METHOD FOR ENHANCING THE RELIABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF AERONAUTICAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING USING DATA TRANSMITTED BY VHF DATA LINK MODE 4 AIRCRAFT STATIONS

摘要

The present invention uses selected network management data transmitted within VDL/4 RF subnetworks, or information derived from network management data transmitted within VDL/4 subnetworks, to efficiently manage a separate RF subnetwork or set of subnetworks. The present invention uses a VDL Mode 4 RF network as a primary transmission path for data transmitted from aircraft to ground stations, and one or more separate RF network(s) as a primary transmission path for data transmitted from ground stations to aircraft. The unique characteristics of each network provide for cost-effective two-way aeronautical networking.