Aircraft Communication Channel Selection Using Useful-Message Probes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for selecting communication channels between an aircraft and a remote station often result in inefficient channel usage due to frequent switching and increased information traffic from ping messages, which can lead to service interruptions and higher operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines transmission quality indices for each channel, selects the best channel based on these indices, and buffers eligible useful messages instead of sending ping messages when appropriate, reducing ping message traffic and optimizing channel selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ping messages are transmitted regularly to determine transmission quality indices, then channel selection reliability is improved, but information traffic volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ping messages with useful messages by transmitting useful messages through the same communication channels used for quality assessment. This merging eliminates the need for separate ping messages while maintaining transmission quality monitoring, thereby reducing information traffic volume without compromising channel selection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Useful messages serve dual functions: they carry operational information and simultaneously act as probes for determining transmission quality indices. This multi-functionality allows the system to monitor channel quality without additional dedicated ping messages, reducing overall traffic volume while maintaining reliable channel selection
2Reliability
If channel switching is performed frequently to optimize transmission quality, then communication quality is improved, but service stability deteriorates due to excessive switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a delay mechanism that waits for a predetermined period before switching channels, even when quality indices indicate a better channel is available. This preliminary waiting action prevents premature switching and stabilizes the communication service by avoiding excessive channel changes while still allowing quality optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a time delay buffer that cushions against rapid channel switching by requiring a minimum waiting period before switching occurs. This cushioning mechanism prevents oscillatory switching behavior and maintains service stability while still enabling quality-driven channel selection when truly necessary
Data Source
AI summary
A method for selecting a communication channel, called utilization channel, includes a step of determining, for each channel, one or more items of information representing a transmission quality of a message, with the message being either a “useful” message received by the on-board system, or a probe message, called “ping” message, a step of classifying the communication channels according to indices respectively representing transmission qualities, based on the information, a step of selecting the utilization channel as being the channel exhibiting the best transmission quality based on the indices, a step of determining a buffering time for each received useful message, and, if this time is non-zero, a step of transmitting the useful message, called eligible useful message, instead of a ping message.