The Boeing Company

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Guangyu Pei

Anil Kumar

Paul R Norris

Jae H Kim

David T Kirkland

Martin Huynh Duke

Ethan Carl Owyang

Shawn Robert LaGrotta

Phillip A Spagnolo

Fred L Temolin

Douglas P Nast

Nan Li

Surya Nepal

Dongxi Liu

Shawn Robert Lagrotta

Managing aircraft satellite communication data traffic is provided. The method comprises calculating total available satellite communication bandwidth across a number of virtual local area networks (VLANs) of an onboard network of an aircraft and prioritizing data traffic for the VLANs according to a specified traffic priority and quality of service policies. The prioritized data is mapped to a number of unified device routing tables to maximize the available total satellite communication bandwidth and meet the quality of service policies. When data packets are received from the VLANs they are allocated across the total available satellite communication bandwidth based on the mapping. The data packets are then transmitted over a single continuously connected VLAN mapped to a satellite communication link from the aircraft to an end station.

Unified quality of service management of aircraft data traffic through satellite communication system

Described are methods and devices for communication between local networks and global networks. In some examples, a method comprises storing mapping data for multiple hosts in a global network and in a local network. The method further comprises receiving a first data packet from one of the multiple hosts in the local network. The first data packet comprises a first source address being the local network address of the host in the local network, a first destination address being the local network address of the host in the global network and payload data. The method further comprises determining, based on the mapping data, the global network address of the host in the local network and a global network address of the host in the global network, and sending a second data packet over the global network.

Secure data connections in low data rate networks

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media storing instructions for handling wireless communication in wireless mesh networks are disclosed herein. The disclosed techniques virtualize a portion of the communications within the wireless mesh network by implementing a plurality of virtual routers on a server, each virtual router corresponding to a physical router device within the wireless mesh network. Each physical router device is connected to its corresponding virtual router by a deterministic connection, which may include a wired connection to the server. A virtual communication layer implemented by the server is configured to router inter-router communication between the virtual routers. In some embodiments, each virtual router is implemented within a separate container within a virtual mesh network environment running on the server.

Virtualized wireless mesh in airplane cabin for deterministic topology control

Provided are methods and systems for automated location and identification of multiple objects in an aircraft cabin. A method utilizes a wireless client, RFID reader, and camera, which together form a set. Each set is associated with a specific inspection zone in the cabin. The RFID reader determines the presence of a RFID tag in only one zone. Further, the camera captures an image of that zone. A data feedback is generated based on both the image and the RFID reader response. The data feedback is transmitted by the wireless client to a router and is analyzed to determine the presence of the object in the inspection zone and, if present, the identity of the object. The data feedback is associated with the location of the zone in the aircraft cabin, which is known or may be determined using a set of wireless routers positioned throughout the cabin.

Methods and systems for automated presence verification, location confirmation, and identification of objects in defined zones

A local positioning system may include a reader assembly and a data processing assembly. The reader assembly may be configured to read tag data from at least one wireless communication tag of a plurality of wireless communication tags disposed in spaced-apart fixed positions relative to a structure extending along an expanse when the reader assembly is disposed in the expanse proximate to the at least one wireless communication tag. The reader assembly may also generate a communication-tag signal representative of the read tag data. A data processing assembly may be configured to access a mapping of the plurality of wireless communication tags relative to the structure. The data processing assembly may be further configured to determine a location of the reader assembly based on the read tag data and the mapping of the plurality of wireless communication tags relative to the structure.

Local positioning with communication tags

A sensor network is disclosed, and includes a first network based on a wireless communication protocol, a second network based on a power line communication protocol, and at least one sensor node in communication with one of the first network and the second network. The sensor node includes at least one sensor and a control module in communication with the at least one sensor. The control module includes control logic for selecting one of the first network and the second network based on at least one operating parameter of the sensor network.

System and method for selecting a communication network in a sensor network

Mapping the physical location of each sensor of a network of wireless sensors in a configured environment, each sensor being in communication with a server and its database, is achieved by attaching RFID tags to objects in the environment which contain both object-relevant information and the MAC address of sensors proximate to those objects. The locations of the tags on the objects are proxies for the locations of the sensors identified on those tags. By reading the tags and up-loading the read tag information to the database, the association of the sensor and the object is known to the server and can be matched with the configuration of the environment to infer the location of each wireless sensor.

Method for associating wireless sensors to physical locations

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that provides routing services between a red network and a black network. The apparatus includes a red router within the red network, a black router within the black network, and an IP encryptor having a red side IPv4-only interface and a black side interface, with the red side interface operatively coupled to the red router and the black side interface operatively coupled to the black network. The apparatus is configured to provide unified IPv6/IPv4 OSPFv3 routing over IPv4-only interfaces using cross-layer extensions.

Methods and apparatus for enabling unified (internet protocol version) IPV6/IPV4 routing services over IPv4-only interfaces

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product to managing links in a network. A directional link management system comprises a network manager, a router, a situational awareness database, a neighbor discovery module, a topology manager, and a data link manager. The network manager provides performance parameters for a wireless network. The router routes information to neighbor nodes provides information about links between nodes in the wireless network environment. The situational awareness database stores information about the nodes. The neighbor discovery module detects a presence of a new node. The topology manager identifies a set of links for a node using the set of performance parameters, information about the links, and information about the nodes. The data link manager manages the identified links.

Method and apparatus for directional networking topology management

The present invention is directed to a method of forming a mobile network using Phased Array Antennas. Mobile nodes search for nodes with which to form a network by either transmitting low level announcement signals on a wide spoiled beam directional antenna at progressively increasing power levels, or by receiving announcement signals using a high-gain, narrow directional beam. Low power announcements are compensated for by processing gain in the receive modem. Nodes randomly decide at each step of the scan whether to transmit or receive. Two control slots in an epoch are used for neighbor discovery. The first control slot is to announce or receive an announcement, and the second control slot is used to acknowledge the receipt of an announcement packet. The neighbor discovery process uses in-band communications. The directional communications permit simultaneous links in close proximity to other links without interference.

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Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Guangyu Pei