at&t wireless services aviation communications division air to ground data communications
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AT&T Wireless Services Aviation Communications Division Air to Ground Data Communications e Plane Service WAEA Technical Committee February 16, 2000. Email Overview. Internet E-mail Transport - SMTP Access Proprietary POP3 IMAP4 E-mail In the Airborne Environment Transport and Access - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AT&T Proprietary and Confidential
AT&T Wireless ServicesAviation Communications Division
Air to Ground Data Communications
ePlane Service
WAEA Technical Committee
February 16, 2000
AT&T Proprietary and Confidential
Email Overview
• Internet E-mail– Transport - SMTP– Access
• Proprietary
• POP3
• IMAP4
• E-mail In the Airborne Environment– Transport and Access
– Limitations• Bandwidth• Security• Operational Realities
• ePlane Service in North America - AT&T’s Approach
AT&T Proprietary and Confidential
E-mail Basics - The Big Picture
UAUA
EmailServer
AccessPOP-3IMAP-4
Proprietary
AccessTRANSPORTSMTP
Message FormatFile System Structure
INTERNET
MTAMTA
MTA
MessageStore
Client Server
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Internet E-mail
• Transport – SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
– The Internet standard that governs how e-mail messages are sent from site to site.
– Requests For Comment (RFCs) cover:• Message Size Declarations
• Delivery Status Notifications
• Authentication and Error Codes
• Other Rules & Conventions Governing SMTP
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E-mail BasicsAccess - Models
MessageStore
Client
Server
UA
ServerServer
Offline Online Disconnected
Client Client
Updates
Message
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Internet E-mail
• Access– Proprietary access will include POP3 & IMAP4
protocols but may use other messaging technologies besides IP (Eudora, MS Outlook).
– POP3 - Post Office Protocol, provides an off-line access model.
– IMAP4 - Internet Message Access Protocol, provides online & disconnect access model
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PROs and CONsPROTOCOL PRO CON
Proprietary Added features Archiving Hierarchical Address books
Locked into a vendor
POP3 Mature technologyWidely supportedUbiquitous
Off-line modeNo address books
IMAP4 Online modeWidely implementedAllows files syncEfficient messaging
No address books
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E-mail BasicsAccess - Protocols
Protocol Access Mode Function Provided Internet Support
POP-3 Offline Selective download of messages from message store to user’scomputer
All ISP
Selective message delete from message store inboxBasic synchronization between inbox and user’s computer
IMAP-4 Disconnected Hierarchical mail boxes on message store Some ISPAccess several mail boxes simultaneouslyFetch message body and attachments (MIME integration)Fetch message status, header and structureStore, copy and move messages on message store
Online Change message status on message storeSearch mail boxes for particular message headings
Proprietary All three Same as IMAP-4 Requires gatewayAddress books, including mailing listsMessage notification
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Email In the Airborne Environment
• Transport– Always Will Involve an RF Off-Aircraft Link
– Will Require Gateways to Airborne Servers via Satcom, Terrestrial and Gatelink Methodologies
– Will Use Ground-Based IP Network
• Access– Passengers May Use Airborne Telephony, IFE or Other Cabin
Distribution Systems.
– Access Likely to Support “Core” Standard Interfaces (Physical Layer & Logical Layer)
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Limitations of Email In the Airborne Environment
• Bandwidth– Legacy IFE Architectures May Have Limited Throughput– Off-Aircraft Link May Limit Large Attachments (May Not Be a
Strong Limitation with Future Satcom Technologies)
• Security– Corporate “Firewall” Is A Policy Problem - Security Protocols
(IPSEC & SSL) Not Universally Adopted
• Operational Realities– The “Flight Level 100” Problem
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Potential Aircraft Email & Internet Applications
Operations
• Electronic Logbook• Weather• FOQA• Weight Data• Departure Reports• A/C Position• OOOI Reports• 615 Data Loader
– FMS– ACMS
• Fault Reports• Gate Assignment• Engine Data• Crew Scheduling
Cabin Mgmt
• Connecting Gates• Cabin Logbook• Frequent Flyer /
Customer Profile• On-Board Inventory• Systems Info &
Troubleshooting• Departure Reports• Briefings• Customer Service• FA Comm System• Financial Rpts• Cabin Discrepancy
Log (CDL)• Catering Reports• Baggage/Asset
Tracking
Customer Service / IFE
• Transaction Processing• Sports Scores• Connecting Gates• Service Selections• RES Access• Reservations• On-Board Info Service• Real-Time Info Service• Messaging Service• Marketing Tracking• Surveys / Comments• Shopping• Games / Gaming• Advertising• www.com
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AT&T’s Approach
ePLANE Service in North America
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Airborne Data Server Architecture
Pilot Station Cabin Mgt Station Maintenance Terminal
On-Board Distribution System
Airborne Data Server (ADS)
Ethernet
IFE Ctrl/Server
Gatelink
Ethernet/Token Ring/RS485ACARS
FMCACMSDFDAU/QARIRS/INS/GPSCMC
Aircraft Systems
CTU/496
Ethernet
BRI/CEPT
A429
A429
CDS
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NATS Network Architecture
Airborne Data Server (ADS)
ADS Gatelink Possibilities
CDPDTether -Ethernet,FDDI
WirelessLAN
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Airline Data Center Concept
X.25/ Frame Relay
Int ernet
ACM Functionality:CommunicationsSecurityData RoutingNetwork Management
802.11POTS LAN
Airborne Communications Manager (ACM)
Gatelink
AT&T Data Hub
Remote Dial Up Access
Legacy SystemsClient Server Environment
ACM
Internal TCP/IP
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Communications Management Functions
Airborne & Ground-Based Capabilities
Stack layers provide the following functionality:• Router API - provides application access to communications channels.
Includes:
– service request validation
– File System interface
– call statistics collection – call detail records (CDR)
• Data Router - provides data routing (application-to-application, both on-board aircraft and off-aircraft). Includes:
– request queuing (by priority and arrival time)
– link selection (terrestrial/satellite/on-board)
– addressing
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Communications Management Functions
Airborne & Ground-Based Capabilities• Convergence - provides protocol conversion, when required. Also provides:
– data encryption/decryption
– data compression (and decompression)
• PAD - provides basic packet service for off-aircraft communications. Includes:
– data fragmentation and re-assembly
– TCP packet assembling and dissembling
– X.25 packet assembling and disassembling
– packet routing
– call control
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Remember…..
• Email Is A Complex & Widely Used Technology– “End-to-End” Solutions Are Preferred - Solutions Must Be
Found For the Airborne and Ground Segments – Standards-Based Solutions Are Recommended– Useful For Airlines Operations As Well As A Passenger
Amenity– Users Must Understand The Limitations– Technology Alone Will Not Provide The Complete Solution