Aviation Handover Coordination via Flight Plan Pre-Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aviation communication networks face challenges in minimizing latency and ensuring continuous communications during handovers between ground-based assets, which can lead to aircraft control delays and degrade operator control.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communications network that utilizes flight plans and real-time flight information to pre-coordinate handovers between ground-based stations, including the exchange of cryptographic keys, to secure and expedite the handover process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cellular network handover procedures are used to ensure secure communications between base stations, then communications security is maintained, but latency increases causing aircraft control delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary key establishment and handover preparation in advance based on predicted aircraft trajectories and flight plans. Cryptographic keys are pre-distributed to potential target base stations before the aircraft actually needs to hand over, eliminating the need for time-consuming key exchange during the critical handover moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The handover process is segmented into distinct phases: prediction phase (using flight plans to identify future handover needs), preparation phase (pre-distributing keys to potential target base stations), and execution phase (actual handover). This segmentation allows security-critical operations to be performed in advance rather than during the time-critical handover moment.
2Reliability
If multiple ground base stations are deployed across large geographic areas to ensure continuous coverage, then communications continuity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight plan data structure serves multiple functions: it provides routing information for aircraft navigation, enables prediction of future positions for handover preparation, and identifies which base stations will be needed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the aircraft's own flight plan information (which the aircraft operator provides) to enable the network to automatically predict and prepare for handovers. The aircraft essentially provides its own trajectory data that the network uses to service the handover needs without requiring external control.
3Reliability
If real-time key exchange is performed during handover to secure communications, then security is maintained, but handover time increases degrading operator control
Solution Approach 1:
Cryptographic keys are distributed to base stations in advance based on predicted aircraft positions derived from flight plans. When handover is needed, the aircraft simply switches to the pre-prepared key at the target base station, making the security operation instantaneous rather than time-consuming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts key distribution based on real-time aircraft position updates and flight plan modifications. If the aircraft deviates from its planned trajectory, the system can dynamically identify new target base stations and prepare keys for them, maintaining both security and speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method for performing communication link handoffs between ground-based stations and aircraft in an aviation communications network. In the communications network, ground based stations interspersed throughout a coverage area of the network can be utilized to provide one or more aircraft flying within the coverage area with communications links that facilitate communication between an operator and an aircraft. In one or more examples, during the operation of the flight, the spectrum management system or other controller can coordinate the transfer of communications responsibilities between ground-stations of the network. The network can use a priori information from the flight plan to pre-coordinate handovers before the actual handover is to be initiated. In one or more examples, pre-coordination can include exchanging cryptographic keys between a source base station and a probable target base station of a handover.