Method and system for uploading and downloading engine control data

• US 6,894,611 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: DePew, Kimberly Anne, Schuster, Richard Francis, Butz, Mark Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/252,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/825.22, 340/945, 340/955, 340/959, 340/961, 340/970, 340/539, 340/948, 340/951, 340/954, 340/958, 340/967, 340/973, 340/977, 123/406.12, 701/1, 701/100, 701/3, 701/29, 701/35, 701/99, 701/14, 701/15, 701/16, 701/10
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting engine control data to or from the engine control unit of an engine. The system includes a local communication unit capable of establishing a wireless communication link with a remote communication unit and a link for transferring data between the local communication unit and the engine control unit. In operation, a wireless communication link is established between the local communication unit and the remote communication unit. Engine control data is transferred between the local communication unit and the engine control unit and transmitted between the local communication unit and the remote communication unit via the wireless communication link.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting data between an engine control unit of an engine and a remote communication unit, said system comprising:

an engine communication unit having means for establishing a wireless communication link with said remote communication unit independent of a vehicle communication unit; and

means for transferring engine control data received from said remote communication unit, from said local communication unit to said engine control unit and engine parameter data from said engine control unit to said engine communication unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for transferring data includes a direct data bus between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for transferring data includes a data acquisition unit, a data processor unit, a data bus connected between said engine communication unit and said data acquisition unit, another data bus connected between said data acquisition unit and said data processor unit, and yet another data bus connected between said data processor unit and said engine control unit.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said means for transferring data further includes a direct data bus between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said engine communication unit is disposed on a respective craft powered by said engine and said remote communication unit is not disposed on said respective craft.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an additional local communication unit having means for establishing a wireless communication link with said remote communication unit.

7. A system for transmitting engine control data in connection with an engine, said system comprising:

an engine control unit associated with said engine;

a remote communication unit;

an engine communication unit having means for establishing an independent wireless communication link with said remote communication unit; and

means for transferring engine control data from said engine communication unit to said engine control unit and engine parameter data from said engine control unit to said engine communication unit.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said means for transferring data includes a direct data bus between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said means for transferring data includes a data acquisition unit, a data processor unit, a data bus connected between a vehicle communication unit and said data acquisition unit, another data bus connected between said data acquisition unit and said data processor unit, and yet another data bus connected between said data processor unit and said engine control unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for transferring data further includes a direct data bus between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said engine communication unit is disposed on a craft powered by said engine and said remote communication unit is not disposed on said craft.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising an additional local communication unit having means for establishing a wireless communication link with said remote communication unit.

13. A method for transmitting data between an engine control unit of an engine and a remote communication unit, said method comprising:

providing an engine communication unit;

establishing a wireless communication link between said engine communication unit and said remote communication unit;

transmitting engine parameter and engine control data via said wireless communication link; and

transferring engine control data from said engine communication unit to said engine control unit and engine parameter data from said engine control unit to said engine communication unit.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a direct data bus between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit is used to transfer data between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a data acquisition unit, a data processor unit, a data bus connected between a vehicle communication unit and said data acquisition unit, another data bus connected between said data acquisition unit and said data processor unit, and yet another data bus connected between said data processor unit and said engine control unit are used to transfer data between said vehicle communication unit and said engine control unit.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said engine communication unit is disposed on a craft powered by said engine and said remote communication unit is not disposed on said craft.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting a confirmation message from said engine communication unit to said remote communication unit via said wireless communication link upon completion of a successful data transmission.

18. A method for transmitting engine control data in connection with an engine, said method comprising:

providing an engine control unit associated with said engine;

providing a remote communication unit;

providing an engine communication unit

establishing an independent wireless communication link between said engine communication unit and said remote communication unit;

transmitting engine control data between said engine communication unit and said remote communication unit via said wireless communication link; and

transferring engine control data from said engine communication unit to said engine control unit and from said engine control unit to said engine communication unit.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein a direct data bus between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit is used to transfer engine control data between said engine communication unit and said engine control unit.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein a data acquisition unit, a data processor unit, a data bus connected between a vehicle communication unit and said data acquisition unit, another data bus connected between said data acquisition unit and said data processor unit, and yet another data bus connected between said data processor unit and said engine control unit are used to transfer data between said vehicle communication unit and said engine control unit.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said engine communication unit is disposed on a craft powered by said engine and said remote communication unit is not disposed on said craft.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting a confirmation message from said engine communication unit to said remote communication unit via said wireless communication link upon completion of a successful engine control data transmission.