Frequency Controller for Aircraft Wireless Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11, operating in unlicensed ISM bands are not certified for use in aircraft due to interference concerns, and cognitive radio systems are complex and not suitable for safety-critical applications like aeronautical wireless sensor networks, which require simple and low-cost nodes.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a radio management system and a wireless network frequency controller that dynamically restricts the operational frequency of internal wireless communication devices and sensors to prevent interference with safety-of-life radio equipment, using a table-of-selected-frequencies and a table-of-frequencies-to-be-avoided to ensure interference-free operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cognitive radio technology is used to detect and avoid interference, then spectral efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability for safety-critical applications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidnode complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cognitive function from individual wireless nodes and relocates it to a centralized frequency controller. The controller maintains a database of safety-critical frequencies and actively monitors/controls wireless sensor network frequencies, removing the need for complex cognitive radio hardware in each node while achieving interference avoidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The frequency controller acts as an intermediary between the wireless sensor network and safety-critical radio equipment. It mediates frequency allocation by maintaining a database of protected frequencies and controlling the operational frequencies of wireless sensors, thereby preventing interference without requiring complex cognitive capabilities in the sensors themselves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If cognitive radio access is implemented, then spectral utilization is improved, but reliability for safety-critical applications deteriorates due to statistical nature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral utilizationVSAvoidsafety-critical reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency controller performs preliminary actions by proactively maintaining a database of safety-critical frequencies and their operational patterns before interference occurs. It uses this pre-collected information to predict and avoid potential interference, transitioning from reactive cognitive radio approaches to proactive frequency management that ensures reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Weight of moving object

If wireless sensor networks are deployed in aircraft, then weight and cost are reduced, but interference to safety-critical radio equipment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft weightVSAvoidinterference to safety radio equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency controller serves as an intermediary that enables lightweight wireless sensor nodes to operate without interfering with safety-critical equipment. It maintains a database of protected frequencies and actively controls sensor network frequencies, allowing weight reduction while preventing harmful interference through centralized frequency management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If unlicensed ISM band wireless technologies are used, then cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but reliability for aeronautical applications deteriorates due to lack of certification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidaeronautical certification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual licensed environment by having the frequency controller maintain a database that replicates frequency allocation rules and restrictions. This allows inexpensive unlicensed ISM band devices to operate under controlled conditions that mimic certified systems, enabling cost-effective implementation while achieving the reliability required for aeronautical applications through software-based frequency management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2139275B1System and method to deterministically and dynamically prevent interference to the operation of safety critical radio equipment

Publication Date: 2016.08.24 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

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AI summary

A system to deterministically and dynamically prevent interference to the operation of safety-of-life radio equipment in a vehicle is provided. The system includes a radio management system and a wireless network frequency controller communicatively coupled to the radio management system. The wireless network frequency controller is operable to restrict the operational frequency of any one or more of internal wireless communication devices and any one or more of wireless sensors that are communicatively coupled to the wireless network frequency controller. The restriction of the operational frequency is based on input from the radio management system. The restriction of the operational frequency ensures that all the safety-of-life radio equipment has interference-free operation with the internal wireless communication devices and the wireless sensors that are communicatively coupled to the wireless network frequency controller.