Automated tactical datalink translator

• US 20070133601A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Maleport, Joel, Resnik, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/467
• 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 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

An automated system for translating datalink information and producing a computer code based on the translated datalink information. The computer code may subsequently be used to establish datalink communications between pieces of equipment having different communication protocols. The automated production of computer code reduces time and errors during software development for applications used in communicating between different datalinks.

Claims

1. A method for providing automated data translations for use in datalink communications, the method comprising:

storing specification requirements for a plurality of datalinks in a data storage medium;

selecting datalink information to be translated by a translator;

converting the selected datalink information into metadata using the specification requirements for an associated datalink;

assigning identifiers to the metadata;

matching the metadata according to like identifiers;

translating the metadata into a standardized format; and

generating a computer code using the metadata for use in datalink communications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting specification information occurs using a graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting datalink information to be translated occurs using a graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising combining the computer code with an application code to form an executable application.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising loading the executable application onto at least two pieces of equipment.

6. The method of claim .1, wherein the translation step utilizes a plurality of conversion factors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of conversion factors are stored in the data storage medium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data storage medium is a database.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the specification requirements are tactical datalink definitions.

10. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer readable program for providing automated data translations for use in datalink communications, said computer readable program being configured to operate a computer to:

store specification requirements for a plurality of datalinks in a data storage medium;

select datalink information to be translated by a translator;

convert the selected datalink information into metadata using the specification requirements for an associated datalink;

assign identifiers to the metadata;

match the metadata according to like identifiers;

translate the metadata into a standardized format; and

generate a computer code using the metadata for use in datalink communications.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprising combining the computer code with an application code to form an executable application.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 further comprising loading the executable application onto at least two pieces of equipment.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the data storage medium is a database.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the specification requirements are tactical datalink definitions.

15. A system for generating an executable application for use in datalink communications, the system comprising:

a database for storing specification requirements for a plurality of datalinks;

a translator for converting the selected datalink information into metadata using the specification requirements for an associated datalink and generating a computer code using the metadata;

an application code for supplementing operation of the computer code; and

a compiler for combining the computer code and application code to form an executable application.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the translator matches the metadata according to assigned terms.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising a graphical user interface for inputting specification information and selecting datalink information to be translated.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the executable application is loaded onto at least two pieces of equipment.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein a plurality of conversion factors are stored in the database.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the converting step and generating step are automated.