Modular aircraft information network system and an associated method of packaging the same
First Claim
1. A modular aircraft information system for communicating information onboard an aircraft, the modular aircraft information system comprising:
- a backplane capable of receiving at least one commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) device capable of operating in an aircraft information system, wherein the backplane is capable of receiving the at least one COTS device such that the at least one COTS device is capable of being at least one of electrically coupled and decoupled to the backplane, and wherein the at least one COTS device includes a circuit board for electrically coupling and decoupling the at least one COTS device to the backplane;
a network router module capable of interfacing with at least one avionics device, wherein the network router module is in electrical communication with the backplane and the at least one avionics device such that the network router module is capable of passing communications between the at least one COTS device and the at least one avionics device when at least one COTS device is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein the network router is capable of isolating the backplane from the at least one avionics device such that the at least one COTS device, when electrically coupled to the backplane, is at least partially isolated from at least one avionics device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular aircraft information system is provided for communicating information onboard an aircraft. The modular aircraft information system includes a backplane and a network router module, and may include an avionics interface module. The backplane is capable of receiving at least one COTS device such that the COTS devices can be electrically coupled and/or decoupled to the backplane. The network router module can interface with at least one avionics device. The network router module is in electrical communication with the backplane and the avionics interface module such that the network router module is capable of passing communications between the COTS devices and the avionics devices when the COTS devices are electrically coupled to the backplane. The network router is also capable of isolating the backplane from the avionics devices such that the COTS devices, when electrically coupled to the backplane, are at least partially isolated from the avionics devices.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A modular aircraft information system for communicating information onboard an aircraft, the modular aircraft information system comprising:
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a backplane capable of receiving at least one commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) device capable of operating in an aircraft information system, wherein the backplane is capable of receiving the at least one COTS device such that the at least one COTS device is capable of being at least one of electrically coupled and decoupled to the backplane, and wherein the at least one COTS device includes a circuit board for electrically coupling and decoupling the at least one COTS device to the backplane;
a network router module capable of interfacing with at least one avionics device, wherein the network router module is in electrical communication with the backplane and the at least one avionics device such that the network router module is capable of passing communications between the at least one COTS device and the at least one avionics device when at least one COTS device is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein the network router is capable of isolating the backplane from the at least one avionics device such that the at least one COTS device, when electrically coupled to the backplane, is at least partially isolated from at least one avionics device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of packaging a modular aircraft information system for communicating information onboard an aircraft, the method comprising:
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providing a backplane capable of receiving at least one commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) device capable of operating in an aircraft information system, wherein the backplane is capable of receiving the at least one COTS device such that the COTS is capable of being at least one of electrically coupled and decoupled to the backplane, and wherein the at least one COTS device includes a circuit board for electrically coupling and decoupling the at least one COTS device to the backplane;
providing a network router module capable of interfacing with at least one avionics device; and
placing the network router module in electrical communication with the backplane such that the network router module is capable of passing communications between the at least one COTS device and the at least one avionics device when at least one COTS device is electrically coupled to the backplane, wherein placing the network router module in electrical communication further comprises isolating the backplane from the at least one avionics device such that the at least one COTS device, when electrically coupled to the backplane, is at least partially isolated from the at least one avionics device; and
securing the backplane and the network router module within an internal cavity defined by a housing, and thereafter closing the internal cavity to thereby at least partially isolate the backplane and the network router module from an external environment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
providing an avionics interface module capable of interfacing with at least one avionics device, wherein placing a network router module in electrical communication with the backplane further comprises placing the network router module in electrical communication with the avionics interface module such that the network router module is capable of passing communications between the avionics interface module and at least one COTS device when at least one COTS device is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein placing the network router module in electrical communication further comprises isolating the backplane from the avionics interface module such that the at least one COTS device, when electrically coupled to the backplane, is at least partially isolated from the at least one avionics device.
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16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising interfacing the avionics interface module with at least one avionics device via at least one optical fiber, wherein placing a network router module in electrical communication with the backplane and the avionics interface module comprises placing the network router module in electrical communication with the backplane and the avionics interface module via at least one electrical conductor.
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17. A modular aircraft information system for communicating information onboard an aircraft, the modular aircraft information system comprising:
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at least one commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) device capable of operating in an aircraft information system, wherein the at least one COTS device includes a circuit board;
at least one avionics device; and
a network router module in electrical communication with the at least one COTS device and the at least one avionics device, wherein the network router module is capable of passing communications between the at least one COTS device and the at least one avionics device, and wherein the network router is capable of isolating the at least one COTS device from the at least one avionics device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A modular aircraft information system for communicating information onboard an aircraft, the modular aircraft information system comprising:
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at least one commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) device capable of operating in an aircraft information system, wherein the at least one COTS device includes a circuit board;
an avionics interface module capable of interfacing with at least one avionics device; and
a network router module in electrical communication with the at least one COTS device and the avionics interface module, wherein the network router module is capable of passing communications between the at least one COTS device and the avionics interface module, and wherein the network router is capable of isolating the at least one COTS device from the avionics interface module such that the at least one COTS device is at least partially isolated from the at least one avionics device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A modular aircraft information system for communicating information onboard an aircraft, the modular aircraft information system comprising:
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a backplane capable of receiving at least one commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) device capable of operating in an aircraft information system, wherein the backplane is capable of receiving the at least one COTS device such that the COTS is capable of being at least one of electrically coupled and decoupled to the backplane, wherein the at least one COTS device includes a circuit board for electrically coupling and decoupling the at least one COTS device to the backplane;
at least one avionics device; and
a network router module in electrical communication with the backplane and the at least one avionics device, wherein the network router module is capable of passing communications between the at least one COTS device and the at least one avionics device when at least one COTS device is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein the network router is capable of isolating the backplane from the at least one avionics device such that the at least one COTS device, when electrically coupled to the backplane, is at least partially isolated from the at least one avionics device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification