Methods and systems for controlling operation of satellite data units of an aircraft

An aircraft comprising:

• a first satellite data unit (SDU) and a second SDU, each configured to engage in communication with at least one satellite of a satellite network;
• and
• a network control computing device having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform a set of operations comprising:
• determining a first availability score for the first SDU based on first operational parameters comprising one or more of:
• whether the first SDU is reporting valid data, whether the first SDU is capable of providing data-link services, or whether the first SDU is capable of providing voice services;
• determining a second availability score for the second SDU based on second operational parameters comprising one or more of:
• whether the second SDU is reporting valid data, whether the second SDU is capable of providing data-link services, or whether the second SDU is capable of providing voice services;
• comparing the first availability score for the first SDU with the second availability score for the second SDU;
• and
• based on comparing the first availability score with the second availability score, controlling one of the first SDU and the second SDU to be an active SDU.

A method for communicating over a satellite network, the method comprising:

• determining a first availability score for a first satellite data unit (SDU) of an aircraft based on first operational parameters comprising one or more of:
• whether the first SDU is reporting valid data, whether the first SDU is capable of providing data-link services, or whether the first SDU is capable of providing voice services;
• determining a second availability score for a second SDU of the aircraft based on second operational parameters comprising one or more of:
• whether the second SDU is reporting valid data, whether the second SDU is capable of providing data-link services, or whether the second SDU is capable of providing voice services, wherein the first SDU and the second SDU are each configured to engage in communication with at least one satellite of the satellite network;
• comparing the first availability score for the first SDU with the second availability score for the second SDU;
• and
• based on comparing the first availability score with the second availability score, controlling one of the first SDU and the second SDU to be an active SDU.