METHODS AND DEVICES FOR AUTOMATED DOWNLOADING OF SOFTWARE, IN AN APPARATUS SUCH AS AN AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING THE UPDATING OF THE ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTATION

• US 20100235289A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus, Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus, Airbus Operations SL (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Frayssignes, Anne, Ordy, Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 9,075,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/304
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales

Abstract

The invention in particular has as an object methods and devices for automated uploading of software, in a piece of equipment such as an aircraft, comprising the updating of the associated documentation. After having received (125) an indication relating to a modification of a software application, a command making it possible to perform the required updating automatically is transmitted (160) to a piece of equipment comprising this software application. In response, an indication relating to the execution of the command is received (165) and a report of execution of the command is transmitted to the manufacturer in order to allow it to update the documentation of the piece of equipment accordingly.

Claims

1. Computer method for automated updating of at least one software application, in a piece of equipment, comprising the updating of a documentation associated with the said piece of equipment, the said updating of the said at least one software application being controlled by a computer system of the operator of the said piece of equipment, separate from the said piece of equipment, according to at least one indication relating to a modification of the said at least one software application, received from a computer system of a manufacturer of the said piece of equipment separate from the said computer system of the said operator and of the said piece of equipment, the said documentation being updated by the said manufacturer according to the updating of the said at least one software application performed in the said piece of equipment, this method being characterized in that it is implemented in the said computer system of the said operator and in that it comprises the following steps,

receiving (300) the said at least one indication relating to the said modification of the said at least one software application;

transmitting (325) to the said piece of equipment at least one command making it possible to perform automatically the said updating of the said at least one software application;

receiving (330) from the said piece of equipment at least one indication relating to the execution of the said at least one command; and

transmitting (345) a report of execution of the said at least one command to the said computer system of the said manufacturer,

the said report of execution allowing the manufacturer to update the said documentation of the said piece of equipment in response to the said updating of the said at least one software application actually performed in the said piece of equipment.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, further comprising the following steps,

transmitting (310) a request comprising a reference to the said at least indication relating to the said modification of the said at least one software application in order to obtain a description of the said at least one command;

and

receiving (315) the said description of the said at least one command.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a step of receiving the said updated documentation.

9. Computer program comprising instructions adapted for implementing each of the steps of the method according to any one of the preceding claims when the said program is run on a computer.

4. Computer method for automated updating of at least one software application, in a piece of equipment, comprising the updating of a documentation associated with the said piece of equipment, the said updating of the said at least one software application being controlled by a computer system of the operator of the said piece of equipment, separate from the said piece of equipment, according to at least one indication relating to a modification of the said at least one software application, received from a computer system of a manufacturer of the said piece of equipment separate from the said computer system of the said operator and the said piece of equipment, the said documentation being updated by the said manufacturer according to the updating of the said at least one software application performed in the said piece of equipment, this method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps,

receiving (400) at least one command making it possible to perform automatically the said updating of the said at least one software application, the said at least one command being received from the said computer system of the said operator;

executing (410) the said at least one command;

producing (420) a report of execution of the said at least one command; and

transmitting (440) the said report of execution to the said computer system of the said manufacturer,

the said report of execution allowing the said manufacturer to update the said documentation of the said piece of equipment in response to an updating of the said at least one software application actually performed in the said piece of equipment.

5. Method according to the preceding claim according to which the said report of execution is transmitted (345) to the said computer system of the said manufacturer via a system of the said operator.

6. Method according to claim 4 or claim 5 according to which the said at least one command comprises a command for uploading at least one software component.

7. Method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a step of validating (435) the said updating of the said at least one software application.

8. Method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, further comprising a step of updating a copy of the said documentation stored in the said piece of equipment.

10. Aircraft comprising means adapted for implementing each of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, the said piece of equipment corresponding to the said aircraft.