APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING NETWORK SECURITY ON A MOBILE PLATFORM

• US 20170310748A1
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Canada Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Inventors: COTE, Jean-Richard, AGAGNIER, Jayson
• Granted Patent: US 10,587,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• 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

Abstract

The disclosure describes components, apparatus and methods for providing network security between computing devices and/or networks on mobile platforms such as aircraft. One such apparatus may comprise: a first memory configured for data communication with a first computing device of the mobile platform; a second memory configured for data communication with a second computing device of the mobile platform; and a controller. The controller may be configured to detect a change in data stored In the first memory and cause the change in data stored in the first memory to be reflected in the second memory by causing data transfer from the first memory to the second memory. Data transfer between the first memory and the second memory may be conducted using a non-internet protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing network security and allowing data transfer between at least two computing devices of a mobile platform, the apparatus comprising:

a first memory configured for data communication with a first computing device of the mobile platform;

a second memory configured for data communication with a second computing device of the mobile platform; and

a controller configured to;

detect a change in data stored in the first memory; and

cause the change in data stored in the first memory to be reflected in the second memory.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a change in data stored in the second memory; and

cause the change in data stored in the second memory to be reflected in the first memory.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first memory and the second memory are integrated into separate storage devices.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause at least partial data synchronization between the first memory and the second memory.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the data synchronization is substantially in real-time.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the change in data stored in the first memory to be reflected in a third memory configured for data communication with a third computing device of the mobile platform.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause data transfer between the first memory and the second memory using a non-Internet protocol.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, comprising:

data transfer between the first memory and the second memory using a non-Internet protocol; and

data transfer between the first memory and the third memory using the non-Internet protocol.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the non-Internet protocol comprises one of Advance Technology Attachment over Ethernet (ATAoE), Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), Infiniband, Serial Advance Technology Attachment (SATA), Parallel Advance Technology Attachment (PATA) and Universal Serial Bus (USB).

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the non-Internet protocol is configured to permit non-interactive communication between the first computing device and the second computing device.

11. An aircraft comprising the apparatus as defined in claim 1.

12. The aircraft as defined in claim 11, wherein one of the first computing device and the second computing device comprises an electronic flight bag.

13-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method for data transfer between at least two computing devices of a mobile platform, the method comprising:

receiving data at a first memory from a first computing device of the mobile platform;

detecting a change in data stored in the first memory;

causing the change in data stored in the first memory to be reflected in a second memory; and

transferring data from the second memory to a second computing device of the mobile platform.

28. The method as defined in claim 27, comprising:

receiving data at the second memory from the second computing device;

detecting a change in data stored in the second memory;

causing the change in data stored in the second memory to be reflected in the first memory; and

transferring data from the first memory to the first computing device.

29. The method as defined in claim 27, comprising at least partially synchronizing the data stored in the first memory and in the second memory.

30. The method as defined in claim 29, wherein the data synchronization is substantially in real-time.

31. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein at least one of the first computing device and the second computing device is part of an Ethernet-based network.

32. The method as defined in claim 27, comprising data transfer between the first memory and the second memory using a non-Internet protocol.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, wherein the non-internet protocol comprises one of Advance Technology Attachment over Ethernet (ATAoE), Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), Infiniband, Serial Advance Technology Attachment (SATA), Parallel Advance Technology Attachment (PATA) and Universal Serial Bus (USB).

34. The method as defined in claim 32, wherein the non-Internet protocol is configured to permit non-interactive communication between the first computing device and the second computing device.

35. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein one of the first computing device and the second computing device comprises an electronic flight bag.

36. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the first computing device is associated with passenger information and entertainment and the second computing device is associated with airline information.

37. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein one of the first computing device and the second computing device is associated with aircraft control.

38. The method as defined in claim 27, comprising causing the change in data stored in the first memory to be reflected in a third memory configured for data communication with a third computing device.

53. The computer program product as defined in claim 29, wherein the data synchronization is substantially in real-time.

39-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A computer program product for implementing a data transfer function between at least two computing devices of a mobile platform, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable/executable by a computer, processor or logic circuit to cause the execution of a method comprising:

receiving data at a first memory from a first computing device of the mobile platform;

detecting a change in data stored in the first memory;

causing the change in data stored in the first memory to be reflected in a second memory; and

transferring data from the second memory to a second computing device of the mobile platform.

51. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein the method comprises:

receiving data at the second memory from the second computing device;

detecting a change in data stored in the second memory;

causing the change in data stored in the second memory to be reflected in the first memory; and

transferring data from the first memory to the first computing device.

52. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein the method comprises at least partially synchronizing the data stored in the first memory and in the second memory.

54. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein at least one of the first computing device and the second computing device is part of an Ethernet-based network.

55. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein the method comprises data transfer between the first memory and the second memory using a non-Internet protocol.

56. The computer program product as defined in claim 55, wherein the non-internet protocol comprises one of Advance Technology Attachment over Ethernet (ATAoE), Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), Infiniband, Serial Advance Technology Attachment (SATA), Parallel Advance Technology Attachment (PATA) and Universal Serial Bus (USB).

57. The computer program product as defined in claim 55, wherein the non-Internet protocol is configured to permit non-interactive communication between the first computing device and the second computing device.

58. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein one of the first computing device and the second computing device comprises an electronic flight bag.

59. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein the first computing device is associated with passenger information and entertainment and the second computing device is associated with airline information.

60. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein one of the first computing device and the second computing device is associated with aircraft control.

61. The computer program product as defined in claim 50, wherein the method comprises causing the change in data stored in the first memory to be reflected in a third memory configured for data communication with a third computing device.