Air Traffic Radio Signal Alignment for Best Channel Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air traffic control systems face challenges in selecting the best radio signal due to high delays, which can result in some receiving channels being overlooked, especially when aircraft communicate simultaneously, leading to discarded signals and suboptimal communication quality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining the latency of receiving channels, setting a dynamic time threshold based on these latencies, measuring and aligning radio signal arrival times, and switching to the channel with the best signal quality, ensuring all signals are considered and processed without delay or interruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed predetermined time threshold is used for best signal selection, then the signal processing is simple and fast, but signals with high delay are discarded and not all receiving channels are considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time threshold adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the time threshold based on measured latencies of receiving channels, allowing it to accommodate varying signal delays while maintaining efficient processing. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the threshold to flex between speed-optimized and completeness-optimized states depending on current channel conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of time threshold from a fixed predetermined value to a dynamically adjusted value based on measured latencies. By monitoring and adapting the time threshold parameter according to actual receiving channel performance, the system ensures both fast processing (when thresholds are tight) and complete signal consideration (when thresholds are relaxed to accommodate high-delay channels).
2Area of stationary object
If receivers are distributed over a large area at different locations to improve coverage, then signal reception coverage is enhanced, but different signal levels and delays occur making signal selection more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously measuring the latency of each receiving channel and using this measured information to adjust the time threshold for signal selection. This feedback loop allows the system to automatically compensate for the varying delays introduced by geographically distributed receivers, simplifying the signal selection process despite the physical distribution of receivers across a large area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurement of receiving channel latencies before conducting best signal selection. By pre-characterizing the delay properties of each distributed receiver channel, the system can proactively adjust its selection criteria to account for known delay variations, reducing the complexity of real-time signal selection across geographically dispersed receivers.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A method for selecting best radio signal in air traffic control, comprises the steps: - Determining a respective latency of at least two receiving channels (16), wherein each receiving channel (16) is provided between a corresponding receiver and a measurement and analysis module (20), - Measuring a respective arrival time of at least two radio signals received via the at least two receiving channels (16) by means of the measurement and analysis module (20), - Determining the delay time between the at least two radio signals based on their arrival times, - Aligning the at least two radio signals with each other by taking the delay time determined into account, thereby obtaining at least two aligned signals, - Determining the quality of the at least two aligned signals, and - Switching to the receiving channel (16) that processes the respective radio signal with the best quality determined. Further, an air traffic control system (10) for selecting best radio signal is described.