Abstract: A method for processing Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) messages at a Communications Management Unit (CMU) on an aircraft is provided. The method includes, for an ACARS downlink message, receiving a message at the CMU from an application on a computer external to the CMU onboard the aircraft, reading a field in the message that indicates a message type for that application, determining an ACARS label associated with the message type, using the determined ACARS label instead of the industry standard ACARS label/sublabel associated with the onboard application external to the CMU, and sending the ACARS downlink message encoded with the determined ACARS label to a ground system to be delivered to a peer ground application.

Abstract: An embodiment of a communication management unit (CMU) includes emulator and data-mining circuits. The emulator circuit is configured to generate a data request having a same format as a data request from a vehicle communications center, to send the data request to a subsystem disposed on a vehicle, and to receive data sent by the subsystem in response to the data request. The data-mining circuit is configured to provide at least some of the received data to a determining circuit configured to determine information in response to the provided data. For example, such a CMU can request flight-plan data from a flight management subsystem (FMS) by sending, to the FMS, an emulated data-request message having the same format as a data-request message from a ground-based aircraft operations center. That is, the CMU can “fool” the FMS into “thinking” that the data-request message originated from the ground-based aircraft operations center.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying multiple element request datalink messages in avionics system are provided. A method includes generating a plurality of downlink message element information at a verify screen displayed by a display. The method further allows for the changing of at least one downlink message element information of the plurality of downlink message element information within the verify screen. Moreover, the method concatenates the plurality of downlink message element information after the changing of the at least one element information in preparation of generating a concatenating downlink message element information message to be downlinked.

Abstract: A method comprises: determining if a personal computing system in a vehicle is authentic using a radio system in the vehicle, where the radio system is configured (a) to communicate with at least one ground system and (b) to be coupled to a vehicle system; if the personal computing system is authenticated, creating a link between the personal computing system and the radio system; and at least one of: restricting data routing to and from at least one of: (a) vehicle system type(s), and (b) application program(s) of at least one of the vehicle system and the personal computing system; restricting data type(s) transmitted between the personal computing system and the vehicle system; and routing data between the personal computing system, and at least one of (a) at least one ground system not through a communications management system and (b) the vehicle system.

Abstract: A communications system is provided. The communications system comprises: at least one wideband remote radio system each of which is configured to be coupled to at least one antenna; a baseband system coupled to each of the at least one wideband remote radio system; wherein at least one wideband remote radio system and the baseband system are in different locations of a vehicle; wherein the baseband system comprises a datalink communications management system and an audio processing system; and wherein the at least one wideband radio baseband system is coupled to the audio processing system and the datalink communications management system.

Abstract: A system to distribute an Aircraft Operations Communication (AOC) application is provided. The system includes communication components in a vehicle, and an AOC database. The communication components include one of: a Communication Management Unit (CMU); or a Communication Management Function (CMF); and at least one of: at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and at least one cabin terminal. The AOC database includes an operational configuration for aircraft operations communication for the communication components in the vehicle. The AOC database is loaded into at least one of: the CMU, the CMF, the at least one EFB; the at least one cabin terminal; and a database device. The AOC database configures the operation of the communication components in the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to save data from vehicle systems to a portable computing system. The method comprises: receiving a selection of information stored in at least one of: a communications management system, and at least one other vehicle system configured to be installed on a vehicle; receiving a selection to save the selected information with a portable computing system in the vehicle, where the portable computing system is configured to be removable from the vehicle; and sending the selected information to the portable computing system through a communications network, where the portable computing system is configured to save received, selected information in addition to or instead of sending the selected data to at least one of a printer in the vehicle and a storage device in the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle communication system including a communication management unit (CMU) and a data gateway is provided. The CMU is at least in part configured to route first type messages using a first type message communication. The data gateway is configured to communicate second type messages to a remote location. The CMU is configured to route at least some of the first type messages to the data gateway. The data gateway is configured to communicate a pseudo acknowledgment for each message block of each first type message routed to the data gateway back to the CMU indicating the message block was received by a designated remote location. The data gateway is further configured to interface each received first type message into the second type message and communicate each second type message to the designated remote location using a second type of message communication.

Abstract: In one example, a system for a preventing unauthorized access to operational aircraft data is provided. The system includes a server configured to be positioned on an aircraft. The server configured to communicate with a portable electronic device and a plurality of aircraft systems, wherein the server is configured to unidirectionally communicate with the plurality of aircraft systems, wherein the server is configured to receive avionic operational data from the plurality of aircraft systems. The server is further configured to implement security measures to prevent unauthorized electronic devices from accessing the avionic operational data produced by the plurality of aircraft systems. The server is further configured to control dissemination of avionic operational data to electronic devices.

Abstract: A vehicle travel information system that includes at least one database, at least one vehicle location system and at least one processor unit is provided. The at least one processer unit is configured to implement instructions to monitor location information provided by the at least one vehicle location system to determine when the vehicle has at least one of entered a travel region with associated region information and is about to enter a travel region with associated region information. The at least one processor unit is further configured to implement region information instructions stored in the database that is associated with the region information when the vehicle enters or is about to enter a travel region with associated region information. Associated region information includes at least one of alert instructions, report generation instructions, selection instructions, feature instructions and restriction instructions.

