Safe information transmission via non-safety approved equipment

• US 8,365,058 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Johansson, Rikard, Eriksson, Jan-Erik, Stendahl, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): LAMARRE, GUY J
• Application Number:
  US11/691,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 714/819, 345/170, 341/22
• US Class Current: 714/819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/16 in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 using transform coding

Abstract

A method of detecting communications errors by coding messages as pictures. A communications method useable to safely communicate a message or a signal from a first safety approved entity to a second safety approved entity via a third, non-safety approved entity including that each command is sent with the aid of a command message from the first to the second entity, an acknowledge message from the second to the first entity, and a go-ahead message from the first to the second entity.

Claims

1. A communications method for enabling detection of communication errors, said method comprising:

transforming a first message string into a second message string using a transformation method that enables the first message string to be presented as a picture, wherein when said picture is displayed on a display organ, such that the picture enables a viewer of said picture to discover errors that have influenced the second message string;

transmitting said second message string;

receiving said second message string;

displaying said second message string as a picture on a display organ;

comparing the picture representing the second message string with a picture representing a faultless transmission to determine if the second message string has been corrupted and a communication error has occurred, wherein the picture representing the second message string includes elements other than horizontal and vertical line segments; and

taking action depending upon whether or not the second message string has been corrupted.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transforming comprises

converting first message string characters to a second message string using a number of segments in a shape of straight lines having a first end and a second end, wherein a position of a line end is defined by X and Y coordinates, and wherein each line is defined by four numbers, X1, Y1, X2, Y2 corresponding to the x and y coordinates of the first end and second line end, respectively.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first message string comprises a numerical string, and said second message string comprises a number of X/Y coordinates representing corners of a number of polygons, and said X/Y coordinates are chosen such that when said X/Y coordinates are used to render polygons, said polygons are forming a picture representing the information in said first message string.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first message string comprises characters, and said second message string comprises a plurality of groups of X/Y coordinate pairs, each group of X/Y coordinate pairs representing a character in said first message string, and where said X/Y coordinates are chosen such that when a picture is rendered, each X/Y coordinate pair represents a pixel, or a center of a regular polygon of a certain size, wherein said picture forms said character in said first message string.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said first message string characters are alphanumerical characters 0-9, A-Ö

, a-ö

.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first message characters are digital digits 0-9.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first message characters are binary digits 0-1.

8. A communications system, comprising:

a processor configured to transform a first message string into a second message string using a transformation method that enables the first message string to be presented as a picture;

a transmitter configured to transmit the second message string;

a receiver configured to receive the second message string; and

a display configured to display said second message string as a picture to enable a viewer of said picture by comparing the picture representing the second message string with a picture representing a faultless transmission to determine if the second message string has been corrupted and a communication error has occurred to discover errors that have influenced the second message string, wherein the picture representing the second message string includes elements other than horizontal and vertical line segments.