Systems and methods to distribute an aircraft operations communication (AOC) application to communication components in a vehicle

• US 10,666,764 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Judd, Thomas D., Hill, Kathryn Bates, McGuffin, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US15/089,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20170289309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 709220, 370331, 370316, 455431, 455 302, 455 73, 703 28, 342 36
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/06 Digital input from, or digital output to, record carriers , e.g. RAID, emulated record carriers or networked record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A system to distribute an Aircraft Operations Communication (AOC) application is provided. The system includes communication components in a vehicle, and an AOC database. The communication components include one of: a Communication Management Unit (CMU); or a Communication Management Function (CMF); and at least one of: at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and at least one cabin terminal. The AOC database includes an operational configuration for aircraft operations communication for the communication components in the vehicle. The AOC database is loaded into at least one of: the CMU, the CMF, the at least one EFB; the at least one cabin terminal; and a database device. The AOC database configures the operation of the communication components in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system to distribute an Aircraft Operations Communication (AOC) application, the system comprising:

communication components in a vehicle, the communication components including

one of a Communication Management Unit (CMU) and a Communication Management Function (CMF); and

at least one of at least one electronic flight bag (EFB) and at least one cabin terminal; and

an AOC database, which includes an operational configuration for aircraft operations communication for the communication components in the vehicle, the AOC database distributed to at least one of the CMU, the CMF, the at least one EFB, the at least one cabin terminal, and a database device;

wherein the distributed AOC database is used to at least one of share and allocate the AOC application to the communication components in the vehicle and configure the operation of associated communication components in the vehicle;

wherein the one of the CMU or the CMF includes a master AOC in which the AOC database is loaded;

wherein the at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal includes a respective at least one proxy AOC;

wherein the master AOC is communicatively coupled to the at least one proxy AOC to distribute the AOC application based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the proxy AOC;

wherein the AOC application is distributed to the master AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the master AOC;

wherein the at least one proxy AOC provides access to the EFB data on the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal to the one of the CMU or the CMF; and

wherein the at least one proxy AOC sends datalink messages to a human machine interface (HMI) of the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the AOC database configures the operation of the communication components in the vehicle for at least one of:

defining message formats for the communication components in the vehicle;

displaying of uplinks in the communication components in the vehicle;

displaying of uplinks in a cockpit display in the vehicle;

displaying on an EFB display;

interacting with the EFB HMI;

displaying on a cabin terminal display;

interacting with the cabin terminal HMI;

displaying of downlinks in the communication components in the vehicle;

displaying of data content;

downlinking of messages from the communication components in the vehicle; and

uplinking of messages to the communication components in the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one proxy AOC in the at least one of:

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal is communicatively coupled to;

a human machine interface (HMI) of the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal, the HMI including a display; and

an access in the at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal to an external communication system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the CMU or the CMF includes a communication management unit (CMU) AOC, a router, an access to at least one external communication system;

and an interface to a human machine interface/display in the cockpit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the CMU or the CMF includes a master AOC in which the AOC database is loaded, a router, and an access to at least one external communication system;

and wherein the at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal in the vehicle includes a respective at least one;

proxy AOC, a human machine interface, a display, and an access to one of the at least one external communication systems.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the CMU or the CMF includes a communication management unit (CMU) AOC in which a first AOC database is loaded, and

wherein the at least one of:

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal includes a respective at least one EFB AOC in which a respective at least one second AOC database is loaded,

wherein the CMU AOC is communicatively coupled to the at least one EFB AOC and to a human machine interface/display in the cockpit,

wherein the CMU AOC distributes the AOC application based on the operational configuration of the one of the CMU or the CMF,

wherein the at least one EFB AOC distributes the AOC application based on the operational configuration of the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the AOC database is loaded in the database device, wherein the database device is communicatively coupled to the one of the CMU or the CMF, wherein the AOC database distributes the AOC application to the one of the CMU or the CMF based on the operational configuration of the respective one of the CMU or the CMF.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one of the CMU or the CMF includes a master communication management unit (CMU) AOC,

wherein the at least one of:

the at least one EFB; and

the at least one cabin terminal includes a respective at least one proxy EFB AOC, wherein the master CMU AOC is communicatively coupled to the at least one proxy EFB AOC to distribute the AOC application based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the at least one proxy EFB AOC,

wherein the at least one proxy EFB AOC provides access to the EFB data on the at least one proxy EFB to the one of the CMU or the CMF,

wherein the at least one proxy AOC sends datalink messages to the at least one EFB human machine interface (HMI); and

wherein the AOC application is distributed to the master CMU AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the master CMU AOC.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the database device is also communicatively coupled to the at least one of:

