Selective multi-modal transmission alteration

Abstract

System and methods for an interface alteration device placed between a first segment and a second segment of a communication line of a vehicle. The interface alteration device identifies portions of an incoming data stream that are to be transmitted to a second interface alteration device and causes the identified portions to be transmitted to the second interface alteration device; identifies portions of the incoming data stream that are to be replaced by data received over a data link from the second interface alteration device; and generates an outgoing data stream that is a replicate of the incoming data stream except that the portions of the incoming data stream identified to be replaced are replaced with the corresponding data received from the second interface alteration device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interface alteration device configured to be placed between a first segment and a second segment of a communication line of a vehicle, the interface alteration device comprising:
 a transceiver configured to establish a wireless data link between the interface alteration device and a second interface alteration device so as to wirelessly transmit and receive data to and from the second interface alteration device;   a first port configured to receive an incoming data stream from the first segment of the communication line, the incoming data stream entering with a signal protocol;   an interface alteration processor configured to:
 identify portions of the incoming data stream that are to be transmitted to the second interface alteration device and cause the identified portions to be transmitted to the second interface alteration device by the transceiver; 
 identify portions of the incoming data stream that are to be replaced by data received over the data link from the second interface alteration device; and 
 generate an outgoing data stream that is a replicate of the incoming data stream except that the portions of the incoming data stream identified to be replaced are replaced with the corresponding data received from the second interface alteration device; 
   a second port configured to transmit the outgoing data stream onto the second segment of the communication line at a point in time after the incoming data stream is received at the first port that is less than or equal to a total allowed delay of the signal protocol.   
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 a first interface alteration device as recited in  claim 1 ; and   a second interface alteration device as recited in  claim 1 , a wireless data link being established between the first and second interface alteration devices via the respective transceivers of the first and second interface alteration devices;   wherein the portions of the incoming data stream identified to be transmitted by the interface alteration processor of the first interface alteration device and transmitted by the transceiver of the first interface alteration device are configured to comprise control inputs;   wherein the transceiver of the second interface alteration device is configured to receive the control inputs transmitted by the first interface alteration device;   wherein the portions identified to be replaced of the incoming data stream of the second interface alteration device are configured to comprise control inputs such that the control inputs of the second interface alteration device are replaced with the received control inputs of the first interface alteration device in the outgoing data stream of the second interface alteration device.   
     
     
         3 . The system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the control inputs transmitted from the first interface alteration device to the second interface alteration device are control inputs generated by a pilot. 
     
     
         4 . The system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first interface alteration device is positioned in a proxy vehicle and the second interface alteration device is positioned in a remote vehicle such that the remote vehicle is controllable by the proxy vehicle through the first and second interface alteration devices. 
     
     
         5 . The system recited in  claim 4  wherein the remote vehicle is controllable by a pilot positioned in the proxy vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system recited in  claim 4 , wherein the remote vehicle and the proxy vehicle are aircraft. 
     
     
         7 . The system recited in  claim 2 ,
 wherein the portions of the incoming data stream identified to be transmitted by the interface alteration processor of the second interface alteration device and transmitted by the transceiver of the second interface alteration device are configured to comprise monitoring outputs at the second interface alteration device;   wherein the transceiver of the first interface alteration device is configured to receive the monitoring outputs transmitted by the second interface alteration device; and   wherein the portions identified to be replaced of the incoming data stream of the first interface alteration device are configured to comprise monitoring outputs such that the monitoring outputs of the first interface alteration device are replaced with the received monitoring outputs of the second interface alteration device in the outgoing data stream of the first interface alteration device.   
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a remote vehicle from a proxy vehicle comprising:
 establishing a wireless data link between a first interface alteration device in a proxy vehicle and a second interface alteration device in a remote vehicle;   at the first interface alteration device:
 at a first initial time, receiving a first incoming data stream from a first segment of a communication line of the proxy vehicle using a signal protocol, 
 determining a first portion of the first incoming data stream to be transmitted to the second interface alteration device; 
 transmitting the first portion to the second interface alteration device using the wireless data link; 
   at the second interface alteration device:
 receiving the first portion from the first interface alteration device; 
 at a second initial time, receiving a second incoming data stream from a first segment of a communication line of the remote vehicle using the signal protocol; 
 determining a second portion of the second incoming data stream to be replaced by the first portion received from the first interface alteration device; 
 transmitting a first outgoing data stream onto a second segment of the communication line of the remote vehicle, the first outgoing data stream being a replicate of the second incoming data stream except that the second portion is replaced with the first portion received from the first interface alteration device. 
 wherein the first outgoing data stream is transmitted at a point in time after the second initial time that is less than or equal to a total allowed delay associated with the signal protocol. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein the first and second portions comprise vehicle control inputs. 
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle control inputs are generated by actions of a pilot in the proxy vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein determining the first portion of the first incoming data stream comprises:
 identifying an evaluation portion of the first incoming data stream based on the signal protocol; and   analyzing the evaluation portion of the first incoming data stream to determine the first portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein determining the second portion of the second incoming data stream comprises:
 identifying an evaluation portion of the second incoming data stream based on the signal protocol; and   analyzing the evaluation portion of the second incoming data stream to determine the second portion.   
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein the transmission of the first outgoing data stream on the second segment of the communication line of the remote vehicle is started before the evaluation portion of the second incoming data stream has been completely received on the first segment of the communication line of the remote vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at the first interface alteration device:
 generating altered data for the first portion of the first incoming data stream; and 
 transmitting a second outgoing data stream onto a second segment of the communication line of the proxy vehicle, the second outgoing data stream being a replicate of the first incoming data stream except that the first portion is replaced with the corresponding altered data. 
 wherein the second outgoing data stream is transmitted at a point in time after the first initial time that is less than or equal to the total allowed delay associated with the signal protocol. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at the second interface alteration device:
 receiving a third incoming data stream from the first segment of the communication line of the proxy vehicle using the signal protocol, 
 determining a third portion of the third incoming data stream to be transmitted to the first interface alteration device; 
 transmitting the third portion to the first interface alteration device using the wireless data link; 
   at the first interface alteration device:
 receiving the third portion from the second interface alteration device; 
 at a second initial time, receiving a fourth incoming data stream from the first segment of the communication line of the proxy vehicle using the signal protocol; 
 determining a fourth portion of the fourth incoming data stream to be replaced by the third portion received from the second interface alteration device; 
 transmitting a second outgoing data stream onto a second segment of the communication line of the proxy vehicle, the second outgoing data stream being a replicate of the fourth incoming data stream except that the fourth portion is replaced with the third portion received from the second interface alteration device. 
 wherein the second outgoing data stream is transmitted at a point in time after the second initial time that is less than or equal to the total allowed delay associated with the signal protocol. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 15 , wherein the third and fourth portions comprise vehicle monitoring outputs. 
     
     
         17 . The method recited in  claim 8 , wherein the remote vehicle and the proxy vehicle are aircraft.