1. The Future of PETAL Technology
Frank O’Connor ATN th September 2001

2. PETAL-II Datalinks NEAN ATN FANS-1/A Maastricht SAS, Lufthansa
SRA, ANZ, UAL, DLH,
QFA, SIA, ACA, COA
SAS, Lufthansa
American Airlines
NEAN
(VDLM4)
ATN
(VDLM2)
FANS-1/A
(ACARS)
Maastricht

3. ATN Concept ATN is a Mobile Aviation Internetwork which
Provides Communications support for ATC and AOC traffic
Interconnects Airborne and Ground Systems
Provides High Availability, Prioritisation and other features required to support ATC traffic
Provides a strategy for Integration of different types of Networks
Integrates with and complements existing network infrastructure
Re-uses existing products and technology
ATN also Defines a set of CNS/ATM specific applications

4. ATN Distinguishing Features
Mobile Routing
Enhanced End-to-End Data Integrity
Priority and Pre-emption
Traffic Type (Security Parameter) Identification
Policy Based Routing
Air/Ground Datalink Compression
Bit-Oriented Application Support using condensed Packed Encoding Rules (PER)
Certified Software

5. ATN Technology Origins
International Standards Based
OSI was Governmental Standard when ATN Standards Development began
Re-Use where Practical
Existing Standards and Technologies
Existing Infrastructure and Products
Extend Standards where Necessary
Air/Ground Segment
Mobility
End-to-End Reliability
CNS/ATM Specific Applications

6. ATN Unique Protocols and Standards
ATN Application Service Elements for: CM
CPDLC
ADS
Mobile SNDCF and associated IS-SME
Connected Oriented (v8208) Network Circuit between Airborne Router and Ground System

7. ATN Re-use/Extension to Standards (cont.)
ATN Addressing Plan to provide unique addressing for ATN Airborne and Ground Systems
ATN Router (Intermediate System) Protocols
Networking Protocols adapted to support Mobile Internet
OSI Routeing Exchange Protocols Extended to support Mobility, Prioritisation and Traffic Types
IDRP (Inter-Domain Routeing Protocol)
ES-IS (End-System to Intermediate System Protocol)
CLNP (Connectionless Network Protocol) extended to support traffic type and prioritisation
v8208 (8208 extended for VDL use)
Policy Based Routing

8. ATN Re-use/Extension to Standards
ATN End-System Protocols
Provide the Airborne and Ground Applications with an ATN Interface to enable communication between them
Dialogue Service Specified over Fast Byte Upper Layer Communications Services
Transport Protocol(COTP/CLTP) enhanced to provide end-to-end integrity, and traffic type support

9. Why IP is not used instead of OSI
OSI was a Governmental Standard when ATN Development started
OSI has some advantages but a change to TCP/IP would be a major cost that cannot be technically or economically justified
New SARPS would need to be developed
IP Protocols would need to be extended in the same way as OSI to provide Mobility, End-to-End Integrity …..
Certified Products would need to be developed

10. ATN Datalink Components in PETAL
Avionics Systems
VDL Mode-2 Ground Infrastructure
Maastricht ATC Systems

11. PETAL ATN Datalink Components
Rockwell Collins Avionics
CMU
Airborne
Router
Air ATS
ES Stack
CM/CPDLC
Apps.
VDR
Mode-2
VDL-M2
Gnd Station
Maastricht
Gnd/Gnd
Router
Air/Gnd
Router
Gnd/Gnd
Router
Gnd ATS
ES Stack
FDPS
ARINC VDLM2
Ground Infrastructure

12. Avionics Systems Rockwell Collins CMU-900 VDR (Mode-2) MCDU
Airborne ATN Router
Airborne End-System Stack
CM/CPDLC Applications
VDR (Mode-2)
MCDU

13. Airborne Router
Establishes/Releases Mobile Connections to Air/Ground Routers over Available Sub-networks
Relays Data between the Aircraft and Air/Ground Routers, handling compression
ATN/OSI Technology include:
Mobile Routeing Protocols
IS-SME
ES-IS
IDRP
CLNP (Connectionless Network Protocol)
Mobile SNDCF
v8208 Sub-network Support

