Use of alternate communication networks to complement an ad-hoc mobile node to mobile node communication network

摘要

A method of communicating aircraft messages is provided. The method comprises forming an at-hoc communication network of mobile nodes. Communicating messages between the mobile nodes via the at-hoc communication network using mobile node-to-mobile node communication signals and supplementing communication gaps in the ad-hoc communication network with alternative communication signals.

主权项

1. A method of communicating mobile node messages, the method comprising:
forming an ad-hoc communication network between mobile nodes, wherein the ad-hoc communication network consists of mobile nodes that are within mobile node-to-mobile node communication range of each other; communicating messages between the mobile nodes via the ad-hoc communication network using mobile node-to-mobile node communication signals; determining at least one path for a message through the ad-hoc communication network toward a destination node; determining when at least one communication gap is encountered in the at least one path to the destination node, the at least one communication gap prohibiting transmission of the message to the destination node through any paths within the ad-hoc communication network; when the at least one communication gap is encountered in the at least one path to the destination node, the at least one communication gap prohibiting transmission of the message to the destination node through the ad-hoc communication network, determining whether or not to use an alternative communication network to supplement the ad-hoc communication network based on at least a first factor, wherein the alternative communication network is distinct from the ad-hoc communication network; and determining when to transmit through the alternative communication network based on at least a second factor, wherein determining when to transmit through the alternative communication network comprises:
determining whether the message is urgentwhen the message is urgent, immediately transmitting the message using the alternative communication network;when the message is not urgent, waiting a period of time for a path through the ad-hoc communication network to become available before sending the message using the alternative communication network;wherein the first factor includes whether the message is urgent andwherein the second factor includes whether the period of time has passed since it was first determined that the at least one communication gap in the at least one path to the destination node prohibited transmission of the message to the destination node through any paths within the ad-hoc communication network such that the message cannot reach the destination node through the ad-hoc communication network.