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal in the vehicle, wherein the AOC database distributes the AOC application to the at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal based on the operational configuration of the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of:

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal in the vehicle includes;

at least one cockpit EFB in a cockpit of the vehicle; and

at least one cabin EFB in a cabin of the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of:

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal in the vehicle includes at least one of;

at least one cockpit EFB in a cockpit of the vehicle; and

at least one cabin terminal in a cabin of the vehicle.

12. A method to distribute an Aircraft Operations Communication (AOC) application in a vehicle, the method comprising:

distributing at least one AOC database into at least one of a database device in the vehicle; and

communication components in the vehicle, the communication components including;

one of a Communication Management Unit (CMU) and a Communication Management Function (CMF); and

at least one of at least one electronic flight bag (EFB) and at least one cabin terminal;

using the distributed at least one AOC database to at least one of share and allocate the AOC application to the communication components in the vehicle;

wherein the at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal includes a respective at least one proxy AOC, and wherein loading the at least one AOC database into at least one of;

the database device in the vehicle; and

the at least one communication component in the vehicle, comprises;

loading the at least one AOC database into a master communication management unit (CMU) AOC in one of the CMU or the CMF, the method further comprising;

distributing the AOC application to the master CMU AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the master AOC;

communicatively coupling the master CMU AOC to the at least one proxy EFB AOC; and

distributing the AOC application from the master CMU AOC to the proxy EFB AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the proxy EFB AOC.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein loading the at least one AOC database into at least one of:

the database device in the vehicle; and

the at least one communication component in the vehicle, comprises;

loading the AOC database into the database device;

distributing the AOC application to the CMU AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the one of the CMU or CMF;

distributing the AOC application to the at least one EFB AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal; and

communicatively coupling the CMU AOC to the at least one EFB AOC for data sharing and sending datalink messages.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the CMU AOC is a master CMU AOC, and the at least one EFB AOC is at least one proxy EFB AOC, wherein distributing the AOC application to the at least one EFB AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the respective at least one of:

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal comprises;

distributing the AOC application to the at least one proxy EFB AOC via the master CMU AOC.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein configuring the operation of the communication components in the vehicle based on the AOC database comprises:

configuring the operation of the communication components in the vehicle to;

define message formats for the communication components in the vehicle;

display uplinks in the communication components in the vehicle;

display interfaces for human-machine interfaces for downlinks in the communication components in the vehicle;

display data and message content;

downlink messages from the communication components in the vehicle; and

uplink messages to the communication components in the vehicle.

16. A method to distribute an Aircraft Operations Communication (AOC) application in a vehicle, the method comprising:

distributing at least one AOC database into at least one of

a database device in the vehicle; and

communication components in the vehicle, the communication components including;

one of a Communication Management Unit (CMU) and a Communication Management Function (CMF); and

at least one of at least one electronic flight bag (EFB) and at least one cabin terminal; and

using the distributed at least one AOC database to at least one of share and allocate the AOC application to the communication components in the vehicle;

wherein the one of;

the CMU;

or the CMF includes a first AOC database, wherein the at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal includes a respective at least one other AOC database, and wherein loading the at least one AOC database into at least one of;

the database device in the vehicle; and

the at least one communication component in the vehicle, comprises;

loading the first AOC database into a communication management unit (CMU) AOC into the one of the CMU or CMF;

distributing the AOC application to the CMU AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the one of the CMU or CMF;

loading the at least one other AOC database into a respective at least one EFB AOC in the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal;

distributing the AOC application to the at least one EFB AOC based on the operational configuration of the Aircraft Operations Communication for the respective at least one of;

the at least one electronic flight bag (EFB); and

the at least one cabin terminal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

communicatively coupling the CMU AOC to the at least one EFB AOC for data sharing and sending datalink messages.