Proxy Server for Distributing Aircraft Software Parts

• US 20090138518A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Rodgers, Michael K., Beck, Walter R., Walker, Olga C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing aircraft software parts. In one advantageous embodiment, a method includes retrieving a set of aircraft software parts and metadata about the set of aircraft software parts from a library in an aircraft network data processing system to form a set of retrieved aircraft software parts. The set of aircraft software parts is stored in a file system. Metadata is stored in a database. The set of aircraft software parts and the metadata is sent to an onboard electronic distribution system, a communications link between an on ground component interface, and the onboard electronic distribution system. Status information about activity on the communications link is maintained.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for managing aircraft software parts, the computer implemented method comprising:

retrieving a set of aircraft software parts and metadata about the set of aircraft software parts from a library in an aircraft network data processing system to form a set of retrieved aircraft software parts;

storing the set of aircraft software parts in a file system;

storing the metadata in a database;

sending the set of aircraft software parts and the metadata to an onboard electronic distribution system, a communications link between an on ground component interface, and the onboard electronic distribution system; and

maintaining status information about activity on the communications link.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the status information to the library.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the status information comprises an identification of whether an aircraft software part in the set of aircraft software parts is ready for installation in a line replaceable unit on an aircraft.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of aircraft software parts is a first set of aircraft software parts, the metadata is first metadata, the onboard electronic distribution system is a first onboard electronic distribution system and the communications link is a first communications link and further comprising:

sending a second set of aircraft software parts and second metadata to a second onboard electronic distribution system through a second communications link between the on ground component interface and the second onboard electronic distribution system simultaneously with sending the set of aircraft software parts and the metadata to the onboard electronic distribution system.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a set of commands from the library to form a received set of commands;

sending the received set of commands to a second onboard electronic distribution system through a second communications link between the on ground component interface and the second onboard electronic distribution system.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the set of commands comprises at least one of a delete command and a downlink command.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving downlink data through the second communications link between the on ground component interface and the second onboard electronic distribution system;

storing the downlink data in the file system to form stored downlink data; and

sending the stored downlink data to the library.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a file system;

a database;

a set of aircraft software parts stored in the file system;

a set of commands stored in the database;

an on ground component capable of exchanging information with a plurality of onboard electronic distribution systems on a plurality of aircraft;

a control process, wherein the control process is capable of receiving the set of commands and the set of aircraft software parts from a library and sending the set of commands and the set of aircraft software parts to the plurality of aircraft; and

a data processing system, wherein the file system, the database, the set of aircraft software parts, the set of commands, the on ground component, and the control process are software components on the data processing system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control process is further capable of sending the set of commands and the set of aircraft software parts to a software management tool on a portable data processing system.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the on ground component is capable of receiving downlink data and storing the downlink data in the file system.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control process is capable of transferring the downlink data from the file system to the library.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an aircraft software part in the set of aircraft software parts is received in a crate from the library.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is located at an airport or a maintenance facility.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable media;

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for retrieving a set of aircraft software parts and metadata about the set of aircraft software parts from a library in an aircraft network data processing system to form a set of retrieved aircraft software parts;

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for storing the set of aircraft software parts in a file system;

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for storing the metadata in a database;

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for sending the set of aircraft software parts and the metadata to an onboard electronic distribution system, a communications link between an on ground component interface, and the onboard electronic distribution system; and

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for maintaining status information about activity on the communications link.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for sending the status information to the library.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the status information comprises an identification of whether an aircraft software part in the set of aircraft software parts is ready for installation in a line replaceable unit on an aircraft.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the set of aircraft software parts is a first set of aircraft software parts, the metadata is first metadata, the onboard electronic distribution system is a first onboard electronic distribution system and the communications link is a first communications link and further comprising:

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for sending a second set of aircraft software parts and second metadata to a second onboard electronic distribution system through a second communications link between the on ground component interface and the second onboard electronic distribution system simultaneously with sending the set of aircraft software parts and the metadata to the onboard electronic distribution system.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising:

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for receiving a set of commands from the library to form a received set of commands;

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for sending the received set of commands to a second onboard electronic distribution system through a second communications link between the on ground component interface and the second onboard electronic distribution system.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the set of commands comprises at least one of a delete command and a downlink command.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising:

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for receiving downlink data through the second communications link between the on ground component interface and the second onboard electronic distribution system;

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for storing the downlink data in the file system to form stored downlink data; and

program code, stored on the computer readable media, for sending the stored downlink data to the library.