Dual lane connection to dual redundant avionics networks

• US 7,505,400 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wilt, Nicholas, Bibby, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): LY, ANH VU H
• Application Number:
  US10/948,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20060062143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2005 using redundant communication controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media

Abstract

Apparatus and systems are provided for dual redundant avionics networks wherein a remote data concentrator (RDC) includes, but is not limited to, a line replaceable unit (LRU) input, a first processing lane coupled to the LRU input, a second processing lane coupled to the LRU input, and a processor coupled to the first processing lane and the second processing lane. The first processing lane has a first output. The second processing lane has a second output. The processor has a link coupling the first processing lane with the second processing lane and is configured to route data from at least one of the first output and the second output to an Ethernet. The link is configured to transfer data between the first processing lane and the second processing lane.

Claims

1. A remote data concentrator (RDC) for an avionics Ethernet network, said RDC comprising:

a line replaceable unit (LRU) input;

a first processing lane directly coupled to said LRU input, said first processing lane having a first output;

a second processing lane directly coupled to said LRU input, said second processing lane having a second output; and

a processor coupled to said first processing lane and said second processing lane and configured to route data from at least one of said first output and said second output to the Ethernet network, said processor comprising a link coupling said first processing lane with said second processing lane, said link configured to transfer data between said first processing lane and said second processing lane, wherein the first processing lane and the second processing lane process universal data protocol (UDP) messages in parallel, and wherein each processing lane synchronizes a virtual link sequence number for each UDP message transmitted between the first processing lane or the second processing lane and the Ethernet network.

2. An RDC according to claim 1, wherein said link is a bus;

and

wherein each of said first output and said second output are configured to pass UDP messages, said UDP messages of said first output containing substantially similar information as said UDP messages of said second output.

3. An RDC according to claim 1, wherein said link is configured to operate on an Ethernet protocol.

4. An RDC according to claim 3, wherein said link is configured to operate on an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 protocol.

5. A dual redundant avionics network comprising:

a first system data network (SDN) having a first SDN port;

a second SDN having a second SDN port; and

a remote data concentrator (RDC) end system configured to communicate with said first SDN and said second SDN, said RDC end system comprising;

a first processing lane coupled to said first SDN port, said first processing lane having a first line replaceable unit (LRU) input;

a second processing lane coupled to said second SDN port, said second processing lane having a second LRU input; and

a processor coupled to said first processing lane and said second processing lane, said processor comprising a link coupling said first processing lane with said second processing lane, said link configured to transfer data between said first processing lane and said second processing lane, wherein the first processing lane and the second processing lane process universal data protocol (UDP) messages in parallel, and wherein each processing lane synchronizes a virtual link sequence number for each UDP message transmitted between the processing lane and either the first or the second SDN.

6. A dual redundant avionics network according to claim 5 further comprising an LRU coupled to said RDC, said LRU configured to transmit a data signal, said LRU comprising a first output coupled to said first processing lane and said second processing lane.

7. A dual redundant avionics network according to claim 5 further comprising an LRU coupled to said RDC, said LRU comprising a first output coupled to said first processing lane and a second output coupled to said second processing lane.

8. A dual redundant avionics network according to claim 6, wherein said first processing lane and said second processing lane are configured to process said data signal;

and

wherein said processor is configured to synchronously operate said first processing lane and said second processing lane and process said data signal in parallel.

9. A dual redundant avionics network according to claim 8, wherein said first processing lane is configured to transmit a first data signal to said first SDN port and said second processing lane is configured to transmit a second data signal to said second SDN port, said first data signal substantially similar to said second data signal.

10. A dual redundant avionics network according to claim 5, wherein said link is configured to operate on an Ethernet protocol.

11. A dual redundant avionics network according to claim 5, wherein said link is configured to operate on an IEEE 802.3 protocol.

12. A dual redundant avionics network according to claim 5, wherein said first SDN, said second SDN, and said RDC end system are each configured to communicate on an Ethernet network.

13. A remote data concentrator (RDC) end system in an Ethernet network, the RDC end system comprising:

a first port configured to couple to a first network in the Ethernet network;

a second port configured to couple to a second network in the Ethernet network;

a first processing lane coupled to said first port, said first processing lane comprising;

a first input configured to receive input signals;

a first output configured to transmit output signals; and

a first processing unit coupled to said first input and said first output, said first processing unit configured to control data flow to said first output, to said first port, and from said first input;

a second processing lane coupled to said second port, said second processing lane comprising;

a second input configured to receive input signals;

a second output configured to transmit output signals; and

a second processing unit coupling said second input with said second output, said second processing unit configured to control data flow to said second output, to said second port, and from said second input; and

a cross-lane bus coupled to said first processing unit and said second processing unit, said cross-lane bus configured to transfer data between said first processing lane and said second processing lane, wherein the data transferred on the cross-lane bus comprises one or more parameters, and wherein responsive to a failure of the first processing lane, the second processing lane transmits the input signals from the second input and sets parameters only available from the first processing lane as invalid.

14. An RDC end system according to claim 13, wherein said cross-lane bus is further configured to:

transfer first processing lane data different from second processing lane data to said second processing lane; and

transfer second processing lane data different from first processing lane data to said first processing lane.

15. An RDC end system according to claim 13 further comprising:

a first media access control (MAC) module coupled to said first processing unit, said first MAC module configured to format data of said first processing lane for routing to the Ethernet network; and

a second MAC module coupled to said second processing unit, said second MAC module configured to format data of said second processing lane for routing to the Ethernet network.

16. An RDC end system according to claim 13, wherein said cross-lane bus is configured to operate on an Ethernet protocol.

17. An RDC end system according to claim 16, wherein said cross-lane bus is configured to operate on an IEEE 802.3 protocol.

18. An RDC end system according to claim 13 further comprising:

a first feedback connected to said first input and said first output; and

a second feedback connected to said second input and said second output.

19. An RDC end system according to claim 13, wherein the input signals received by said first input and the input signals received by said second input both originate from a same source.