Aircraft Wireless Router Airport Network Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft communication systems face challenges in automatically configuring wireless routers to connect to varying airport networks, lacking standardization, which affects data transfer efficiency and security across different airports.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an Airport Gatelink Information (AGI) file that loads specific configuration parameters onto a wireless IP router, enabling it to adapt to different airport environments by specifying network preferences, timeouts, SSID, security info, and IP settings, ensuring secure and efficient connections over WiFi or Cellular networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellite communications are used for data transfer, then availability is improved (both on ground and during flight), but cost increases significantly and delivery rates are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different communication networks (satellite, cellular, WiFi) based on availability and performance conditions. The wireless router automatically adapts its communication path by monitoring network status and selecting the best available network, allowing the system to optimize delivery rates when possible networks are available while maintaining reliability when needed.
2Productivity
If manual transportation using removable disks is used, then cost is reduced, but effectiveness and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual disk transfer process with an automated wireless communication system. The wireless router on the aircraft automatically establishes connections to ground networks and transfers data without requiring physical removal and insertion of disks, thereby maintaining low cost while significantly improving effectiveness and convenience.
3Productivity
If WiFi and Cellular networks are used, then cost and delivery rates are improved, but availability during flight deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically monitors the availability of different communication networks and switches between them based on current conditions. When WiFi or cellular networks are available and provide better delivery rates, the system uses them. When flight conditions prevent access to these networks, the system automatically switches to satellite communications, thus optimizing both cost/performance and availability.
4Ease of operation
If automatic configuration of wireless routers is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless router is equipped with self-service capabilities that allow it to automatically configure itself by reading airport-specific parameters from the AGI file and autonomously establishing connections to ground networks. This eliminates the need for manual pilot or crew configuration while the embedded processing unit handles the complexity of network selection, authentication, and data transfer routing.
Data Source
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AI summary
An avionics communication system comprises a wireless router located on an aircraft and configured to transceive wireless signals; and a processing unit located in the aircraft and configured to supply the wireless router with configuration parameters after determining it is time to connect to a ground network, the configuration parameters based on the location of the aircraft; wherein the wireless router uses the configuration parameters to establish a wireless connection with the ground network and route data from at least one client application on the aircraft to at least one ground application server.