Datalink Message Prioritization for Air Traffic Control Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air traffic control datalink networks face delays due to high network traffic, which can lead to safety issues as critical messages are delayed, especially during high load conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method that monitors channel occupancy and adjusts message transmission based on predetermined thresholds, prioritizing high-priority messages and delaying lower-priority messages during congestion to maintain network throughput, ensuring timely transmission of critical messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all messages are transmitted during high network traffic, then network throughput is maximized, but message delivery time increases causing critical messages to be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments messages into different priority levels (high priority and low priority) and applies different transmission strategies to each segment. High priority messages are transmitted immediately when channel occupancy is below the first threshold, while low priority messages are delayed when channel occupancy exceeds the threshold, resolving the contradiction by segmenting the message flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts transmission behavior based on real-time channel occupancy measurements. The system transitions between different transmission modes (immediate transmission vs. delayed transmission) based on the measured channel occupancy relative to predetermined thresholds, making the system adaptive to changing network conditions
2Loss of time
If high priority messages are transmitted immediately, then message delivery time is minimized, but network bandwidth is consumed by non-critical messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels of service to different message types. High priority messages receive immediate transmission service when channel conditions permit, while low priority messages receive deferred service, creating local quality differentiation in the network transmission process
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors channel occupancy and uses this feedback to determine which messages to transmit and which to delay. The feedback loop ensures that high priority messages are transmitted when bandwidth is available while preventing bandwidth waste on low priority messages during congestion
3Productivity
If channel occupancy threshold is set high, then more messages can be transmitted, but critical messages may be delayed during congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the message transmission process into priority-based queues and applies different threshold criteria to different segments. The first predetermined threshold applies to high priority messages while the second threshold applies to low priority messages, ensuring critical messages maintain reliability even during congestion
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission parameter (immediate vs. delayed transmission) based on the measured channel occupancy parameter relative to the predetermined thresholds. This parameter change ensures that high priority messages are transmitted immediately when thresholds are not exceeded, maintaining delivery reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A method of maintaining datalink network throughput in a communications channel by delaying lower priority messages is provided. The method comprises receiving periodic channel occupancy data from a radio, and updating channel occupancy status from the channel occupancy data. A determination is then made whether the channel occupancy has reached a first predetermined occupancy threshold. If the first predetermined occupancy threshold has been reached, high priority messages are transmitted, and medium and low priority messages are stored. If the first predetermined occupancy threshold has not been reached, a determination is made whether the channel occupancy has reached a second predetermined occupancy threshold that is less than the first predetermined occupancy threshold. If the second predetermined occupancy threshold has been reached, high and medium priority messages are transmitted, and low priority messages are stored. If the second predetermined occupancy threshold has not been reached, messages of all priorities are transmitted.