The Boeing Company

James P Scott

Ying J Feria

Kristina A Miller

Bradley A Scott

Michael A Whelan

Dennis L Gould

Mark Andrew Hoffmeyer

Harry E Nichols

Arun Ayyagari

David Arthur Whelan

Scott Charles Sullivan

Eric J Miller

Richard A Noyola

Kristina Miller

Douglas W Meyer, Jr

Wes Wang

David La Rue

Dale L Smith

Nemo Z Taylor

Mark A Hoffmeyer

An avionics data communication network includes a computing device configured to asynchronously transmit data packets in parallel via three or more redundant network interface controllers (NICs). The data packets offered to the avionics data communication network are bound using a token bucket filter (TBF). Three or more redundant network switches are configured to receive and relay the data packets from a different NIC of the three or more redundant NICs of the computing device. An avionics device is configured to receive the data packets from the computing device within a deterministic end-to-end transmission delay bound, the avionics device receiving the data packets via at least one of the three or more redundant network switches.

Asynchronous data transmission over avionics communication network

A method and system for providing secure aerial or space communications. A general payload and a hosted payload are provided on a vehicle. The hosted payload encrypts a data packet that contains restricted data using a secure key to create an encrypted packet. The general payload encrypts the encrypted packet using a general key to create a multilayer-encrypted packet. The multilayer-encrypted packet is transmitted from the vehicle to a destination.

Method and system for secure sharing of aerial or space resources using multilayer encryption and hosted payloads

A system and method for an adaptive network of network access nodes comprises a global network operations center (GNOC) receiving operator inputs and generating a global policy according to the operator inputs. The GNOC and/or a distributed network gateway (GW) generate configuration commands for configurations for at least one of the network access nodes based on the global policy, transmit the configuration commands to at least one of the network access nodes, and receive telemetry from at least one of the network access nodes. The distributed network GW transmits a summary of key performance indicators (KPIs) to the GNOC and the GNOC revises the global policy according to the summary of KPIs.

Adaptive self-optimizing network using closed-loop feedback

A system and method for communicating data is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of modems for receiving uplink data and transmitting downlink data; a switch, communicatively coupled to a plurality of MODEMs, the switch comprising a plurality of data queues, the switch for switchably accepting uplink data from the plurality of MODEMs and switchably providing downlink data from the plurality of data queues to the plurality of MODEMs; and a controller, communicatively coupled to the plurality of MODEMs and the switch, the controller for providing controller information for dynamically controlling the switch to switchably accept the uplink data from the plurality of MODEMs and to switchably provide downlink data from the plurality of data queues to the one or more of the plurality of MODEMs on a per-terminal and a per-communications link basis.

Cross-layer design for closed loop feedback in a wireless network

A software defined network including a constellation of software defined satellites. Each software defined satellite includes computing resources that are dynamically configurable to provide at least one of a plurality of different types of services. Each software defined satellite further includes an interface that interfaces with a software defined network ground station.

Method and apparatus for a software defined satellite and network

A system includes a first MODEM configured to generate a first data packet (including a first virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance identifier associated with a first service, a first user group, or both) based on a first radio-frequency (RF) signal and a second MODEM configured to generate a second data packet (including a second VRF instance identifier associated with a second service, a second user group, or both) based on a second RF signal. The system includes a network device configured to receive the first data packet, transmit a first packet (including a first header that includes a first indicator associated with a first VRF instance) to a first device via a network, receive the second data packet, and transmit a second packet (including a second header that includes a second indicator associated with a second VRF instance) to a second device via the network.

System and method for network traffic processing based on federated services and user groups

A satellite payload system is presented. The system includes plurality of optical processing modules, including a plurality of ring-connected optical processing modules and at least one inter-satellite optical processing module, and at least one optical fiber ring communicatively coupled to each of the ring-connected optical processing modules. At least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is configured to provide on-board signal processing of signals conveyed on the at least one optical fiber ring. At least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is communicatively coupled to a respective inter-satellite optical processing module. Each inter-satellite optical processing module is configured to optically communicatively couple to a respective remote satellite.

Photonic lambda switching for satellites

Systems, methods, and apparatus for an adaptive self-optimizing network using closed-loop feedback are disclosed. A method for sharing network resources comprises receiving, by a network operations center (NOC), access requests for users subscribed to an external network. The method further comprises receiving, by the NOC, a summary of key performance indicators from at least one internal network. Also, the method comprises determining, by the NOC, whether at least one internal network has available resources by analyzing the summary of key performance indicators and user demand from the access requests. Further, the method comprises allowing, by the NOC when the NOC determines that there are available resources, at least some of the users from the external network to connect to at least one internal network according to the available resources.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for mobile routing for non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) systems using virtual routing areas (VRAs) are disclosed. A disclosed method comprises generating a plurality of routing graphs for each of a plurality of VRAs. Each of the routing graphs is for a different period of time, and comprises a gateway and satellites that are within view of each other and of the gateway during the period of time associated with the routing graph. The method further comprises generating at least one time-sliced graph for each of the routing graphs, where each of the time-sliced graphs shows connectivity between at least some of the satellites, which are on the routing graph associated with the time-sliced graph, with each other. Further, the method comprises, during each of the periods of the time, establishing communications between the satellites according to each of the time-sliced graphs for the period of time.

Mobile routing for non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) systems using virtual routing areas (VRAS)

A satellite payload system is disclosed. The satellite payload system includes a plurality of optical processing modules, each including: a module input including an optical splitter, a module output including an optical coupler, a dynamic gain equalizer, an output bank of optical filters, and an input bank of optical filters; where the plurality of optical processing modules include ring-connected optical processing modules and inter-satellite optical processing modules; and at least one optical fiber ring communicatively coupled to each of the ring-connected optical processing modules; where at least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is configured to provide on-board signal processing of wavelengths; where a plurality of the ring-connected optical processing modules are each communicatively coupled to a respective inter-satellite optical processing module; where each inter-satellite optical processing module is configured to optically communicatively couple to a respective remote satellite via its module input and via its module output.

A method includes receiving, at a network service exchange system, a request from a device. The request indicates one or more service parameters. The method includes, in response to receiving the request, validating the device and the one or more service parameters. A reverse auction is performed to select a service provider from among a plurality of candidate service providers. The service provider is selected based on the one or more service parameters. The method further includes, after selecting the service provider, performing an over-the-air provisioning process to enable the device to communicate using a network associated with the service provider.

Network service exchange system and method of using same

A system includes a base station including a first MODEM of a first MODEM pool configured to generate a first data packet (including first data and a first VRF instance identifier) based on a first RF signal and a second MODEM of a second MODEM pool configured to generate a second data packet (including second data and a second VRF instance identifier) based on a second RF signal. The system includes a network device coupled to the base station and configured to receive the first data packet, transmit a first packet (including the first data and a first header including a first indicator associated with the first VRF instance) to a first device via a network, receive the second data packet, and transmit a second packet (including the second data and a second header including a second indicator associated with the second VRF instance) to a second device.

System and method for federated network traffic processing

A method includes receiving a request associated with a communications path from a first device to a second device. The method includes generating switching configuration data based on network topology data associated with the communications path. The switching configuration data indicates a configuration of a switch matrix of a satellite. The method further includes causing the switch matrix to initialize or modify the communications path based on the switching configuration data. A portion of the communications path includes components of a payload of the satellite. The components including the switch matrix.

Growing community of inventors

Manhattan Beach, CA, United States of America

James P Scott