Communications Management Module for Moving Platforms

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for managing wireless communications between moving platforms and target nodes are inadequate in responding to unexpected events like link failures, leading to data loss and buffer overflow due to continuous data transmission without considering network conditions.

Innovation Solution

A communications management system with a data management module that classifies and prioritizes platform application data, determines actions based on stored rules, and generates control signals to store or discard data accordingly, adapting to available communication links and network conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If continuous data transmission is performed without considering network conditions, then data transmission throughput is maintained, but buffer overflow and data loss occur during link failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission throughputVSAvoiddata delivery reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors network conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust transmission behavior. The data management module receives network status information and modifies data handling actions accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents buffer overflow while maintaining throughput during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static continuous transmission to dynamic adaptive transmission. The data management module changes transmission behavior based on real-time network conditions, switching between storing, discarding, and transmitting data according to the current link status and data priority

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If critical information is stored during link failures for later transmission, then information completeness is improved, but storage resources and transmission time are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the state parameter of data from 'transmitted' to 'stored' based on network conditions. By modifying the data status parameter dynamically, the system preserves critical information during link failures and restores transmission when conditions improve, balancing information completeness with transmission timing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a data management module is introduced to classify and manage data transmission, then data delivery reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery reliabilityVSAvoidsystem structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments data into different priority levels (critical and non-critical) and applies different handling rules to each segment. This segmentation allows the data management module to make targeted decisions for different data types, improving reliability without requiring complex centralized control for all data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3335331B1Apparatus and method for communications management
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 BAE SYSTEMS PLC
  • EP3335331B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3335331B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3335331B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Apparatus for communications management in a communications system of a moving platform comprising a plurality of systems and/or functions and at least one platform application, said communications system comprising at least one transmitter for transmitting data received from said at least one platform application and being configured to effect wireless data communication thereof by means of one of a plurality of supported communications links, wherein said apparatus comprises a data management module configured to: -receive (600) a control message indicative that no suitable communications links are available for transmission of platform application data; -obtain (602) a classification in respect of platform application data to be transmitted to at least one recipient node; -determine (604), from a stored rule set, an action to be taken in respect of said platform application data according to said respective classification thereof, wherein said action comprises one of storing or discarding said platform application data; and -generate a control signal and transmit (606) said control signal to a platform application from which said platform application data originates, or a QoS interface associated therewith, wherein said control signal is configured to cause said action to be taken thereby.