Honeywell International Inc.

Donald C Kauffman

Michael L Olive

Thomas D Judd

Willard R True

Tom D Judd

Eric N Foster

Edward Scott Anderson

Brian Paul Bunch

Alfonso Malaga

Michael C Dorneich

Kenneth R Jongsma

Louis T Toth

Randy T Durand

Michael Christian Dorneich

Randy Durand

Techniques are disclosed of forming communications links with a vehicle, where each of at least two communication links are formed through different virtual and logical communications networks operated on a physical communications network.

Systems and methods for communicating with a vehicle utilizing a virtualized and logical communications network

In an embodiment, a system comprises height-measuring circuitry coupled to a vehicle, in which the height-measuring circuitry is configured to measure a height parameter of the vehicle. The system further comprises a radio transceiver coupled to a portion of the vehicle, in which the radio is configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal. The system further comprises at least one processor configured to receive the height parameter from the height-measuring circuitry. The system further comprises at least one antenna coupled to the radio transceiver and coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one antenna is configured to output the RF signal at a beamwidth, and the at least one processor is operative to configure the at least one antenna to vary the beamwidth of the RF signal based on the height parameter.

Variable beamwidth antenna control for aerial vehicles

This disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and devices for integrating weather radar data from both ground-based and aircraft weather radar systems. An example system is configured to receive weather radar data from a first weather radar system. The system is further configured to receive weather radar data from one or more additional weather radar systems. The system is further configured to combine the weather radar data from the first weather radar system and the weather radar data from the one or more additional weather radar systems into a combined weather radar data set. The system is further configured to generate an output based on the combined weather radar data set.

Weather radar integrating system combining ground-based and aircraft-based weather radar data

A method of communicating aircraft messages is provided. The method comprises forming an at-hoc communication network of mobile nodes. Communicating messages between the mobile nodes via the at-hoc communication network using mobile node-to-mobile node communication signals and supplementing communication gaps in the ad-hoc communication network with alternative communication signals.

Use of alternate communication networks to complement an ad-hoc mobile node to mobile node communication network

An ad-hoc communication network including at least two vehicles such as at least two aircraft. Each vehicle includes surveillance equipment, a surveillance transmitter, a surveillance receiver, a communication management function (CMF), a communication transmitter, and a communication receiver. The surveillance equipment is configured to generate at least position and ID information. The surveillance transmitter is configured to transmit the at least position and ID information. The surveillance receiver is configured to receive at least position and ID information from other vehicles. The communication management function (CMF) is configured to determine a network topology based on the received at least position and ID information and determine a route for a communication signal based on the determined network topology and the communication transmitter is configured to transmit the communication signals to a select communication receiver pursuant to the determined route.

Method to establish and maintain an aircraft ad-hoc communication network

A method of ensuring secure and cost effective communication of aeronautical data to and from an aircraft is provided. The method includes uplinking air-ground aircraft data communications via an aeronautical safety data link and downlinking air-ground aircraft data communications via a consumer data link separated from the aeronautical safety data link by a one-way firewall.

Use of data links for aeronautical purposes without compromising safety and security

A method of operating an ad-hoc communication system is provided. The method comprises determining a pattern type relating to mobile node travel characteristics over a defined traveling region. Based on the pattern type, selecting a neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm. Implementing the neighbor discovery and route determination algorithm on received location and identification mobile node information to determine communication routes to at least one of mobile nodes and stationary communication stations in the ad-hoc communication system.

Travel characteristics-based ad-hoc communication network algorithm selection

An avionic communication unit with interface capabilities is provided. The communication unit includes at least one first type port, at least one second type port and a communication function. The at least one first type port is configured to couple a communication link using a first communication format to the communication unit. The at least one second type port is configured to couple a communication link using a second communication format to the communication unit. The communication function is configured to provide communications to and from an aircraft. The communication function is further configured to interface communications between the at least one first type port and the at least one second type port wherein avionic devices located on the aircraft and using different communication formats coupled to the respective ports can communicate.

Communication management unit server capability

Integrated surveillance systems and methods for processing multiple sensor inputs and determining a best route for avoiding multiple hazards. An example method performed on a first aircraft includes generating a plurality of routes for avoiding a previously determined alert from a first advisory system. Then, probability of success information is generated at other advisory systems for each of the plurality of routes. The best route of the plurality of routes is determined based on the generated probabilities and output to the flight crew or other aircraft. The probability of success information includes a previously defined uncertainty value. The uncertainty value corresponds to quality of data provided to or provided by the respective advisory system.

Cognitive aircraft hazard advisory system (CAHAS)

A method of processing a message in a relay network comprises determining if a destination node is within range; if the destination node is not in range, identifying one or more network member aircraft within range; selecting one of the one or more network member aircraft within range; authenticating membership of the selected network member aircraft if membership of the selected network member aircraft has not been previously authenticated; and transmitting the message to the selected network member aircraft in order to relay the message to the destination node at least in part via the selected network member aircraft.

System and method for transmitting information using aircraft as transmission relays

A reconfigurable wireless modem adapter is provided. The reconfigurable wireless modem adapter includes a control board and a radio frequency switch. The control board has at least two interfaces for a respective at least two modems and is configured to communicatively couple to at least one onboard system in a vehicle. The control board activates a selected modem interfaced to one of the at least two interfaces. The radio frequency switch is communicatively coupled to the control board via the selected one of the at least one modem. The radio frequency switch communicatively couples an antenna to the selected modem. When the control board is communicatively coupled to the at least one onboard system and activates the selected modem, and when the radio frequency switch is communicatively coupled to the antenna, the antenna is communicatively coupled to the at least one onboard system via the selected modem.

Reconfigurable wireless modem adapter

A reconfigurable wireless modem adapter is provided. The reconfigurable wireless modem adapter includes a control board and a radio frequency switch. The control board includes at least two user-data interfaces for respective at least two modems, the modems including at least one diversity/multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) modem. The control board is configured to communicatively couple to at least one onboard system in a vehicle and to activate one of the at least one diversity/MIMO modem interfaced to one of the at least two user-data interfaces. The radio frequency switch is communicatively coupled to the control board via a modem-select interface and the selected one of the at least one diversity/MIMO modem. The radio frequency switch communicatively couples one of at least one diversity/MIMO antenna on the vehicle to the selected one of the at least one diversity/MIMO modem based on a control signal.

Reconfigurable wireless modem adapter including diversity/MIMO modems

Methods and systems of operating a communication system are provided. One method comprises establishing at least one communication link between a mobile-to-mobile communication network of mobile nodes and at least one route computing system via gateway node. The gateway node is one of the mobile nodes that is in communication with a wireless network. Moreover, the route computing system is in communication with a terrestrial network that is also in communication with the wireless network. The at least one established communication link is then used to communicate messages.

Internetworking air-to-air network and wireless network

Weather information recording systems and methods are operable to record information detected by airborne aircraft. An exemplary embodiment generates a trigger event corresponding to the presence of weather of interest, stores weather information collected by an aviation electronics system in a memory in response to generating the trigger event, and downloads the stored weather information to a remote memory.

Growing community of inventors

Laurel, MD, United States of America

Donald C Kauffman