1. A method comprising:
transmitting bits modulated with a predefined sequence in a band of channels by a first medical transceiver;
detecting the predefined sequence by a second medical transceiver; and
determining presence of a signal if the predefined sequence is detected.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first medical transceiver is one of a medical implant transceiver and a medical controller transceiver; and
the second medical transceiver is one of the medical implant transceiver and the medical controller transceiver.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises one of:
transmitting the bits modulated with a pseudorandom sequence;
transmitting the bits modulated with a gold code sequence;
transmitting the bits modulated with a barker sequence; and
transmitting the bits modulated with a walsh code sequence.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:
spreading the bits with the predefined sequence.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:
correlating the signal with the predefined sequence.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detecting further comprises:
determining a peak value of a sample in a band of channels; and
checking the peak value against a threshold.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detecting further comprises:
determining a ratio of a peak value of a sample in an output obtained from the correlating to an average value of off-peak samples in the output; and
checking the ratio against a threshold.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising:
entering into an inactive state if the predefined sequence is not detected.
9. A method comprising:
transmitting bits modulated with a first predefined sequence of a plurality of predefined sequences by a first medical transceiver;
detecting the first predefined sequence by a second medical transceiver when the second medical transceiver enters into an active state; and
performing a predetermined action if the first predefined sequence is detected.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising:
determining the plurality of predefined sequences based on autocorrelation and cross-correlation properties.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9 and further comprising:
dividing a location comprising multiple first medical transceivers into cells;
assigning a predefined sequence of the plurality of predefined sequences for modulating the bits for association to the cells; and
assigning other predefined sequences of the plurality of predefined sequences to the cells for modulating bits for a predefined function, wherein no two adjacent cells have a similar predefined sequence for modulating the bits for the predefined function.
12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detecting comprises:
detecting the first predefined sequence at a physical layer of the second medical transceiver.
13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein performing the predetermined action comprises:
determining presence of a signal for association if the first predefined sequence is detected.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13 and further comprising:
processing the signal for association; and
sending an acknowledgment based on the processing.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 and further comprising:
transmitting information identifying a predefined sequence of the plurality of predefined sequences that the first medical transceiver will use to transmit data.
16. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein performing the predetermined action comprises one of:
determining presence of a poll signal if the first predefined sequence is detected; and
determining presence of a signal for data transfer if the first predefined sequence is detected.
17. A system comprising:
a medical implant transceiver comprising
a radio frequency receiver that receives a signal;
a demodulator that demodulates bits of the signal modulated with a predefined sequence;
a correlator that correlates the signal with the predefined sequence to detect the predefined sequence, that determines presence of the signal in the channel.
18. The system as claimed in claim 17 and further comprising:
a medical controller transceiver comprising
a predefined sequence spreader that spreads the bits with the predefined sequence;
a modulator that modulates the bits with the predefined sequence; and
a radio frequency transmitter that transmits the bits.
19. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the medical implant transceiver further comprises:
a peak-to-off-peak signal to noise ratio detector that detects the predefined sequence.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of automated fault analysis and execution of post-flight or pre-flight tests for an aircraft having an onboard maintenance test client system, the method comprising:
establishing a data communication session with the onboard maintenance test client system after the aircraft has landed, the data communication session using at least one wireless data communication link;
receiving, at a ground-based maintenance test server system, diagnostic data from the onboard maintenance test client system during the data communication session;
thereafter, generating a test checklist for the aircraft, wherein content of the test checklist is influenced by the diagnostic data, and wherein the test checklist is generated by the ground-based maintenance test server system;
thereafter, transmitting the test checklist from the ground-based maintenance test server system to the onboard maintenance test client system during the data communication session;
thereafter, receiving a test report at an air traffic control system, the test report comprising results of maintenance tests specified on the test checklist, wherein the maintenance tests are performed onboard the aircraft in response to receiving the test checklist from the ground-based maintenance test server system;
reviewing the test report at the air traffic control system to determine that the aircraft is flight worthy;
in response to determining that the aircraft is flight worthy, sending an approval message from the air traffic control system to an airlines operations center; and
in response to the approval message, sending a takeoff approval message from the airlines operations center to the onboard maintenance test client system.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of preparing a fault analysis report from the diagnostic data.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of sending the fault analysis report to a maintenance personnel terminal.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of sending the fault analysis report to an airlines operations center.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving diagnostic data comprises receiving a takeoff checklist fault report, an en route checklist fault report, or a landing checklist fault report.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving diagnostic data comprises receiving central maintenance computing function (CMCF) fault information.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the diagnostic data at a location remote from the aircraft.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein content of the test checklist is influenced by the characteristics of the aircraft.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein content of the test checklist is influenced by an airline associated with the aircraft.
