Stateful Connectionless Overlay Protocol for Aircraft Data Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems in aircraft fail to seamlessly switch data streams to alternative channels when a communication link fails, leading to reduced availability and increased end-to-end transit delays due to the inability to transparently reroute data during active data transfer.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a stateful connectionless overlay protocol that sends information segments simultaneously over multiple data links, allowing continuous data transfer even if one link fails, by fragmenting data into segments, tagging them with media IDs and sequence numbers, and reassembling them at the destination, while dynamically estimating quality of service and transit delays for optimal routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data transfer is performed over a single communication channel, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because the system cannot switch to alternative channels when communication fails
Solution Approach 1:
The data stream is segmented into multiple segments that can be transmitted simultaneously over multiple communication channels. Each segment is independently routed, allowing the system to maintain transmission even if one channel fails, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex channel switching mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple communication channels are merged into a single logical data transfer operation. The system combines the capabilities of multiple channels to transmit data segments in parallel, achieving improved reliability while maintaining relatively simple device complexity through unified protocol handling
2Reliability
If the system switches to a different media/channel when communication fails, then reliability improves, but loss of time increases due to termination and restart of data transfer
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple communication channels are prepared and configured in advance before data transfer begins. The system pre-establishes alternative paths, so when a channel fails, data can immediately be routed through pre-configured alternative channels without termination or restart, eliminating time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The data transfer operation maintains continuous action across multiple channels simultaneously. Instead of terminating and restarting transfer when switching channels, the system ensures continuous transmission by having redundant channels already active and ready, eliminating gaps in data flow
3Productivity
If multiple data links are used simultaneously for data transfer, then productivity increases through maximized throughput, but device complexity increases due to multiple connectivity management
Solution Approach 1:
Data is segmented and distributed across multiple links, allowing parallel transmission that maximizes throughput. Each segment travels independently, enabling efficient utilization of multiple channels while the segmentation logic manages complexity by treating each segment as an independent unit
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple data links through a unified protocol. The same data transfer mechanism operates across different channel types (VHF, SATCOM, cellular), reducing management complexity by providing universal handling rather than separate mechanisms for each channel
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for data communications is provided. The method reduces the overall transmission time of the information to a destination by simultaneously sending different segments of the information over a plurality of data connections. The method comprises presenting information content for transmission to a destination entity, and simultaneously sending different segments of the information over a plurality of data link connections. All segments of the information are received from the plurality of data link connections at the destination entity, and the data segments are reconstructed back into the information content at the destination entity.