Fiber Optic Ethernet for Aviation Intercommunications System Voice Transmission

"TechnoSys, Inc., proposes to develop a unique interface and network topology thatwill allow the use of the standard Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet protocols to be used in a distributed network composed of point-to-point connections. A Distributed Ethernet Adapter (DEA,implemented at each network node will perform the translation between Ethernet and the distributed network. The DEAs and point-to-point connections between nodes allow the central Hub or Switch presently required for all Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet systems to be eliminated and a more aircraft-compatible cable routing to be implemented. Several candidate Ethernet Adapter approaches have been conceived and are based on Bus, Ring, and Mesh topologies, with routing variations using Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) techniques.The Phase I effort will evaluate and compare the candidate concepts and determine feasibility, taking into account any negative effects on real-time voice transmission, relative cost, availability of components, size, power, and relative reliability. The distribution media is assumed to be implemented as point-to-pointfiberoptic. The Adapter itself will be a mix of electrical and fiber optic elements, dependingon the candidate approach. A significant part of the Phase I effort will be devoted to the evaluation of state-of-the art fiber components. The Gigabit Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) market is expected to increase from800K u