VIRTUAL HOST ISOLATION AND DETECTION OF EMBEDDED OPERATIONAL FLIGHT PROGRAM (OFP) CAPABILITIES

• US 20090240856A1
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth E. Williams, Robin H. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Kenneth E. Williams, Robin H. Lewis
• Inventors: Williams, Kenneth E., Lewis, Robin H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,948,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

The present invention relates to an object oriented architecture that includes a plurality of host aircraft interface objects that enable a plurality of different host aircraft or variants to be attached or interfaced to an associated store, such as a targeting pod or a weapon system. The union of all aircraft hosts and variants are packaged and maintained as one executable capable of adapting to the predetermined suite of identified hosts and host variants. At least one or more interface objects provide a virtual translation layer which is dynamically determined and allocated during instantiation. Auto detection of the host aircraft/host aircraft variant provides the specific interface protocol by which the store can process and provide status via a predetermined signal format.

Claims

11-1. An apparatus according to claim 11 where the host system is an aircraft.

12. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the host aircraft includes a plurality of variants.

19. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the associated store is a targeting pod and the host aircraft includes a plurality of variants.

14. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the targeting pod includes a FLIR, a digital video module and a recorder.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 where the targeting pod further includes a laser control module and a navigation module.

18. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the message translator translates the control data from the host system into a functionally mapped software architecture for the associated store.

20. An apparatus according to claim 20 where the first processor processes predetermined and unique interface protocol attributes relating to message size and type of host sub-addresses to identify a correct host variant.

23. A host, which is a weapons, or targeting or tracking platform, configured to operate with multiple associated stores, which are weapon, or targeting or tracking units, the host comprising:

a common interface that attaches the host to one of a plurality of associated stores;

at least a first processor that detects the associated store via the common interface;

a communication control interface that controls communications with the detected associated store;

a message translator that translates messages received by the host system via the interface; and

at least one module that is responsive to the first processor and communicates with the associated store.