Methods and apparatus providing an airborne e-enabled architecture as a system of systems

• US 7,756,145 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Jacobs, Michael N., Hunter, Freelon F., Moore, Daniel B., Kettering, Christopher B., Toolson, Jeffery L., Royalty, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar; Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): EBRAHIM, ANEZ C
• Application Number:
  US11/561,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 370352- 35, 370/401, 370/465, 370/467, 370/466, 370/468, 370/328, 370/331, 370/392, 370/399, 370/395.21, 370/463, 455/11.1, 455/226.1, 455/430, 455/431, 455/456.3, 455/513, 455/554.1, 709/224, 709/228, 709/229, 709/230, 709/332, 709/315, 709/316, 355/352, 355/353, 355/359
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/604 Hybrid IP/Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212

Abstract

A network architecture for implementation in a vehicle is described that comprises an Ethernet gateway module (EGM) and network interface module (NIM). The EGM comprises an Ethernet switch and router therein and is configured to provide an open data network (ODN) connection to the network architecture for a plurality of open data network devices. The NIM is configured to provide an isolated data network and comprises an Ethernet switch to connect a plurality of secure devices to an isolated data network (IDN), the secure devices related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, a router and a gateway/router. The router is configured to interface the IDN to the open data network connections and comprises a packet filtering function to determine which, if any, data from the ODN may be passed through to the IDN and applied to operation and navigation of the vehicle via the secures devices connected to the IDN. The gateway/router provides network address and protocol translation to connect the IDN to a secure common data network associated with vehicle operation. The architecture provides segregation between network devices in the IDN and CDN related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, and network devices in the ODN.

Claims

1. A network architecture for implementation in a vehicle, said network architecture comprising:

an Ethernet gateway module (EGM) comprising an EGM Ethernet switch and an EGM router therein, said EGM to provide an open data network (ODN) connection to said network architecture for a plurality of open data network devices; and

a network interface module (NIM) to provide an isolated data network, said NIM comprising;

an NIM Ethernet switch to connect a plurality of secure devices to an isolated data network (IDN), the secure devices related to operation and navigation of the vehicle;

an NIM router to interface the IDN to the open data network connections, said NIM router comprising a packet filtering function to determine which, if any, data from the ODN may be passed through to the IDN and applied to operation and navigation of the vehicle via the secures devices connected to the IDN;

an NIM gateway providing network address and protocol translation to connect the IDN to a secure common data network (CDN) associated with vehicle operation, said architecture providing segregation between network devices in the IDN and CDN related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, and network devices in the ODN;

an electronic flight bag (EFB) system connected to a flight deck printer by said NIM Ethernet switch; and

a direct connection between said EFB system and said flight deck printer to address a failure of said NIM Ethernet switch,

wherein said EGM, said NIM, the IDN, and the CDN are all located onboard the vehicle.

2. A network architecture according to claim 1 wherein said EGM isolates data received from at least one of a wireless device and a broadband satellite device from other devices hosted on the ODN and from systems hosted on the IDN.

3. A network architecture according to claim 1 further comprising a controller service module, said controller service module to provide network management services to the ODN and to provide fault reporting across the IDN.

4. A network architecture according to claim 3 wherein the IDN is to provide the fault reports to the CDN, wherein the CDN is to host an aircraft maintenance system.

5. A network architecture according to claim 1 further comprising a file server module, said file server module programmed to:

provide at least one of data load services, file transfer services, data retention services, and maintenance control display support via a connection to the IDN; and

provide at least one of wireless device control and communications via a connection to the ODN.

6. A network architecture according to claim 5 wherein said file server module comprises a downlink service that includes a file transfer service for managing the transfer of data from an aircraft, the downlink service providing at least one of terminal wireless connectivity and satellite connectivity.

7. A network architecture according to claim 5 wherein said file server module enables selection, by one or more aircraft systems, of at least one of a preferred downlink path or a default to a preferred downlink path as determined by a downlink service within said file server module and a physically connected portable maintenance control display, the downlink service providing at least one of terminal wireless connectivity and satellite connectivity.

