Method and apparatus to support remote and automatically initiated data loading and data acquisition of airborne computers using a wireless spread spectrum aircraft data services link

• US 20020111720A1
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Richard Lee, William Holst
• Original Assignee: David Richard Lee, William Holst
• Inventors: Holst, William, Lee, David Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,671,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4028 the transportation system being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

The system and method of the present invention provides automated electronic switching and control for data uploading of software in the form of operational programs, operational configuration or databases, collection of S/W configuration information from the various loadable avionics (but not limited to avionics) subsystems and download data between those subsystems and the ARINC 615-3 or 615A data load applications. The data load applications can be resident in existing ARINC 615 Airborne, Portable or PC-based data loaders or an optional ARINC 763 type on-aircraft Network Server System. The invention'"'"'s real-time Linux based platform is also capable of hosting any data load application. The switch interface unit can be either manually controlled as a standalone replacement for existing rotary switches installed on Boeing aircraft, or remotely controlled when integrated into an ARINC 763 type Network Server System such as the Aircraft Data Services ink (ADSL). The switch interface unit functions as the aircraft system selector in the Data Load/Configuration system. The invention is line replaceable, and has many advantages over the existing manual rotary switch. The unit'"'"'s design meets and exceeds the current data load interfacing requirements for avionics equipment.

Claims

1. A method to route and remotely upload software updates to ARINC 615 compliant LRUs on an aircraft which comprises:

Connecting all avionics computers that accept ARINC 615 operational program software, operational program configuration files and performance databases to an electronic apparatus which provides a means to complete an electrical connection between said apparatus and any loadable target on-aircraft computer for the purpose of uploading software files remotely or by means of commands stored in said apparatus;

Initiating a software upload, software upload request or configuration request to the electrical apparatus from an on-board or ground-based network client, said apparatus in the form of a server/router/switch with display capability, installed in the flight deck compartment of an aircraft;

Converting received ARINC 615 communication from a loadable target computer as a result of a software upload, to a standard network-based protocol such as TCP/IP for storage of pertinent feedback information and further transmission to requesting network clients, this information comprising of;

Updated software part number or part numbers generated and transmitted by the target LRU or LRUs to the apparatus upon successful completion of a software upload and collected and stored in the electrical apparatus, whereby the software upload, software upload request or configuration request is initiated by network devices including;

a) remote client devices operatively connected to the aircraft LAN using wired Ethernet, fiber-optic connectivity or a cabin or aircraft wireless spread spectrum connection configured as an wireless access point,

b) remote client devices operatively connected to the airport WAN, typically located in an appropriate ground-based network operations center, which provides data content for subscribing aircraft.

2. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the polling of all aircraft computers connected to the apparatus, wherein the most recent configuration information in the form of software part numbers is collected and stored by said apparatus.

3. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the automatic configuration and compatibility checking of installed software loads on an individual aircraft basis, wherein the results of those checks are generated into reports, including a formatted quality assurance, maintenance operations or service provider'"'"'s electronic report and transmitted across networks to be stored and delivered to selected network components with routable IP addresses.

4. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the accessing of a repository of a software upload intended for a specific aircraft LRU to include any available WAN node operatively connected to the aircraft LAN, wherein a verifiable copy which passes all on-aircraft compatibility checks is accessible and routable to the target LRU by way of the apparatus.

5. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising the converting of ARINC 615 handshaking data words received by the apparatus from the target LRU to a network protocol such as TCP/IP, wherein the data loader application is not resident on the apparatus, but in another aircraft LAN component operatively connected to said apparatus.

6. A method to initiate and route an ARINC 615 download of software information from the ARINC 615 compliant LRUs on an aircraft which comprises:

Capturing operational and maintenance data generated and stored in individual LRUs, utilizing ARINC 615 data download commands transmitted from the apparatus and initiated from any authorized network client, said data including;

a) triggered flight performance reports and raw parametric flight data stream stored in the ACMS,

b) any other stored LRU information contained in aircraft LRUs, such as internal and interface faults, maintenance operations data and digital audio and video files stored or contained on network-enabled LRUs.

7. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the ARINC 615-3 data querying and transferring of ACMS FOQA reports to an on-aircraft storage location resident on any network addressable device and subsequent automatic transmission to a wireless ground-based node upon landing and when a connection is established with any ground-based WAN, said WAN operatively connected to the aircraft LAN using a airport wireless spread spectrum link.

8. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the manipulation and reduction of the raw fault data and subsequent report generation within the apparatus or any other downstream network component, including an on-board network server, ground-based server associated with a network operations center or any number of wireless and wired remote clients connected to the ground-based WAN, said WAN operatively connected to the aircraft LAN using a airport wireless spread spectrum link.

9. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the automatic routing of collected LRU data based on customer modifiable triggering criteria or upon the apparatus or optional network server receiving a request initiated by a remote network client.

10. A method according to claim 6, and further comprising the ARINC 615A data querying, transferring and routing of data from ARINC 615A loadable systems, said systems establishing communication with the apparatus through a network Ethernet hub or switch.

11. An apparatus for manually and remotely activating ARINC 615 communication with connected aircraft computers comprising of:

A software programmable electronic switch used to select a target aircraft LRU for ARINC 615-3 data uploads and downloads, said switch having;

a) A processor controlled switch interface directly connected to all loadable ARINC 615-3 LRUs,

b) TCP/IP network connectivity to a Network Server System file server or spread spectrum wireless transceiver,

c) Programmable I/O so that various configurations of aircraft data loader connections can be mapped at the unit and available for display or transmission to any authorized network client,

d) ARINC 429 transceivers used for data bus monitoring and transmission,

e) A display and programmable selection buttons to initiate actions determined by software resident on said electronic switch, including using the front panel buttons for manual control of the connections to the said switch, manual acquisition and routing of data contained in aircraft LRUs connected to said switch and enabling of a video feed from network devices such as network cameras for viewing on the apparatus display,

f) A configuration data collection tool, used for polling the aircraft LRUs for software part numbers, storage, and transmission of reports containing software part number related information to requesting network clients.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising the capability to remotely control all of the functionality of said switch from any authorized network client, including those connected to an aircraft LAN or any ground-based WAN operatively connected to said aircraft LAN using an airport wireless spread spectrum link to said aircraft.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising a switch connection function resident in said apparatus, which utilizes a directed command from the requesting network client in combination with the monitoring of the system address label (SAL) contained in the A615 header file to remotely connect the appropriate target LRU interfaces for data loading, wherein the desired task is either a software upload or download.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising an embedded ARINC 615 data loader function, capable of being controlled remotely from any authorized network client.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising a connection to all ARINC 615A LRUs through an Ethernet Hub of Switch.

16. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising device memory storage, both dynamic and flash memory.

17. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising embedded report generation software and operational configuration files, whereby a plurality of reports are generated for routing and transmission across the aircraft and ground networks, said reports including stored ACMS FOQA files, raw or consolidated LRU fault information, recorded digital video and audio files and other maintenance and configuration information available from aircraft LRUs operatively connected to said apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to claim 11, and further comprising of embedded software resident on the apparatus that provides a fault consolidation and correlation function, whereby the output of this function may be automatically routed and transmitted across the aircraft and ground networks or be controlled remotely from any authorized network client.