14. Airborne End-System Stack
Provides the Airborne Applications with an ATN Interface to enable communications with the Ground System Applications
ATN/OSI Technology include:
CM & CPDLC ASEs (Application Service Elements)
Upper Layer Communications Services
COTP (Connection Oriented Transport Protocol)

15. VDL Mode-2 Ground Infrastructure
VDL M2 Ground Stations
ATN Air/Ground Routers
ATN Ground/Ground Routers
Infrastructure Interconnections

16. VDL Mode-2 Ground Stations
Controls the Establishment/Release of VDL Links between Airborne and Ground Radios
Integrates the Ground VDRs with the Ground Networks by acting as a bridge
Interfaces with the Air/Ground Routers
ATN/OSI Technology:
v8208 to provide connection-oriented VDL network link
8208 to provide connection to Air/Ground Router

17. Air/Ground Routers
Keeps track of Aircraft connected to it and handles Mobility and Hand-over between Aircraft
Propagates Routing Information using IDRP
Relays Data between Aircraft and Ground Network
ATN/OSI Technology:
Mobile Routeing Protocols
IS-SME
ES-IS
IDRP
CLNP (Connectionless Network Protocol)
Mobile SNDCF
8208 Sub-network Support

18. Ground/Ground Routers
Propagates Routing Information for Aircraft and Ground system throughout Network using IDRP
Relays Data between Ground Systems
ATN/OSI Technology:
IDRP Routeing Protocols
CLNP (Connectionless Network Protocol)
8208 and other Sub-network Support

19. Infrastructure Interconnections
Interconnections between Ground systems such as VDL Ground Stations, Ground/Ground Routers and End-System was accomplished using existing networks and products.
The networks used include:
IP and OSI LANs
X.25
Other underlying networks used by telecom service providers

20. Maastricht ATC Systems
ATIF Ground/Ground Router
ATIF End System Stack
Flight Data Processing System

21. Maastricht ATIF Ground/Ground Router
Propagates Routing Information to/from External Networks
Relays Data between Ground ATC Centre and External Networks
ATN/OSI Technology:
IDRP Routeing Protocols
CLNP (Connectionless Network Protocol)
8208 and other Sub-network Support

22. Maastricht ATIF End-System Stack
Provides the ATC Applications with an ATN Interface to enable communications with the Aircraft Applications
ATN/OSI Technology include:
CM & CPDLC ASEs (Application Service Elements)
Upper Layer Communications Services
COTP (Connection Oriented Transport Protocol)
CLNP (Connectionless Network Layer)

23. Airtel ATN’s Involvement
Airtel ATN was originally part of Retix, an OSI COTS Software Supplier
Retix Supplied OSI Software for Early ATN Prototype such as EURATN
Retix developed the TAR, TTS and Airborne TAR for Eurocontrol in support of ATIF and European ADS Trails based on Re-Use of COTS Software
Airtel developed Airborne CM, CPDLC and ADS applications used in pre-PETAL trials
TAR, TTS and Airborne TAR/TTS used in pre-PETAL trails on QinetiQ (DERA) BAC-111 and at Eurocontrol (Bretigny) site

24. Airtel ATN’s Involvement (cont.)
The Extended and Enhanced Retix OSI COTS software is incorporated into the following PETAL systems:
Rockwell Collins CMU-900 ATN Router and Upper Layer Communication Services
ARINC Air/Ground and Ground/Ground ATN Router Software
ProATN Ground/Ground Routers and End-Systems used in the Maastricht centre

25. Future Direction of ATC Datalink Technologies
Co-existence of ATN/IP
IP and ATN Traffic sharing same networks and datalinks where permitted
IP used for Airline and Passenger Communications
Standardised IP Sub-network to enable use of existing public and private IP networks within the ATN
Additional Sub-Network Support
VDLM4/VDLM3 as ATN Sub-Networks
Spread Spectrum CDMA
SATCOM Broadband Network
Wireless LAN Gatelink

26. Future Direction of ATC Datalink Technologies (cont.)
Security
Utilise Industry Standard PKI (Public Key Encryption) Techniques, Procedures and Products
Authentication of Mobile Systems (Aircraft) by DSP and ATSO
End-to-End Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure