Augmented aircraft communication system

Abstract

Subject matter disclosed herein relates to aircraft communication, and more particularly to a non line-of-sight communication path to augment a line-of-sight communication path.

1 . A method comprising:
 acquiring an induced signal representation of tracking information transmitted by a primary communication system via a line-of-sight communication link, wherein said acquiring is performed non-invasively with respect to said primary communication system;   providing said induced signal representation to a secondary non line-of-sight communication system;   reformatting said induced signal representation to be compatible or compliant with said secondary non line-of-sight communication system; and   transmitting said reformatted induced signal representation using said non line-of-sight communication system via a non line-of-sight communication link that includes at least one communication relay.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting at a ground station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting on an aircraft. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary non line-of-sight communication system is redundant with said primary communication system within an area serviced by said primary communication system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said acquiring an induced signal representation further comprises acquiring an induced signal representation without significantly modifying said tracking information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said line-of-sight communication link comprises an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) link. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one communication relay comprises a communication satellite. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said non line-of-sight communication link comprises the Internet or an intranet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tracking information comprises aircraft tracking information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said reformatted induced signal representation includes communication information identical to said tracking information transmitted by said primary communication system. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving tracking information via a secondary non line-of-sight communication link that includes at least one communication relay;   reformatting said received tracking information to be compatible or compliant with a primary line-of-sight communication system;   acquiring an induced signal representation of said reformatted tracking information, wherein said acquiring is performed non-invasively with respect to said primary line-of-sight communication system; and   providing said induced signal representation of reformatted tracking information to said primary line-of-sight communication system.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said receiving further comprises receiving at a ground station. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said receiving further comprises receiving on an aircraft. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said secondary non line-of-sight communication link is redundant with said primary line-of-sight communication system within an area serviced by said primary line-of-sight communication system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said line-of-sight communication link comprises an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) link. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of said secondary non line-of-sight communication link comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said tracking information comprises aircraft tracking information. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a directional coupler to acquire an induced signal representation of tracking information to be transmitted by a primary communication system via a line-of-sight communication link;   a secondary non line-of-sight communication system to receive said induced signal representation of tracking information;   a signal processor to reformat said induced signal representation of tracking information to be compatible or compliant with said secondary non line-of-sight communication system; and   a transmitter to transmit said reformatted induced signal representation of tracking information using said non line-of-sight communication system via a non line-of-sight communication link that includes at least one communication relay.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said transmitter is located at a ground station. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said transmitter is located on an aircraft. 
     
     
         21 - 31 . (canceled)