Aircraft Data Concentrator Pairing With Collision-Free Time Windows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems for aircraft require manual configuration and pairing of devices with a data concentrator, which is time-consuming, energy-intensive, and prone to configuration errors, making them incompatible with the needs of high availability and reliability in aircraft communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A communication system for aircraft that uses a data concentrator to broadcast parameterization signals, enabling communicating devices to send unique identification signals, and assigns separate time windows and channels for data transmission, allowing automated device pairing and collision-free data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual configuration and pairing operations are implemented for each communicating device, then the data concentrator can reliably identify and authorize devices, but the system requires significant time, energy, and technician intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice authorization reliabilityVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The communicating devices automatically perform configuration and pairing operations without technician intervention. Each device autonomously transmits its identification signal and receives configuration parameters from the data concentrator, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining reliable device authorization through the standardized identification and configuration process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The data concentrator pre-establishes configuration parameters and authorization mechanisms before devices need to communicate. The systematic assignment of unique identification signals and configuration parameters to each device beforehand enables immediate reliable communication without time-consuming manual setup when devices are added or removed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual configuration operations are performed for device pairing, then accurate device authorization is achieved, but electrical energy is consumed during configuration operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Devices automatically complete configuration and pairing through standardized wireless communication protocols. The communicating devices self-configure by transmitting identification signals and receiving configuration parameters from the data concentrator without technician intervention, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining configuration accuracy through automated error-free processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical configuration process is replaced with automated wireless electronic communication. The physical intervention of technicians is substituted by electronic transmission of identification signals and configuration parameters, eliminating energy consumption associated with manual operations while maintaining accurate device authorization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If multiple communicating devices share the same communication channel simultaneously, then data flow rate is maximized, but interferences and collisions occur between transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata flow rateVSAvoiddata transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shared communication channel is segmented into dedicated time windows for each communicating device. Each device is assigned specific time windows during which it can transmit data, allowing multiple devices to utilize the same channel without interference. This temporal segmentation maximizes data flow rate while ensuring reliable transmission by eliminating collisions between simultaneous transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If technician intervention is required for configuration operations, then configuration errors are minimized through expert操作, but system availability is reduced due to shutdown requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration reliabilityVSAvoidsystem availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs configuration operations autonomously without requiring technician intervention or system shutdowns. Communicating devices automatically pair and configure with the data concentrator through standardized protocols, maintaining high system availability while ensuring configuration reliability through automated error-free processes that eliminate human operational errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12542831B2Communication system for aircraft

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE (FR)

AI summary

A communication system for an aircraft includes a first data concentrator, a first plurality of communicating devices for sending data to the first concentrator by wireless transmission. The first concentrator broadcasts at least one parameterisation signal for parameterising an operating cycle of the system and each communicating device sends a unique identification signal to the first concentrator, in response to this parameterisation signal, the first concentrator assigning a plurality of separate time windows valid for the cycle and each given communicating device transmitting data intended for the first concentrator via the channel associated with the time window assigned to this given device and only during this window.