Open system protocols for aviation data link applications

Discusses the advantages to the aviation data link community of employing "open system" design in the data link communications system architecture. The two candidate open system protocols, ATN and Internet, have been outlined and compared against a set of criteria for aviation data link applications. It is argued that the Internet protocols should be selected as the communications framework for aviation data link. A design for inter-operating the Internet protocols over the existing VDL-2 subnetwork has been proposed and outlined. It appears to provide all the benefits of the Internet open system approach while simultaneously supporting the ATN (if desired). Future work in this area clearly involves finishing the development and prototyping of the VDL-2/LP DLP design. Internet DLP designs for other aviation data link subnetworks need to be developed.