Microserver adapter for an avionics box

• US 20080119968A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Loda, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• 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: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A modular adapter is attachable to an avionics box of an aircraft to enable network communication between the avionics box and other avionics boxes or controllers on the aircraft, local computing devices, and/or remote computing devices or remote servers in an external network, such as an Internet. The adapter includes a microserver module having a web-based server, a computer processor and memory, a data-over-power module configured to connect to a power connector that delivers power to the avionics box and transmits data to the microserver module, a connector module configured to plug into a power port of the avionics box such that power delivered by the power connector passes through the adapter to the avionics box, and a test port connector configured to plug into a test port of the avionics box. The test port connector enables the microserver module to access data from and send data to the avionics box.

Claims

1. A modular adapter attachable to an avionics box of an aircraft to enable network communication between the avionics box and other avionics boxes or controllers on the aircraft, the adapter comprising:

a microserver module having a web-based server, a computer processor and memory;

a data-over-power module configured to connect to a power connector that delivers power to the avionics box and transmits data to the microserver module;

a connector module configured to plug into a power port of the avionics box such that power delivered by the power connector passes through the adapter to the avionics box; and

a test port connector configured to plug into a test port of the avionics box, wherein the test port connector enables the microserver module to access data from and send data to the avionics box.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the power connector is attached to an electrical wire that delivers power to the avionics box and delivers power and data to the microserver module.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the data-over-power module includes a circuit board that filters data from the power connector.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the microserver module, the data-over-power module and the connector module are each configured to pass power from the power connector through to the power port of the avionics box.

5. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the test port connector, the data-over-power module and the connector module are each configured to allow data to pass through.

6. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the microserver module is connected to the data-over-power module, and the microserver module utilizes a portion of the power deliverable from the power connector to the avionics box.

7. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the test port connector extends from the connector module.

8. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter further comprises a wireless communications device configured to enable wireless communication between a computing device and the adapter.

9. The adapter of claim 8 wherein the wireless communications device is configured to create a local wireless network in and around the adapter and the avionics box.

10. The adapter of claim 8 wherein the wireless communications device is configured to connect to a remote network to enable wireless communication between the computing device and the adapter.

11. The adapter of claim 10 wherein the computing device is local to the adapter or remote from the adapter.

12. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter further comprises a communications port configured to enable a local computing device to plug into the communications port to communicate with the microserver adapter and access data from the avionics box.

13. The adapter of claim 12 wherein the communications port is selected from a group consisting of a USB port and an Ethernet port

14. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the adapter further comprises a databus module configured for connecting to an existing databus network on the aircraft and accessing data from the existing databus network.

15. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the databus network on the aircraft is selected from a group consisting of ARINC 429, MIL 1553 and Ethernet.

16. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the databus module is configured to access data in an ARINC 429 format or a MIL 1553 format and translate the data into an Ethernet format.

17. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a fourth module selected from a group consisting of an RFID-reader module, an additional memory storage module, a module for additional computer processing, a wireless communications module, and a module having a communications port.

18. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the microserver module is configured to process and store data from the avionics box.

19. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the microserver module is configured to monitor power delivered to the avionics box as a function of time.

20. A microserver adapter insertable between an avionics box on an aircraft and a power connector used to deliver electrical power to the avionics box, the adapter comprising:

a microserver having a web based server and a computer processor;

means for receiving data sent through an electrical wire attached to the power connector;

means for passing power delivered by the electrical wire through the adapter to the avionics box; and

means for communicating with the avionics box, wherein the microserver stores and processes data from the avionics box.

21. The microserver adapter of claim 20 wherein the means for communicating with the avionics box includes a connector configured to plug into a test port of the avionics box.

22. The microserver adapter of claim 20 wherein the avionics box is a subsystem controller of the aircraft.

23. The microserver adapter of claim 22 wherein the subsystem controller is selected from a group consisting of an engine controller, an auxiliary power unit controller, an electrical distribution system controller, and an environmental control unit controller.

24. The microserver adapter of claim 20 further comprising:

means for using the electrical wire to send data from the microserver to other microservers located on the aircraft.

25. The microserver adapter of claim 20 further comprising:

means for creating a local wireless network around the avionics box.

26. The microserver adapter of claim 25 wherein the local wireless network enables a local computing device to wirelessly access data stored on the microserver.

27. The microserver adapter of claim 20 further comprising:

means for plugging a local computing device into the adapter.

