Method and arrangements for wireless communication in a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides an operational mode of communication which adjusts a transmitting power of a cellular system and a mobile terminal used inside a vehicle, such as an aircraft, so that the mobile terminals ( 102 ) inside the aircraft camp on the indoor cellular network ( 100 ) inside the aircraft and do not interfere with external cellular networks. This reduces possible electromagnetic interference with avionics inside the aircraft, because the transmitted power levels is limited. The frequency band used by the indoor cellular network can be determined by the service provider independent of frequency bands allocated by communication specifications and regulations. Conventional mobile terminals ( 102 ) and conventional base transceiver stations ( 104 ) applying the aircraft profile according to the invention can be used inside the aircraft while aboard to communicate with the conventional external cellular networks ( 150 ).

1 . A method for providing an operational mode of wireless communication between at least one mobile terminal and at least one first network device inside a vehicle, such as aircraft, the method comprising steps of: 
 communicating from the mobile terminal information indicating an operational mode that the mobile terminal uses for a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device inside the aircraft,    connecting the mobile terminal via the first network device inside the aircraft to wirelessly communicate with a second network device outside the aircraft, where the wireless connection between the first network device and the second network device uses an operational mode of communication capable of communicating with external wireless networks outside the aircraft,    characterized by    limiting a transmitting power value for a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device to a limit power value,    selecting said limit power value on the basis of providing a determined quality of service of the connection and minimizing interference with external wireless networks,    selecting at least one frequency value to establish a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device on the basis of minimizing the interference effect with external wireless networks, and    configuring the operational mode of communication in the wireless connection inside the aircraft on the basis of said limit power value and said frequency value.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that such limit power value for the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device is selected which ensures acceptable voice and data transmitting quality inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that such limit power value for the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device is selected which ensures that network devices of external wireless networks are unable to receive a connection request sent by the mobile terminal inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that such limit power value for the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device is selected which ensures that network devices of external wireless networks are unable to receive a location update request sent by the mobile terminal inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the selected limit power value for the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device overrules a transmitting power command given by any external wireless network.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the step of selecting at least one frequency value comprises further steps of: 
 detecting frequencies from a group of available frequencies inside the aircraft for transmission between the mobile terminal and the first network device, and based on the detecting    determining at least one frequency value which provides least interference with external wireless networks.    
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the group of available frequencies excludes frequencies used in external wireless networks.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the group of available frequencies excludes frequencies used in a GSM, PCS or other frequency bands compliant with communication specifications.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the step of detecting frequencies from a group of available frequencies is run when establishing the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the step of detecting frequencies from a group of available frequencies is run continuously, and on the basis of detecting several frequency values are used for transmission between the mobile terminals and the first network devices.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , characterized in that a handover is performed to a number of mobile terminals, wherein the handover is performed first to the mobile terminals and the network devices using the frequency value causing most interference among selected frequency values.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the step of detecting comprises a further step of relaying information indicating the selected frequency value of communication from the first network device to the second network device.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the step of detecting comprises a further step of relaying information indicating the need of change the selected frequency value of communication from the first network device to the second network device.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the step of configuring the operational mode of communication comprises further steps of: 
 establishing a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device inside the aircraft, and    relaying information indicating the selected operational mode of communication from the first network device to a second network device and vice versa.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the step of establishing the wireless connection comprises a step of selecting an operational mode of communication in a wireless network inside the aircraft when the mobile terminal is switched on inside the aircraft, and after the selection of the operational mode the wireless connection is established.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the step of establishing the wireless connection comprises a step of displaying on the mobile terminal an operational mode of communication in a wireless network inside the aircraft when the mobile terminal is switched on inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the step of establishing the wireless connection comprises a step of transmitting a RACH burst using the limit power value from the mobile terminal to the first network device when the mobile terminal is switched on.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the step of establishing the wireless connection comprises a step of disabling a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device using the operational mode of the external network.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the step of establishing the wireless connection comprises a step of sending a location update rejection from the mobile terminal and the first network device as a reply to a location update request from the external wireless network.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the step of relaying information indicating the selected operational mode comprises signalling information from the first network device and the second network device and vice versa.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the step of relaying information indicating the selected operational mode comprises a RACH burst using the limit power value from the first network device and the second network device and vice versa.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the method is compliant with at least one of the following communication specifications: GSM, PCN, PCS, HSCSD, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, Bluetooth, UMTS, Teldesic, Iridium, Inmarsat and WLAN.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device is established by a wireless network inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       24 . A system for wirelessly communicating information between a mobile terminal inside a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and a first network device inside the aircraft, the system comprising: 
 at least one mobile terminal for wirelessly communicating with the first network device information indicating an operational mode that is used for a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device inside the aircraft,    at least one first network device for wirelessly connecting the mobile terminal to communicate with a second network device outside the aircraft where the connection between the first network device and the second network device uses an operational mode of wireless communication capable of communicating with external wireless networks outside the aircraft,    at least one second network device outside the aircraft for wirelessly communicating with external wireless networks,    characterized in that    the mobile terminal is arranged to limit a transmitting power value for a wireless connection with the first network device to a first limit power value, wherein said first limit power value is based on quality of service of the connection and amount of interference with external wireless networks,    the first network device is arranged to limit a transmitting power value for a wireless connection with the mobile terminal to a second limit power value wherein said second limit power value is based on achieving a determined quality of service of the connection and minimizing the amount of interference with external wireless networks,    the system is arranged to select at least one frequency value to establish a wireless connection with the mobile terminal which frequency value is based on providing least interference with external wireless networks, and    the system is arranged to configure the operational mode of wireless communication in the wireless connection inside the aircraft on the basis of said limit power values and said frequency value.    
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 24 , characterized in that at least one frequency value is selected, the system inside the aircraft comprises: 
 means for detecting frequencies from a group of available frequencies for transmission between the mobile terminal and the first network device, and based on the detecting    means for calculating at least one frequency value which provides least interference with external wireless networks.    
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the first network device comprises an antenna for wireless information transmission inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 26 , characterized in that the first network device comprises a leaky cable for wireless information transmission inside the aircraft, where the leaky cable is routed from front to rear inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the configuring the operational mode of wireless communication is arranged to: 
 establish a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device inside the aircraft, and    relay information indicating the selected operational mode of wireless communication from the first network device to the second network device, and vice versa.    
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 28 , characterized in that the means for relaying information comprises a first switching module associated to the first network device to be connected via a wireless connection link to a second switching module which locates associated to the second network device for transmitting information indicating the selected operational mode.  
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 29 , characterized in that the wireless connection between the first switching module and the second switching module is routed via a satellite link.  
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 30 , characterized in that the first switching module comprises a first emulator and the second switching module comprises a second emulator, where the first emulator emulates to the first network device that the first network device is wirelessly connected to the second network device while there is not any transmission between the first and second network devices, and the second emulator emulates to the second network device that the second network device is wirelessly connected to the first network device while there is not any transmission between the first and second network devices.  
   
