Communication system, aircraft/spacecraft and communication method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10524094-B2
Application number	US-201815895602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2018
Priority date	Feb 16, 2017
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A communication system for satellite-based communication for an aircraft/spacecraft with data memory, which is configured to store aircraft/spacecraft data during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft, a communication device, which is configured to communicate with at least one satellite-based communication system, and a control device, which is coupled to the data memory and the communication device and is configured to output aircraft/spacecraft data stored in the data memory during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft via the communication device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A communication system for satellite-based communication for an aircraft/spacecraft, comprising:
a data memory, which is configured to store aircraft/spacecraft data during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft;
a communication device, which is configured to communicate with at least one satellite-based communication system; and
a control device, which is coupled to the data memory and the communication device and is configured to output aircraft/spacecraft data stored in the data memory during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft via the communication device;
wherein the communication device comprises a first antenna array which is configured to transmit data to a first satellite-based communication system comprising non-geostationary satellites; and
wherein the control device is configured to output the aircraft/spacecraft data via the first satellite-based communication system during abnormal operation of the aircraft/spacecraft.

2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a second antenna array which is configured to transmit data to a second satellite-based communication system comprising geostationary satellites, and wherein the control device is configured to output the aircraft/spacecraft data via the second satellite-based communication system during normal operation of the aircraft/spacecraft and when data communication via the second satellite-based communication system is available.

3. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna array is implemented in conjunction with a third antenna array for an emergency position transmission system, and wherein the control device is implemented in conjunction with a control device of an emergency position transmission system.

4. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to mark already transmitted aircraft/spacecraft data and to store the data in an emergency memory of the aircraft/spacecraft.

5. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to retrieve the aircraft/spacecraft data from at least one of electrical and electronic systems of the aircraft/spacecraft and to store the data in the data memory ready for transmission.

6. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the control device is configured to compress and packetize the stored aircraft/spacecraft data.

7. An aircraft/spacecraft comprising a communication system, the communication system comprising:
a data memory, which is configured to store aircraft/spacecraft data during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft;
a communication device, which is configured to communicate with at least one satellite-based communication system; and
a control device, which is coupled to the data memory and the communication device and is configured to output aircraft/spacecraft data stored in the data memory during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft via the communication device;
wherein the communication device comprises an antenna array which is configured to transmit data to a satellite-based communication system comprising non-geostationary satellites; and
wherein the control device is configured to output the aircraft/spacecraft data via the satellite-based communication system during abnormal operation of the aircraft/spacecraft.

8. A communication method for satellite-based communication for an aircraft/spacecraft, the communication method comprising:
storing aircraft/spacecraft data during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft;
communicating with at least one satellite-based communication system; and
outputting the stored aircraft/spacecraft data during operation of the aircraft/spacecraft via communication with the at least one satellite-based communication system;
wherein, during communication, data are transmitted via a first antenna array to a first satellite-based communication system comprising non-geostationary satellites; and
wherein the aircraft/spacecraft data are output via the first satellite-based communication system during abnormal operation of the aircraft/spacecraft.

9. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein, during communication, data are transmitted via a second antenna array to a second satellite-based communication system comprising geostationary satellites, and wherein the aircraft/spacecraft data are output via the second satellite-based communication system during normal operation of the aircraft/spacecraft and when data communication via the second satellite-based communication system is available.

10. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein, during communication via the first antenna array, communication takes place via an antenna array for an emergency position transmission system, and wherein the communication method is controlled in a control device of the emergency position transmission system.

11. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein already transmitted aircraft/spacecraft data is marked and stored in an emergency memory of the aircraft/spacecraft.

12. The communication method of claim 8 , wherein the aircraft/spacecraft data are retrieved by at least one of electrical and electronic systems of the aircraft/spacecraft and stored ready for transmission, wherein the stored aircraft/spacecraft data are compressed and packetized.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Girod Maurice
• Bartels Uwe

Classifications

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• H04B7/18506 Primary

  Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service · CPC title

• B64D2045/0065

  Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals · CPC title

• H04B7/18508

  with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service · CPC title

• B64G1/52

  Protection, safety or emergency devices; Survival aids · CPC title