Scalable On-Board Open Data Network Architecture

• US 20070127460A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wilber, George, Brossard, Regan
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/602 Multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching
• 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

Abstract

An embodiment of an open data network system facilitates communication between applications related to operation of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, and re-use of components in different systems and implementations. A switch/router communicates data between on-board systems. A server communicates with the switch/router and provides at least one of processing services and storage services to the on-board systems via the switch/router. A network manager communicates with the switch/router to direct the switch/router in selectively allowing access between the on-board systems. In other embodiments, an avionics interface unit communicates with the switch/router and enable communications between at least one avionics system and at least one of the on-board systems. Other embodiments selectively enable on-board systems to communicate with a ground-based network to provide communications between the aircraft and a stakeholder in the operation of the aircraft while isolating flight-critical avionics and flight communications systems from the open data network.

Claims

1. An open data network system for facilitating communication for systems on board a vehicle, comprising:

a switch/router operable to communicate data between on-board systems;

a server operable to communicate with the switch/router and provide at least one of processing services and storage services to the on-board systems via the switch/router; and

a network manager in communication with the switch/router, wherein the network manager is configured to direct the switch/router in selectively allowing access between the on-board systems.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes an aircraft.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an avionics interface unit operable to communicate with the switch/router and enable communications between at least one avionics system and at least one of the on-board systems.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the on-board systems include at least one of:

a flight deck services system operable to support applications usable by a member of a flight crew in one of operating and maintaining of the aircraft;

a maintenance services system operable to support maintenance of the on-board systems;

a cabin services system operable to support applications usable by a member of a cabin crew in one of managing and providing services to passengers; and

a passenger services system operable to provide one of in-flight entertainment and communications services to the passengers.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the on-board systems are grouped into logical units including at least one of virtual local area networks and sub-nets, wherein the switch/router communicates data between the plurality of on-board systems by communicating the data between the logical units.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the cabin services system and the passenger services system are accessible by devices using at least one of:

wired communications; and

wireless communications.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising an avionics network operable to communicate data relating to flight-critical operations from at least one of the avionics system and the flight deck services system with a flight communications system, wherein the avionics network operates independently of the switch/router and other on-board systems.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising at least one firewall situated between selected on-board systems to isolate the selected on-board systems from each other.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the on-board systems includes a communications system operable to provide data communications with a ground-based network, wherein at least one of the on-board systems communicates with the ground-based network via the communications system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the ground-based network includes at least one of:

a public network;

a private network; and

a global Internet.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the communications system facilitates data communications via the ground-based network between at least one of the on-board systems and a stakeholder in the operation of the aircraft including at least one of:

an industry partner involved in operation of the aircraft;

an airport;

an airline operating the aircraft;

an aircraft manufacturer responsible for at least one of manufacturing and maintaining the aircraft; and

a network service accessible via the network.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of computer software layers including an application layer, at least one service layer, and a hardware layer, wherein the at least one service layer coordinates services for the application layer such that changes in the application layer and the hardware layer are performable independently of changes to other layers.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes one of:

a spacecraft;

a marine vessel;

a train; and

a land vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a vehicle control interface unit operable to communicate with the switch/router and selectively enable communications between at least one vehicle control system and at least one of the on-board systems.

15. A system for facilitating communication between on-board systems of an aircraft and between at least one of the on-board systems and a ground-based network, comprising:

a communications system operable to provide data communications between the on-board systems and the ground-based network;

a control system operable to selectively communicate data at least one of;

between a plurality of the on-board systems; and

at least one of the on-board systems and the communications system;

a server system operable to communicate with the control system and provide at least one of processing services and storage services to the on-board systems;

an avionics interface unit operable to selectively communicate data between an avionics system and at least one of the on-board systems and the communications system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the on-board systems include at least one of:

a flight deck services system operable to support applications usable by a member of a flight crew in one of operating and maintaining of the aircraft;

a maintenance services system operable to support maintenance of the on-board systems;

a cabin services system operable to support applications usable by a member of a cabin crew in one of managing and providing services to passengers; and

a passenger services system operable to provide one of in-flight entertainment and communications services to the passengers.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising an avionics network operable to communicate data relating to flight-critical operations from at least one of the avionics system and the flight deck services system with a flight communication system, wherein the avionics network operates independently of the switch/router and other on-board systems.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the ground-based network includes at least one of:

a public network;

a private network; and

a global Internet.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the communications system facilitates data communications via the ground-based network between at least one of the on-board systems and a stakeholder in operation of the aircraft including at least one of:

an industry partner involved in operation of the aircraft;

an airport;

an airline operating the aircraft;

an aircraft manufacturer responsible for at least one of manufacturing and maintaining the aircraft; and

a network service accessible via the network.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of computer software services layers including an application layer, at least one service layer, and a hardware layer, wherein the at least one service layer coordinates services for the application layer such that changes in the application layer and the hardware layer are performable independently of changes to other layers.

21. A method, comprising:

joining in a network on board an aircraft;

a plurality of on-board systems, each of which are configured to provide services to at least one of a flight crew, a cabin crew, and passengers;

a server operable to provide one of processing and storage services to at least one of the on-board systems; and

a ground communications system operable to communicate data between at least one of the on-board systems and a ground-based network;

selectively permitting data communications over the network between the on-board systems, the server, and the ground communications system; and

isolating at least one flight-critical avionics system and a flight communications system from the network, wherein the flight-critical avionics system communicates with a ground system via the flight communications system independent of the network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the on-board systems include at least one of:

a flight deck services system operable to support applications usable by a member of a flight crew in one of operating and maintaining of the aircraft;

a maintenance services system operable to support maintenance of the on-board systems;

a cabin services system operable to support applications usable by a member of a cabin crew in one of managing and providing services to passengers; and

a passenger services system operable to provide one of in-flight entertainment and communications services to the passengers.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating data via the ground communications system between at least one of the on-board systems and a ground-based network to at least one stakeholder in the operation of the aircraft, wherein the stakeholder includes to at least one of:

an industry partner involved in operation of the aircraft;

an airport;

an airline operating the aircraft;

an aircraft manufacturer responsible for at least one of manufacturing and maintaining the aircraft; and

a network service accessible via the network.