Data Link Selection in Mobile Aeronautical Telecommunication Networks

Abstract

The future aeronautical communication infrastructure will integrate a variety of heterogeneous, wireless air to ground data links. For seamless integration into a global network, mechanisms to select data links for transmission have to be defined, which allow a transparent operation for pilots and controllers and account for the strict operational service requirements of Air Traffic Management. In this paper three different possibilities for data link selection in this special environment are presented. Additionally, the integration into the overall network topology and suitable signalling protocols are identified. It is shown that for the near future a conservative link selection, which relies only on basic link information, is necessary, whereas in the long term future sophisticated dynamic link selections with detailed link information are beneficial. Finally a conceptually different approach called Path Diversity Coding is presented, which can make use of the presence of several links at the same time and extend the area of link availability and service reliability