Abstract: A communications system is provided. The communications system comprises: at least one wideband remote radio system each of which is configured to be coupled to at least one antenna; a baseband system coupled to each of the at least one wideband remote radio system; wherein at least one wideband remote radio system and the baseband system are in different locations of a vehicle; wherein the baseband system comprises a datalink communications management system and an audio processing system; and wherein the at least one wideband radio baseband system is coupled to the audio processing system and the datalink communications management system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for a programmable portable electronic device for airborne operational communications. In one embodiment, a system for preventing unauthorized access to operational aircraft data comprises a personal electronic device and a plurality of aircraft systems that produce avionic operational data. The system further comprises an airborne server in network communication with the personal electronic device and the plurality of aircraft systems, wherein the airborne server implements security measures to prevent unauthorized electronic devices from accessing the avionic operational data, wherein the airborne server controls the dissemination of avionic operational data to electronic devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises: selecting, with a communications management system configured to be installed on a vehicle, at least one primary channel on a multichannel transceiver; transmitting and/or receiving data over the at least one primary channel; searching, with the multichannel transceiver for other viable communications links; and selecting a new at least one primary channel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for processing vehicle messages is provided. The method comprises: receiving a vehicle message for transmission; determining whether a condition exists to expedite transmission of the vehicle message; determining if a preferential sub-network is available; determining if at least one less preferential sub-network is available; and when the condition exists, when the preferential sub-network is not available for use, and the less preferential sub-network is available, expediting the transmission of the vehicle message over a less preferential sub-network.

Abstract: A method comprises: determining if a personal computing system in a vehicle is authentic using a radio system in the vehicle, where the radio system is configured (a) to communicate with at least one ground system and (b) to be coupled to a vehicle system; if the personal computing system is authenticated, creating a link between the personal computing system and the radio system; and at least one of: restricting data routing to and from at least one of: (a) vehicle system type(s), and (b) application program(s) of at least one of the vehicle system and the personal computing system; restricting data type(s) transmitted between the personal computing system and the vehicle system; and routing data between the personal computing system, and at least one of (a) at least one ground system not through a communications management system and (b) the vehicle system.

Abstract: A communication system in an aircraft is described. The communication system includes a CMU that is coupled to at least one safety subnetwork and an AOIP computing device. The AOIP computing device is coupled to at least one non-safety subnetwork. The AOIP computing device determines whether ACARS messages received from the CMU are ACARS safety messages or ACARS non-safety messages. The AOIP computing device monitors CMU status messages from the CMU. In response to the AOIP computing device receiving an ACARS safety message, the AOIP computing device periodically transmits a second status message indicating that the AOIP computing device is unavailable. In response to determining that at least one safety subnetwork is available, the AOIP computing device stops periodically transmitting the second status message and transmits a first status message indicating that the AOIP computing device is available.

Abstract: A system for dynamic flight tracking of an aircraft comprises a ground center configured to communicate with a flight tracking application onboard an aircraft, wherein the flight tracking application is preloaded with default flight tracking preferences comprising a normal time rate interval for sending normal condition position reports to the ground center when a flight condition is normal; abnormal time rate intervals for sending abnormal condition position reports to the ground center when abnormal flight conditions are detected, with the abnormal time rate intervals less than the normal time rate interval; and abnormal flight condition criteria to determine which aircraft conditions to monitor for detecting abnormal flight conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced subnetwork preference logic are herein provided. In certain implementations, a method for transmitting messages over a datalink communication system includes identifying a location of a first communication unit; and identifying an altitude of the first communication unit. Further, the method includes selecting a sub-network preference for the first communication unit for communicating between the first communication unit and one or more other communication units, wherein the sub-network preference is selected based on the location and the altitude of the first communication unit, wherein the sub-network preference identifies one or more sub-networks in order of preference; and transmitting one or more messages to the one or more other communication units through a sub-network that is a most preferred sub-network as indicated by the selected sub-network preference and available for communications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying position sensitive datalink messages on avionics displays are provided. In one embodiment, a flight deck instrument display system for an aircraft comprises: a flight plan display screen that displays a graphical representation of at least a part of an aircraft's planned flight path together with symbology representing a position of the aircraft with respect to the aircraft's planned flight path; wherein the flight plan display screen further displays at least one symbol positioned along the graphical representation of at least a part of the aircraft's planned flight path that indicates a point of applicability for a received uplink datalink message.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a processing system comprising: an ARINC 429 converter system; an Internet protocol (IP) suite; and an Ethernet driver; wherein the processing system is configured to be coupled to a communications management system and at least one IP radio; wherein the processing system converts data, from the communications management system, from an ARINC 429 protocol into a transport layer protocol, an IP and a Ethernet protocol; and wherein the processing system converts data, from the IP radio, from the Ethernet protocol, IP, and transport layer protocol to the ARINC 429 protocol.