Transport Communication Management

• US 20140380433A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FedEx Corporation
• Original Assignee: FedEx Corporation
• Inventors: Yerger, Mark D., McFann, Ted, Slavinsky, Joseph W., Kendrick, Joshua Beckman, Struminger, Scot A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,069,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• 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: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for communicating information are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving information at a first device based on a first protocol. The information can be translated, at the first device, for communication to a second device based on a second protocol. A determination can be made as to whether the information matches a criterion associated with a transportation device. The information can be provided to the second device based on the second protocol and a determination that the information matches the criterion.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information, comprising:

receiving information at a first device based on a first protocol;

translating the information, at the first device, for communication to a second device based on a second protocol;

determining whether the information matches a criterion associated with a transportation device; and

providing the information to the second device based on the second protocol and a determination that the information matches the criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are components of an aircraft, a boat, or a ground vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises at least one of a flight management system, an aircraft condition monitoring system, and an electronic flight bag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises an update for the second device, and wherein determining whether the information matches the criterion associated with the transportation device comprises evaluating an update rule associated with the transportation device, and wherein providing the information to the second device based on the second protocol comprises applying the update to the second device based on the update rule.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the update rule specifies at least one of a timing condition for applying the update to the second device, a location condition for applying the update to the second device, and a cost condition for applying the update to the second device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the information matches the criterion associated with the transportation device comprises determining whether the information is authorized or unauthorized based on a security rule associated with the transportation device, and wherein providing the information to the second device based on the second protocol comprises providing the information to the second device according to the second protocol if the information is authorized.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol comprises at least one of an internet protocol, an Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) protocol, and an Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) protocol and the second protocol comprises at least one of a remaining protocol of the internet protocol, ARINC protocol, and the ACARS protocol.

8. A method for communicating information, comprising:

receiving information at a transportation device;

providing the information to a first network of the transportation device based on a first protocol;

analyzing the information, at a component of the first network, based on at least one of a security rule and an update rule; and

providing the information to a system element of the transportation device based on the analyzing of the information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein analyzing the information based on at least one of the security rule and the update rule comprises determining whether the information is authorized or unauthorized for the system element, wherein the information is provided to the system element if the information is authorized.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the information is provided to the system element through a second network of the transportation device based on a second protocol.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first protocol comprises at least one of an internet protocol, an Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) protocol, and an Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) protocol and the second protocol comprises at least one of a remaining protocol of the internet protocol, ARINC protocol, and the ACARS protocol.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the system element comprises at least one of a flight management system, an aircraft condition monitoring system, and an electronic flight bag.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the update rule specifies at least one of a timing condition for applying an update to the system element, a location condition for applying the update to the system element, and a cost condition for applying the update to the system element.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the information comprises an update to the system element, and further comprising verifying that the update is applied to the system element according to the update rule.

15. A transportation device, comprising:

a system element configured to assist in navigation;

a first network configured to communicate based on a first protocol;

a second network configured to communicate based on a second protocol, wherein the second network is communicatively coupled to the system element; and

a communication management device communicatively coupled to the first network and the second network, wherein the communication management device is configured to translate information between the first network and the second network based on at least one of a security rule and an update rule.

16. The transportation device of claim 15, further comprising a selection device configured to select one or more transceivers and provide information from the selected one or more transceivers to the first network.

17. The transportation device of claim 15, wherein the system element comprises at least one of a flight management system, an aircraft condition monitoring system, and an electronic flight bag.

18. The transportation device of claim 15, wherein the update rule specifies at least one of a timing condition for applying an update to the system element, a location condition for applying the update to the system element, and a cost condition for applying the update to the system element.

19. The transportation device of claim 15, wherein the communication management device is configured to determine, based on the security rule, whether information received from the first network is authorized or unauthorized for the system element and discard the information if the information is unauthorized for the system element.

20. The transportation device of claim 15, wherein the communication management device is further configured to verify, based on the update rule, that an update is applied to the system element.