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Automatic configuration-tracking apparatus, and a method and a system for such tracking

  • US 8,190,304 B2
  • Filed: 03/16/2009
  • Issued: 05/29/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of tracking the configuration of an aircraft including a multitude of components for which it is desired to consult and record various items of data specific thereto including identification/authentication parameters, history, and an operating state, the method providing comprising:

  • installing a plurality of on-board wireless electronic labels on the components of the aircraft, each label being coupled and dedicated to a particular components,transferring data between the aircraft and an external installation fitting on board the aircraft at least two local readers;

    at least one wireless router compatible with and connected to one or more of the local readers, each reader being compatible with and near to a group of the labels, and a wireless concentrator compatible with the at least one routerforming a wireless mesh network that defines a secrecy perimeter between a base node that wirelessly connects a group of the labels exclusively to a first one of the readers, an intermediate network frame that wirelessly connects the first reader exclusively to a first one of the at least one router, and an on-board terminal mesh that wirelessly connects the first router exclusively to the concentrator;

    wherein during the transferring step the external installation communicates wirelessly exclusively with the concentrator, this communication passing within the aircraft via the wireless mesh network that defines the secrecy perimeter;

    wherein during the installing step, the wireless mesh network is configured, in terms of range and of wireless communications protocol, to define around the aircraft said secrecy perimeter that coincides substantially with the outline of the aircraft outside which perimeter no wireless reading or writing of the electronic labels is possible; and

    wherein during the installing step, each wireless node is configured so that its electronic labels are coupled to components forming a functional group of the aircraft.

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