10. A method of automated fault analysis and execution of post-flight or pre-flight tests for an aircraft, the method comprising:
establishing a data communication session between an onboard maintenance test client system and a ground-based system after the aircraft has landed, the data communication session using at least one wireless data communication link;
sending diagnostic data from the onboard maintenance test client system to the ground-based system during the data communication session;
thereafter, obtaining a test checklist for the aircraft from the ground-based system, wherein content of the test checklist is influenced by the diagnostic data, and wherein the test checklist is obtained at the onboard maintenance test client system; and
thereafter, completing at least one test specified in the test checklist, and generating an associated test report;
providing the test report to an air traffic control system;
reviewing the test report at the air traffic control system to determine that the aircraft is flight worthy;
in response to determining that the aircraft is flight worthy, sending an approval message from the air traffic control system to an airlines operations center; and
in response to the approval message, sending a takeoff approval message from the airlines operations center to the onboard maintenance test client system.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending diagnostic data comprises sending a takeoff checklist fault report, an en route checklist fault report, or a landing checklist fault report.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein sending diagnostic data comprises sending central maintenance computing function (CMCF) fault information.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of completing at least one test comprises automatically executing the at least one test onboard the aircraft, without human intervention during execution.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of completing at least one test comprises executing the at least one test onboard the aircraft, with human interaction during execution.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
establishing an interactive control session with a remote maintenance personnel terminal; and
controlling, with the remote maintenance personnel terminal, execution of the at least one test.
16. A system for automated fault analysis and execution of post-flight or pre-flight tests for an aircraft, the system comprising:
a maintenance test client system onboard the aircraft; and
a ground-based maintenance test server system that is remote from the aircraft;
an air traffic control system; and
an airlines operations center;
the maintenance test client system being configured to collect fault data for the aircraft, and to wirelessly transmit the fault data to the ground-based maintenance test server system after the aircraft has landed;
the ground-based maintenance test server system being configured to receive the fault data, to generate a test checklist that is influenced by the fault data, and to transmit the test checklist to the maintenance test client system;
the maintenance test client system being further configured to wirelessly receive the test checklist, to initiate execution of at least one test specified in the test checklist, and to generate a test report that includes results of the at least one test specified in the test checklist;
the maintenance test client system being further configured to provide the test report to the air traffic control system;
the air traffic control system being configured to review the test report to determine that the aircraft is flight worthy, and to send an approval message to the airlines operations center; and
the airlines operation center being configured to respond to the approval message by sending a takeoff approval message to the onboard maintenance test client system.
17. The system of claim 16, further comprising line replaceable units (LRUs) onboard the aircraft, wherein the maintenance test client system cooperates with the LRUs to execute the at least one test.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the maintenance test client system and the LRUs automatically execute the at least one test onboard the aircraft, without human intervention during execution.
19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a maintenance personnel terminal that is remote from the aircraft, wherein the maintenance test client system establishes an interactive control session with the maintenance personnel terminal, and wherein the maintenance personnel terminal is configured to remotely control execution of the at least one test.