METHODS AND APPARATUS PROVIDING AN AIRBORNE E-ENABLED ARCHITECTURE AS A SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS

• US 20070183435A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Moore, Daniel, Jacobs, Michael, Royalty, Charles, Kettering, Christopher, Hunter, Freelon, Toolson, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/604 Hybrid IP/Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212

Abstract

A network architecture for implementation in a vehicle is described that comprises an Ethernet gateway module (EGM) and network interface module (NIM). The EGM comprises an Ethernet switch and router therein and is configured to provide an open data network (ODN) connection to the network architecture for a plurality of open data network devices. The NIM is configured to provide an isolated data network and comprises an Ethernet switch to connect a plurality of secure devices to an isolated data network (IDN), the secure devices related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, a router and a gateway/router. The router is configured to interface the IDN to the open data network connections and comprises a packet filtering function to determine which, if any, data from the ODN may be passed through to the IDN and applied to operation and navigation of the vehicle via the secures devices connected to the IDN. The gateway/router provides network address and protocol translation to connect the IDN to a secure common data network associated with vehicle operation. The architecture provides segregation between network devices in the IDN and CDN related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, and network devices in the ODN.

Claims

1. A network architecture for implementation in a vehicle, said network architecture comprising:

an Ethernet gateway module (EGM) comprising an Ethernet switch and router therein, said EGM configured to provide an open data network (ODN) connection to said network architecture for a plurality of open data network devices; and

network interface module (NIM) configured to provide an isolated data network, said NIM comprising;

an Ethernet switch to connect a plurality of secure devices to an isolated data network (IDN), the secure devices related to operation and navigation of the vehicle;

a router configured to interface the IDN to the open data network connections, said router comprising a packet filtering function to determine which, if any, data from the ODN may be passed through to the IDN and applied to operation and navigation of the vehicle via the secures devices connected to the IDN; and

a gateway/router providing network address and protocol translation to connect the IDN to a secure common data network (CDN) associated with vehicle operation, said architecture providing segregation between network devices in the IDN and CDN related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, and network devices in the ODN.

2. A network architecture according to claim 1 wherein said Ethernet switch and router are configured to isolate data received from at least one of a wireless device and a broadband satellite device from other devices hosted on the ODN and from systems hosted on the IDN.

3. A network architecture according to claim 1 further comprising a controller service module, said controller service module configured to provide network management services to the ODN and to provide fault reporting across the IDN.

4. A network architecture according to claim 3 wherein the IDN is configured to provide the fault reports to a common data network (CDN), the CDN configured to host an aircraft maintenance system.

5. A network architecture according to claim 1 further comprising a crew information system/maintenance system file server module, said file server module configured to:

provide at least one of data load services, file transfer services, data retention services, and maintenance control display support via a connection to the IDN; and

provide at least one of wireless device control and communications via a connection to the ODN.

6. A network architecture according to claim 5 wherein said crew information system/maintenance system file server module comprises a wireless/satellite downlink service that includes a file transfer service for managing the transfer of data from an aircraft.

7. A network architecture according to claim 5 wherein said crew information system/maintenance system file server module enables selection, by one or more aircraft systems, of at least one of a preferred wireless/satellite downlink path or a default to a preferred downlink path as determined by a downlink service within said crew information system/maintenance system file server module and a physically connected portable maintenance control display.

8. A network architecture according to claim 1 further comprising at least one crew information system/maintenance system file server module, each said file server module configured to operate as an airline selectable server.

9. A network architecture according to claim 1 wherein said network architecture comprises at least one of an electronic flight bag (EFB) and a flight deck printer, said NIM Ethernet switch configured to provide direct Ethernet wiring to said EFB and said flight deck printer, said architecture further comprising at least one direct connection between said EFB and the flight deck printer configured to address any failures of said NIM Ethernet switch.

10. A network architecture according to claim 9 wherein the direct Ethernet wiring and the IDN are configured to provide a connection to support airplane problem reports as gathered by a e-logbook system within said EFB upon a failure of said NIM Ethernet switch.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein configuring an Ethernet switch to connect external devices to an IDN further comprises:

configuring the Ethernet switch to provide direct Ethernet wiring to at least one of an electronic flight bag (EFB) and a flight deck printer; and

providing at least one direct connection between the EFB and the flight deck printer, to address any Ethernet failures.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising configuring the direct Ethernet wiring and the IDN to provide a connection to support airplane problem reports as gathered by a e-logbook system within the EFB upon a failure of the NIM Ethernet switch.

11. A method for networking components of a computer architecture, said method comprising:

configuring an Ethernet switch to connect external devices to an isolated data network (IDN);

utilizing a packet filtering function within a first router to connect external devices to an open data network (ODN);

providing network address and protocol translation with a gateway to connect the IDN to a secure common data network; and

managing the ODN utilizing a second Ethernet switch and a second router.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein managing the ODN utilizing a second Ethernet switch and a second router comprises isolating data received from at least one of a wireless device and a broadband satellite device from other devices hosted on the ODN and from systems hosted on the IDN.

13. A method according to claim 11 further comprising providing network management services to the ODN and fault reporting across the IDN utilizing a controller service module.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising configuring the IDN to provide fault reports to a common data network (CDN), which is configured to host an aircraft maintenance system.

15. A method according to claim 11 further comprising:

providing at least one of data load services, file transfer services, data retention services, and maintenance control display support via a connection to the IDN using a crew information system/maintenance system file server module; and

utilizing the crew information system/maintenance system file server module to provide at least one of wireless device control and communications via a connection to the ODN.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising managing the transfer of data from an aircraft using a wireless/satellite downlink service within the crew information system/maintenance system file server module, the wireless/satellite downlink service including a file transfer service.

17. A method according to claim 15 further comprising configuring the crew information system/maintenance system file server module to enable selection, by one or more aircraft systems, of at least one of a preferred wireless/satellite downlink path or a default to a preferred downlink path as determined by a downlink service within the crew information system/maintenance system file server module and a physically connected portable maintenance control display.

18. A method according to claim 11 further comprising configuring at least one crew information system/maintenance system file server module to operate as an airline selectable server:

21. An airplane network architecture comprising:

a plurality of avionics devices;

an Ethernet gateway module (EGM); and

network interface module (NIM) comprising;

an Ethernet switch to connect external devices to an isolated data network (IDN);

a router comprising a packet filtering function to connect the IDN to an open data network (ODN) managed by said EGM; and

a gateway/router providing network address and protocol translation to connect the IDN to a secure avionics common data network (CDN), said EGM comprising an Ethernet switch and router for managing the ODN, at least a portion of said avionics devices connected to one or both of the IDN and the ODN to satisfy at least one of avionics network service requirements, avionics device isolation requirements, and avionics device availability requirements.

22. An airplane network architecture according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of avionics devices comprises an electronic flight bag (EFB) and a flight deck printer, said network architecture comprising:

direct Ethernet wiring between said EFB and said flight deck printer; and

a connection between said EFB and said flight deck printer provided through the IDN switch, said network architecture providing an ability for problem reports to be offloaded from the airplane in the event of one or more of a wireless/broadband satellite failure, an IDN failure, and an ODN failure.

23. An airplane network architecture according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of avionics devices comprises at least one physically connected maintenance control display.

24. An airplane network architecture according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of avionics devices comprises at least one crew information system/maintenance system file server module connected to both the IDN and the ODN to provide data load services to systems, file transfer and data retention services.

25. An airplane network architecture according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of avionics devices comprises at least one crew information system/maintenance system file server module configured as an airline-selectable optional server.