   
       32 . A system according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the first network device is a base transceiver station (BTS) and the second network device is a base station controller (BSC).  
   
   
       33 . A system according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device is established by a wireless network inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       34 . A system according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the system is compliant with at least one of the following communication specifications: GSM, PCN, PCS, HSCSD, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, Bluetooth, UMTS, Teldesic, Iridium, Inmarsat and WLAN.  
   
   
       35 . A first network device for communicating information via a wireless connection to a mobile terminal inside a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and for communicating information via wireless connection link to a second network device capable of communicating in external wireless networks outside the aircraft, the first network device comprising: 
 means for transmitting information to the mobile terminal in a wireless network, the information indicating an operational mode that the mobile terminal uses for a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device,    means for connecting the mobile terminal inside the aircraft to wirelessly communicate with a second network device outside the aircraft, where the wireless connection between the first network device and the second network device uses an operational mode of wireless communication capable of communicating with external wireless networks,    characterized in that the first network device is arranged to:    limit a transmitting power value for a wireless connection with the mobile terminal to a limit power value which provides at least a determined a quality of service of the connection and a minimum of interference with external wireless networks,    select at least one frequency value to establish a wireless connection with the mobile terminal which frequency provides minimum interference with external wireless networks, and    configure the operational mode of wireless communication in the wireless connection inside the aircraft on the basis of said limit power value and said frequency value.    
   
   
       36 . A first network device according to  claim 35 , characterized in that the first network device comprises an antenna for wireless information transmission inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       37 . A first network device according to  claim 36 , characterized in that the first network device comprises a leaky cable for wireless information transmission inside the aircraft, where the leaky cable is routed from front to rear inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       38 . A first network device according to  claim 35 , characterized in that the configuring the operational mode of wireless communication is arranged to: 
 establish a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device inside the aircraft, and    have means for relaying information indicating the selected operational mode of wireless communication from the first network device to the second network device, and vice versa.    
   
   
       39 . A first network device according to  claim 38 , characterized in that the means for relaying information comprises a first switching module to be connected via a wireless connection link to a second switching module which locates associated to the second network device for transmitting information indicating the selected operational mode.  
   
   
       40 . A first network device according to  claim 39 , characterized in that the first switching module comprises a first emulator to emulate to the first network device that the first network device is wirelessly connected to the second network device while there is not any transmission between the first and second network devices.  
   
   
       41 . A first network device according to  claim 35 , characterized in that the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device is established by a wireless network inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       42 . A mobile terminal for communicating information wirelessly to at least one first network device inside an aircraft, the mobile terminal comprising: 
 a transmitter for transmitting information to the first network device in a wireless network, the information indicating an operational mode that the mobile terminal uses for a wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device,    characterized in that the mobile terminal further comprises    means for transmitting the information to the first network device using an operational mode of wireless communication to limit a transmitting power value to a limit power value which provides at least a determined quality of service of the connection and a minimum interference with external wireless networks outside the aircraft,    means for receiving a command from the first network device indicating an operational mode of wireless communication and indicating a frequency value to establish a wireless connection to the first network device which frequency value provides minimum interference with external wireless networks, and    means for selecting an operational mode of wireless communication configured in the wireless connection inside the aircraft on the basis of said limit power value and said frequency value.    
   
   
       43 . A mobile terminal according to  claim 42 , characterized in that it comprises means for displaying said selected operational mode.  
   
   
       44 . A mobile terminal according to  claim 42 , characterized in that a menu and a key is used to select and a display unit is used to indicate the operational mode of wireless communication for the wireless connection inside the aircraft.  
   
   
       45 . A mobile terminal according to  claim 42 , characterized in that the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the first network device is established by a wireless network inside the aircraft.