Method, device and computer program for the automatic installation or uninstallation of software modules on equipment on board an aircraft

• US 20140282491A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Baraldi, Thierry, Barsse, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,471,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/62 Uninstallation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

The automatic installation and uninstallation of software modules on equipment on an aircraft. For each reference of an obtained list of references of software modules to be installed or uninstalled, resolution rules linked to an operation associated with the software module in question are identified. The rules comprise at least one reference to an operation of installing or uninstalling at least the software module in question and a list of actions to be performed. For each reference on the obtained list, a list of references of operations to be carried out is determined depending on the obtained list and the identified resolution rules. A list of actions to be performed is determined depending on the list of references of operations to be carried out and the identified resolution rules. At least one referenced action on the list of actions to be performed is executed by calling a specific software agent.

Claims

1. A method for installing or uninstalling, for a central loading system, at least one software module on an on-board item of equipment of a system comprising a plurality of on-board items of equipment, the equipment being separate from the centralized loading system, at least one operation being associated with said at least one software module, the centralized loading system comprising a management module, a resolution engine and an actions execution module, said method comprising the following steps,

obtaining, by the management module, a list of at least one reference of a software module to be installed or uninstalled;

for each software module reference on the obtained list,

identifying, by the resolution engine, resolution rules linked to an operation associated with the software module in question, said resolution rules comprising at least one reference to an operation of installation or uninstallation of at least the software module in question on an on-board item of equipment of said system and a list comprising at least one reference of an action to be performed and

determining, by the resolution engine, a list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out depending on said obtained list and said identified resolution rules;

determining, by the resolution engine, a list of at least one reference of an action to be performed depending on said list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out and said identified resolution rules; and

executing, by the actions execution module, at least one referenced action on said list of at least one reference of a determined action to be performed, the execution of said at least one referenced action calling a software agent specific to an item of equipment separate from the central loading system.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of verifying, by the resolution engine, the completeness of said obtained list of at least one reference of a software module to be installed or uninstalled depending on said identified resolution rules.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of:

identifying, by the resolution engine, at least one missing software module necessary for the installation or uninstallation of said at least one software module, no reference to said at least one missing software module appearing on said obtained list of at least one reference of a software module to be installed or uninstalled, and a step of

adding, by the management module, a reference to said at least one missing software module to said obtained list of at least one reference of a software module to be installed or uninstalled.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining, by the resolution engine, a list of at least one reference of an achievable operation, said at least one reference of an achievable operation belonging to said list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out.

5. The method according to claim 1, also comprising a step of determining, by the resolution engine, a list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out after all the other operations for which a reference is included on said list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out have been completed.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of generating, by the management module, a summary of the operations for which a reference is included on said list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out have been completed.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of validation by a user.

8. A computer program for the installation or uninstallation of at least one software module on an on-board item of equipment of a system comprising a plurality of on-board equipment, at least one operation being associated with said at least one software module, the computer program comprising instructions suitable for implementing each of the following steps:

obtaining a list of at least one reference of a software module to be installed or uninstalled;

for each reference of a software module on the obtained list,

identifying resolution rules linked to an operation associated with the software module in question, said resolution rules comprising at least one reference to an operation of installation or uninstallation of at least the software module in question on an on-board item of equipment of said system and a list comprising at least one reference of an action to be performed, and

determining a list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out depending on said obtained list and said identified resolution rules;

determining a list of at least one reference of an action to be performed depending on said list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out and said identified resolution rules; and

executing at least one referenced action on said list of at least one reference of a determined action to be performed, the execution of said at least one referenced action calling a software agent specific to an item of equipment when said program is executed in a centralized loading system separate from said equipment.

9. A device for installing or uninstalling, for a centralized loading system, at least one software module on an on-board item of equipment of a system comprising a plurality of on-board items of equipment, the equipment being separate from the centralized loading system, at least one operation being associated with said at least one software module, the device comprising a microprocessor configured to run each of the following steps:

obtaining a list of at least one reference of a software module to be installed or uninstalled;

for each reference of a software module on the obtained list,

identifying resolution rules linked to an operation associated with the software module in question, said resolution rules comprising at least one reference to an operation of installation or uninstallation of at least the software module in question on an on-board item of equipment of said system and a list comprising at least one reference of an action to be performed and

determining a list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out depending on said obtained list and said identified resolution rules;

determining a list of at least one reference of an action to be performed depending on said list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out and said identified resolution rules; and

executing at least one referenced action on said list of at least one reference of a determined action to be carried out, the execution of said at least one referenced action calling a software agent specific to an item of equipment separate from the central loading system.

An aircraft comprising a device for installing or uninstalling, for a centralized loading system, at least one software module on an on-board item of equipment of a system comprising a plurality of on-board items of equipment, the equipment being separate from the centralized loading system, at least one operation being associated with said at least one software module, the device comprising a microprocessor configured to run each of the following steps;

obtaining a list of at least one reference of a software module to be installed or uninstalled;

for each reference of a software module on the obtained list,

identifying resolution rules linked to an operation associated with the software module in question, said resolution rules comprising at least one reference to an operation of installation or uninstallation of at least the software module in question on an on-board item of equipment of said system and a list comprising at least one reference of an action to be performed and

determining a list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out depending on said obtained list and said identified resolution rules;

determining a list of at least one reference of an action to be performed depending on said list of at least one reference of an operation to be carried out and said identified resolution rules; and

executing at least one referenced action on said list of at least one reference of a determined action to be carried out, the execution of said at least one referenced action calling a software agent specific to an item of equipment separate from the central loading system.