초록 ▼

Methods and systems are provided in which the most important communications that occur onboard the air vehicle and between the air vehicle and other locations continually have sufficient communication bandwidth and are not impeded by less important communications to ensure that the flight crew and f

Methods and systems are provided in which the most important communications that occur onboard the air vehicle and between the air vehicle and other locations continually have sufficient communication bandwidth and are not impeded by less important communications to ensure that the flight crew and flight control personnel on the ground have the most complete and accurate information. Other aspects of the method and system further assist in maintaining a safe flight by permitting the air vehicle to be both flown and landed while in an auto-pilot mode engaged in the air vehicle or from the ground and disengaged from the ground or by entering a code in the air vehicle, displaying target settings of respective parameters provided by the ground control center, providing detailed flight data to the air vehicle from the ground control center, and examining data in the ground control center captured onboard the air vehicle to identify individuals that may pose a security risk.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of selectively allocating communication bandwidth supported by an air vehicle, the method comprising: providing a priority hierarchy for different types of communication signals based on a relative importance of the different types of communication signals; monitoring the types of c

1. A method of selectively allocating communication bandwidth supported by an air vehicle, the method comprising: providing a priority hierarchy for different types of communication signals based on a relative importance of the different types of communication signals; monitoring the types of communication signals to be transmitted to and from the air vehicle; and dedicating portions of the communication bandwidth to predefined types of the communication signals based on the priority hierarchy. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising permanently dedicating a portion of the communication bandwidth for communications between the air vehicle and a ground control center.3. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading a header associated with a respective communication signal to determine the type of communication signal and determining the portion of communication bandwidth to dedicate to the communication signal based upon the relative importance of the type of communication signal as defined by the priority hierarchy.4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the priority hierarchy in a data management system of the air vehicle.5. The method of claim 1, wherein dedicating portions of the communication bandwidth comprises limiting the portion of the communication bandwidth available to types of communication signals having a low priority if communication signals having a higher priority are to be transmitted.6. The method of claim 1, wherein dedicating portions of the communication bandwidth comprises reallocating the communication bandwidth as different types of communication signals are to be transmitted.7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the priority hierarchy comprises assigning higher priority to communications between a ground control center and the air vehicle and assigning a lower priority to passenger communication.8. A system for selectively allocating the communication bandwidth supported by an air vehicle, the system comprising: a communication system onboard the air vehicle and capable of transmitting and receiving different types of communication signals; and a processing element responsive to a priority hierarchy established for the different types of communication signals based on the relative importance of the different types of communication signals, said processing element capable of monitoring the types of communication signals to be transmitted via the communication system, and said processing element also capable of dedicating portions of the communication bandwidth to predefined types of the communication signals based on the priority hierarchy. 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a memory device for storing the priority hierarchy.10. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing element is further capable of permanently dedicating a portion of the communication bandwidth for communications between the air vehicle and a ground control center.11. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing element is further capable of reading a header associated with a respective communication signal to determine the type of communication signal and determining the portion of the communication bandwidth to dedicate to the communication signal based upon the relative importance of the type of communication signal as defined by the priority hierarchy.12. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing element is further capable of excluding types of communication signals having a low priority if communication signals having a higher priority are to be transmitted.13. The system of claim 8, wherein said processing element is further capable of reallocating the communication bandwidth as different types of signals are to be transmitted.