28. The microserver adapter of claim 27 wherein means for plugging a local computing device into the adapter includes a USB port and/or an Ethernet port.

29. The microserver adapter of claim 20 further comprising:

means for connecting with an existing network on the aircraft.

30. An assembly for establishing a communications network on an aircraft having a plurality of avionics boxes, the assembly comprising:

a central microserver that creates a wireless system around the aircraft;

a plurality of wires configured for distributing power generated on the aircraft to the various avionics boxes;

a plurality of adapters, wherein each adapter is configured to connect to each avionics box and communicate with other adapters and the central microserver, each adapter comprising;

a subsystem microserver having a web based server and a computer processor;

means for passing power generated on the aircraft through to the avionics box;

means for using the wires for a two-way transmittal of data between the subsystem microservers and the central microserver; and

means for two-way communication between the microserver and the avionics box.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the central microserver includes a communication module that enables remote communication with the subsystem microservers through a global Internet.

32. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the central microserver enables local communication with the subsystem microservers through a local Internet.

33. The assembly of claim 30 wherein means for passing power generated on the aircraft through to the avionics box includes a module configured to connect to a power port of the controller.

34. The assembly of claim 30 wherein means for using the wires for a two-way transmittal of data includes a data-over-power module for filtering out data transmitted through the wires.

35. The assembly of claim 30 wherein means for two-way communication between the microserver and the avionics box includes a test port connector configured to plug into a test port of the avionics box.

36. The assembly of claim 30 wherein each adapter further comprises means for connecting to an existing databus network on the aircraft.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein the databus network is selected from a group consisting of ARINC 429, MIL 1553, and Ethernet.

38. The assembly of claim 30 wherein each adapter further comprises means for communicating wirelessly with the adapter.

39. The assembly of claim 30 wherein each adapter further comprises means for plugging a local computing device into the adapter.

40. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the subsystem microserver of each adapter stores and processes data from the avionics box.

41. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the subsystem monitors and measures power delivered to the avionics box.

42. A method of modifying an aircraft to create a communications network on the aircraft, the method comprising:

installing a central microserver on the aircraft to create a wireless system around the aircraft;

attaching an adapter to an avionics box on the aircraft, wherein the adapter includes a subsystem microserver for storing and processing data from the avionics box; and

using wires configured for delivering power to the avionics box to transmit data between the master microserver and the adapter.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

attaching a second adapter to a second avionics box, wherein the second adapter includes a second subsystem microserver and is configured to communicate with the first adapter and the central microserver.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

accessing data remotely from the avionics box through the central microserver and a global Internet.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

accessing data wirelessly from the avionics box using a local computing device.

46. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

communicating remotely with the avionics box through the central microserver and a global Internet.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein the adapter includes a plurality of modules configured to be easily inserted and easily removed from the adapter.

48. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

connecting the central microserver to a controller of an electrical distribution system on the aircraft.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein at least one power bus on the aircraft is connected to the electrical distribution system controller.

50. A kit for assembling a modular adapter configured to attach to an avionics box on an aircraft and facilitate network communication between the avionics box and other avionics boxes and controllers on the aircraft, the kit comprising:

a microserver module having a first end and a second end;

a set of connector modules, wherein each connector module has a first end attachable to a power port of the avionics box and a second end attachable to the microserver module, and the set includes various configurations of connector modules for attaching the first end of the module to one of a plurality of configurations for the power port; and

a set of data-over-power modules, wherein each data-over-power module has a first end attachable to the microserver module and a second end attachable to a power connector for delivering power to the avionics box, and the set includes various configurations of data-over-power modules for attaching the second end of the module to one of a plurality of configurations for the power connector.

51. The kit of claim 50 further comprising:

a set of test port connectors, wherein each test port connector has a first end attachable to a test port of the avionics box and a second end attachable to a connector module or a microserver module, and the set includes various configurations of test port connectors for attaching the first end of the connector to one of a plurality of configurations for the test port.

52. The kit of claim 50 further comprising a set of supplemental modules, wherein each supplemental module is configured to easily be inserted between the connector module and the microserver module.

53. The kit of claim 52 wherein the set of supplemental modules are selected from a group consisting of an RFID-reader module, a module for additional memory storage, a module for additional computer processing, a wireless communications module, and a module having a communications port.

54. The kit of claim 50 further comprising a databus module configured to be inserted between the microserver module and the data-over-power module, wherein the databus module facilitates communication between the microserver and a databus network on the aircraft.