Systems and methods for obtaining and distributing dynamic frequency selection data for wireless networks on airplanes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11259193-B2
Application number	US-202016785515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2020
Priority date	Feb 7, 2020
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining data for Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) events caused by interfering signals, such as radar signals, in mobile WiFi wireless communication networks on airplanes. The systems and methods utilize wireless access points (WAPs) on in-flight entertainment systems on airplanes to detect DFS events, and obtain DFS event data. The DFS event data is transmitted to a ground system which is configured to utilize the DFS event data to generate DFS messages which allow a WAP on another airplane to avoid the interfering signals that caused the DFS event. The ground system transmits the DFS messages to other airplanes which use the information in the DFS message to configure a WAP to avoid DFS events. The ground system may also be configured to analyze and generate a 3D DFS map which can be used to generate radio channel plans to avoid DFS events.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for obtaining Dynamic Frequency Selection (“DFS”) data when installed on a first airplane, the system comprising:
an in-flight entertainment system (“IFE”) including a wireless access point configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more wireless electronic devices, the wireless access point configured to detect DFS events, the IFE in communication with an onboard avionics system configured to obtain airplane location data and provide the airplane location data to the IFE;
wherein the IFE is configured to use the wireless access point to detect a DFS event caused by an interfering signal within a signal range of the wireless access point and obtain DFS event data for the DFS event, obtain airplane location data at the time of the DFS event from the onboard avionics system, associate the DFS event data with the airplane location data in a DFS event record,
wherein the IFE is further configured to transmit the DFS event record to a ground system via one of: (a) an air-to-ground communication link or (b) a manual offload of the DFS event data from the IFE on each airplane to one or more storage devices and transfer of the DFS event data from the one or more storage devices to the ground system, and
wherein the ground system is configured to, in real-time: (a) receive the DFS event record; (b) analyze the DFS event record; and (c) transmit a DFS message to a second IFE on a second airplane which is scheduled to travel within a predetermined vicinity of the DFS event, to allow a wireless access point of the second IFE to avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DFS message includes radio channel data which the wireless access point of the second IFE is configured to utilize to avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the radio channel data includes at least one of: (a) identification of one or more radio channels which avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event; and (b) identification of one or more radio channels which caused the DFS event.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DFS message includes radio channel data and DFS location data for the DFS event which the wireless access point of the second IFE is configured to utilize to avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the radio channel data includes at least one of: (a) identification of one or more radio channels which avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event; and (b) identification of one or more radio channels which caused the DFS event; and
the DFS location data includes a delineation of at least a portion of a flight path of the different airplane in which to avoid the interfering signal.

6. A system for analyzing and mapping Dynamic Frequency Selection (“DFS”) data obtained from a plurality of airplanes, comprising:
a computerized ground system comprising a computer, the ground system configured to receive DFS event data from a plurality of wireless access points on respective different airplanes, the wireless access points being components of an in-flight entertainment system (“IFE”) on each airplane, the DFS event data for DFS events caused by respective interfering signals within a respective signal range of the respective wireless access point, the DFS event data including associated location data at the respective time of the respective DFS event from a respective onboard avionics system on each airplane; and
the computerized ground system configured to analyze the DFS event data and generate a DFS map of the DFS event data to select radio channels for a wireless access point on an airplane to avoid DFS events.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the computerized ground system is configured to receive the DFS event data from the airplanes via one of: (a) an air-to-ground communication link or (b) a manual offload of the DFS event data from the IFE on each airplane to one or more storage devices and transfer of the DFS event data from the one or more storage devices to the computerized ground system.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the computerized ground system comprises either a satellite communication module or a private cellular provider link for receiving the DFS event data via the air-to-ground communication link.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the ground system is further configured to:
receive flight plan data for a flight of a first airplane;
analyze the flight plan data in view of the DFS map and determine radio channel information for the first airplane to allow a wireless access point on the first airplane to avoid one or more DFS events during the flight of the first airplane; and
transmit the radio channel information to the first airplane via an air-to-ground communication link.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the ground system is further configured to, in real-time:
(a) receive revised flight plan data for the flight of the first airplane; (b) analyze the revised flight plan data in view of the DFS map and determine revised radio channel information for the first airplane to allow the wireless access point on the first airplane to avoid one or more DFS events during the flight of the first airplane; and (c) transmit the revised radio channel information to the first airplane.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the ground system is further configured to:
receive flight plan data for a fleet of planned airplane routes;
analyze the flight plan data for each airplane route in view of the DFS map and determine radio channel information for each airplane route to allow a wireless access point on an airplane on that airplane route to avoid one or more DFS events during a flight using that route; and
transfer the radio channel information for each airplane route to the airplane fleet via manual data loading of the radio channel information from a storage device to a respective IFE on each airplane.

12. A method for obtaining Dynamic Frequency Selection (“DFS”) data, the method comprising:
detecting a DFS event using a wireless access point in an airplane, the DFS event caused by an interfering signal within a signal range of the wireless access point, and obtaining DFS event data for the DFS event from the wireless access point;
obtaining location data at the time of the DFS event from an onboard avionics system on the airplane;
associating the DFS event data with the airplane location data in a DFS event record;
transmitting the DFS event record to a ground system; and
performing, in real-time, by the ground system (a) receiving the DFS event record; (b) analyzing the DFS event record; and (c) transmitting a DFS message to a second airplane which is scheduled to travel within a predetermined vicinity of the DFS event to allow a wireless access point of the second airplane to avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the DFS message includes radio channel data which the wireless access point of the second airplane is configured to utilize to avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the DFS message includes radio channel data and DFS location data for the DFS event which the wireless access point of the second airplane is configured to utilize to avoid the interfering signal which caused the DFS event.

15. A method for analyzing and mapping Dynamic Frequency Selection (“DFS”) data from a plurality of airplanes, comprising:
receiving DFS event data from a plurality of wireless access points on respect

Assignees

• Panasonic Avionics Corp

Inventors

• Watson Philip
• Bates Steven

Classifications

• G08G5/34

  for flight plan modification · CPC title

• G08G5/26

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations · CPC title

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title

• H04W4/42

  for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft · CPC title

• G01S7/023

  Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques (auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like G01S7/021; means for anti-jamming G01S7/36) · CPC title