Power Line Interference Mitigation for Vehicle Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems for vehicles, such as aircraft, face challenges in establishing reliable broadband connections over power lines for data exchange with remote computer systems, particularly due to interference issues in airport environments.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a power line communication system that includes a modem coupled to a local area network and a power line, along with an interference management server that allocates communication channels within a specified frequency range to mitigate interference, enabling efficient data exchange between vehicles and remote computer systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If broadband communication is established over power lines for vehicle data exchange, then data exchange capability is improved, but interference from other radio communications degrades signal quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange capabilityVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency spectrum is divided into multiple communication channels, allowing the system to segment the available bandwidth and select channels that minimize interference. The interference management server allocates specific channels to reduce overlap with other radio communications while maintaining broadband data exchange capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interference management server continuously monitors the radio environment and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust channel allocations. By receiving information about interference levels and adapting channel assignments accordingly, the system maintains optimal communication performance despite changing interference conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If multiple communication channels are allocated within a frequency range, then data exchange efficiency is improved, but channel management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange efficiencyVSAvoidchannel management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An interference management server is introduced as an intermediary component that handles channel allocation and management tasks. This server acts as a mediator between the communication system and the complex task of coordinating multiple channels, centralizing the management function to reduce overall system complexity while maintaining high data exchange efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If power line communication is used for vehicle monitoring, then maintenance operations are improved, but existing radio communications cause interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance operations efficiencyVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful interference from existing radio communications into a useful resource by using interference patterns to identify and avoid problematic frequency channels. The interference management server analyzes the radio environment, including interference signals, and uses this information to select optimal channels that minimize disruption to maintenance operations while leveraging the existing radio spectrum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2445119B1Interference mitigation for broadband over power line
Publication Date: 2017.04.05 THE BOEING CO
  • EP2445119B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2445119B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2445119B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods to exchange data between a vehicle and a remote computer system, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system to exchange data between a vehicle and a remote computer system comprises at least one power line adapted to couple to the vehicle, a local area network, a modem coupled to the local area network and the at least one power line, and a power line interference server comprising logic to allocate communication channels within a specified frequency range on the power line. Other embodiments may be described.