# US 10,484,099 B2 · Methods and systems for communicatively coupling vehicles and ground systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,099 B2 - Document ID: US10484099B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/112,280 - Filed: 2018-08-24 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-16 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Donald B. Lee; Brian Edward Ward; Timothy M. Mitchell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484099B2 ## CPC - H04B 10/807: {Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal} - G02B 6/3817: {containing optical and electrical conductors (cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/32: Means for saving power - H04B 10/03: Arrangements for fault recovery - H04B 10/25891: {Transmission components (H04B10/40 takes precedence)} - H04L 12/10: Current supply arrangements - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A system configured to communicate with a vehicle on-board system of a vehicle. The system includes a ground sub-system configured to provide power to and to communicate with the vehicle on-board system. The ground sub-system includes an integrated power and communications connector including a socket having a conductive portion and an optical communication portion. The integrated power and communications connector is configured to supply power to the vehicle on-board system via the conductive portion, and is configured to communicate data between the vehicle on-board system and the ground sub-system via the optical communication portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system configured to communicate with a vehicle on-board system, the system comprising: a ground sub-system configured to provide power to and to communicate with the vehicle on-board system, the ground sub-system comprising an integrated power and communications connector comprising: a socket comprising a conductive portion and an optical communication portion, wherein the integrated power and communications connector is configured to supply power to the vehicle on-board system via the conductive portion, and is configured to communicate optical signals including data between the vehicle on-board system and the ground sub-system via the optical communication portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the socket is configured to engage a pin associated with the vehicle on-board system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the pin comprises an outer conductive portion coupled to electrical conductors and an inner communications portion comprising an optical fiber coextensive with an end of the outer conductive portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the socket is configured to engage the pin with an interference fit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data communicated between the vehicle on-board system and the ground sub-system comprises at least one of advanced avionics data, in-flight entertainment system data, catering system data, passenger system data, and engine monitoring data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of wireless communication and power line communication occur while communicating data via the optical communication portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of wireless communication and power line communication are used as a fail-over mode in the event the optical fiber communication fails. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optical communication portion comprises an optical fiber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an optical-to-Ethernet interface in communication with the optical communication portion of the socket, wherein the interface is coupled in communication with the integrated power and communications connector, and is configured to at least one of receive or transmit the optical signals via the optical communication portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a fiber optic cable extending between the optical communication portion and the optical-to-Ethernet interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising an Ethernet cable extending from the optical-to-Ethernet interface such that data from the fiber optic cable is communicable to ground system processing components. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ground sub-system is configured for simultaneous optical communication and broadband communication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein a first communication path is defined by the optical communication over the optical communication portion and a second communication path is defined by the broadband communication, wherein one of the first communication path or the second communication is a secured communication path and the other is an unsecured communication path. ### Claim 14 A system configured to communicate with a vehicle on-board system, the system comprising: a ground sub-system configured to provide power to and to communicate with the vehicle on-board system, the ground sub-system comprising an integrated power and communications connector comprising: a socket comprising a conductive portion and an optical communication portion, wherein the integrated power and communications connector is configured to supply power to the vehicle on-board system via the conductive portion, and is configured to communicate data between the vehicle on-board system and the ground sub-system via the optical communication portion; and an optical-to-Ethernet interface in communication with the optical communication portion of the socket, wherein the interface is configured to at least one of receive or transmit optical signals including the data via the optical communication portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a fiber optic cable extending between the optical communication portion and the optical-to-Ethernet interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising an Ethernet cable extending from the optical-to-Ethernet interface to provide communication between the optical-to-Ethernet interface and ground system processing components. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the socket is configured to engage a pin associated with the vehicle on-board system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the pin comprises an outer conductive portion coupled to electrical conductors and an inner communications portion comprising an optical fiber coextensive with an end of the outer conductive portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the ground sub-system is configured for simultaneous optical communication and broadband communication. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system in accordance with claim 19, wherein a first communication path is defined by the optical communication over the optical communication portion and a second communication path is defined by the broadband communication, wherein one of the first communication path or the second communication is a secured communication path and the other is an unsecured communication path.