US 2020/0053529 A1 · WAIC INTERFACE DEVICE

Abstract

A Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) interface device provides communication between a portable electronic device and a WAIC controller. The WAIC interface device includes a housing, a wireless antenna, wireless access point electronics, and an interface controller. The housing is configured to be mounted to an interior surface of an aircraft and to receive and engage the portable electronic device. The wireless access point electronics are connected via a communication port to a first wired connection to communicate with the WAIC controller. The interface controller authenticates the portable electronic device. A WAIC coordinator is connected to the WAIC controller via a second wired connection, and is configured to communicate wirelessly over a WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz. An end node includes a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the WAIC coordinator over the WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) interface device that provides communication between a portable electronic device and a WAIC controller, the WAIC interface device comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted to an interior surface of an aircraft and to receive and engage the portable electronic device;
a wireless antenna located within the housing;
wireless access point electronics located within the housing, connected to the wireless antenna to communicate wirelessly with the portable electronic device via the wireless antenna, and connected via a communication port to a wired connection to communicate with the WAIC controller;
and
an interface controller, located within the housing and connected to the wireless access point electronics, that authenticates the portable electronic device, so that the wireless access point electronics can establish communications between the WAIC controller and the portable electronic device via the wireless antenna, the wireless access point electronics, and the wired connection.

2 more elements

A Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) interface system for use with a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a WAIC interface device that receives, engages, and communicates wirelessly with the portable electronic device;
a WAIC controller connected to the WAIC interface device via a first wired connection for communication with the portable electronic device via the WAIC interface device;
a WAIC coordinator connected to the WAIC controller via a second wired connection for communication with the WAIC controller, the WAIC coordinator configured to communicate wirelessly over a WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz;
and
an end node that includes a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the WAIC coordinator over the WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz.

2 more elements

A method comprising:

establishing, using a wireless antenna and wireless access point electronics of a WAIC interface device, a first wireless communications session with a portable electronic device for wireless communications between the WAIC interface device and the portable electronic device;
communicating, using a first wired connection from the WAIC interface device, between the WAIC interface device and a WAIC controller;
communicating, using a second wired connection from the WAIC controller, between the WAIC controller and a WAIC coordinator;
establishing a second wireless communications session from the WAIC coordinator, for wireless communications between the WAIC coordinator and an end node transceiver and system/sensor using WAIC standard in frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz;
and
disconnecting, upon disengagement of the portable electronic device from the WAIC interface device, the WAIC interface device and disengaged portable electronic device from communicating with the WAIC coordinator.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Waic interface device

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Waic interface device

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Abstract

Claims20