multiple aircraft, wherein the network issue detector includes processors that identify systemic degraded data link network problems with the communication links based on context identified in the degraded link event reports.