Apparatus and method for communications management

摘要

A mobile node comprising a communications system with a link to another node, wherein the communications system: identifies if the link has been 1) lost or degraded; 2) violates an emissions control restriction and/or 3) the link antenna is not optimally oriented; determines an attitude and/or position of the mobile node that will support the wireless link; derives a node manoeuvre plan to achieve that attitude and/or position and transmits it to a route planner associated with the mobile node. The mobile node may also comprise a positioning system. The mobile node manoeuvre plan may include a period of time to remain at the attitude and/or position. The manoeuvre plan may be sent to a node authority for authorisation. A plan metric may be generated in association with the node manoeuvre plan and a cost/benefit metric may be calculated. There may be a communications planner which generates a mobile node manoeuvre request based on the identified link issues. The request may also include situational/environmental conditions which are affecting the communications link.