8. A network architecture according to claim 1 further comprising at least one file server module, each said file server module operating as an airline selectable optional server.

9. A network architecture according to claim 1 further comprising a connection to support airplane problem reports as gathered by an electronic logbook system within said EFB upon a failure of said NIM Ethernet switch.

10. A method for networking components of a computer architecture, said method comprising:

configuring a first Ethernet switch to connect external devices to an isolated data network (IDN);

configuring the first Ethernet switch to connect an electronic flight bag (EFB) system to a flight deck printer;

providing at least one direct connection between the EFB system and the flight deck printer to address a failure of the first Ethernet switch;

utilizing a packet filtering function within a first router to connect the IDN to an open data network (ODN);

providing network address and protocol translation with a gateway to connect the IDN to a secure common data network; and

managing the ODN utilizing a second Ethernet switch and a second router.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein managing the ODN utilizing a second Ethernet switch and a second router comprises isolating data received from at least one of a wireless device and a broadband satellite device from other devices hosted on the ODN and from systems hosted on the IDN.

12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising providing network management services to the ODN and fault reporting across the IDN utilizing a controller service module.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising configuring the IDN to provide fault reports to a common data network (CDN), hosting an aircraft maintenance system.

14. A method according to claim 10 further comprising:

providing at least one of data load services, file transfer services, data retention services, and maintenance control display support via a connection to the IDN using a file server module; and

utilizing the file server module to provide at least one of wireless device control and communications via a connection to the ODN.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising managing the transfer of data from an aircraft using a downlink service within the file server module, the downlink service including a file transfer service and providing at least one of terminal wireless connectivity and satellite connectivity.

16. A method according to claim 14 further comprising configuring the file server module to enable selection, by one or more aircraft systems, of at least one of a preferred downlink path or a default to a preferred downlink path as determined by a downlink service within the file server module and a physically connected portable maintenance control display, the downlink service providing at least one of terminal wireless connectivity and satellite connectivity.

17. A method according to claim 10 further comprising configuring at least one file server module to operate as an airline selectable optional server.

18. An airplane network architecture comprising:

a plurality of avionics de-vices comprising at least one file server module, an electronic flight bag (EFB) and a flight deck printer;

an Ethernet gateway module (EGM); and

network interface module (NIM) comprising;

a first Ethernet switch to connect external devices to an isolated data network (IDN);

a router comprising a packet filtering function to connect the IDN to an open data network (ODN) managed by said EGM;

a connection between said EFB and said flight deck printer provided through said first Ethernet switch; and

an avionics gateway providing network address and protocol translation to connect the ION to a secure avionics common data network (CDN), said EGM comprising a second Ethernet switch and a router for managing the ODN, at least a portion of said avionics devices connected to one or both of the IDN and the ODN to satisfy at least one of avionics network service requirements, avionics device isolation requirements, and avionics device availability requirements,

wherein said file server module is programmed to;

provide at least one of wireless device control and wireless communications via a connection to the ODN; and

enable selection, by one or more aircraft systems, of at least one of a preferred downlink path and a default downlink path determined by a downlink service of said file server module, the downlink service providing at least one of terminal wireless connectivity and satellite connectivity,

wherein said EGM, said NIM, the IDN, and the CDN are all located onboard the airplane, and a direct Ethernet wiring between said EFB and said flight deck printer is provided to address a failure of the connection within said NIM.

19. An airplane network architecture according to claim 18 wherein said network architecture provides an ability for problem reports to be offloaded from the airplane in the event of one or more of a wireless/broadband satellite failure, an IDN failure, and an ODN failure.

20. An airplane network architecture according to claim 18 wherein said plurality of avionics devices further comprises at least one physically connected maintenance control display.

21. An airplane network architecture according to claim 18 wherein said plurality of avionics devices comprises at least one file server module connected to both the IDN and the ODN to provide data load services to systems, file transfer and data retention services.

22. An airplane network architecture according to claim 18 wherein said plurality of avionics devices further comprises at least one file server module configured as an airline-selectable optional server.