Cross-channel data link

• US 8,601,150 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gvillo, Dennis W., Portell, Lance C., Rymarz, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRYAN Y
• Application Number:
  US12/896,514
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 709/234
• US Class Current: 709/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/163 Interprocessor communication

Abstract

A particular method includes sending outgoing data in a first outgoing data block from a first processing system to a second processing system. The method also includes updating a first data structure at the first processing system. The first data structure indicates an order of transmission of the first outgoing data block relative to one or more other outgoing data blocks. When a first frame ends, an outgoing caboose packet is generated based on the first data structure. The outgoing caboose packet including information identifying the order of transmission of the first outgoing data block and the one or more other outgoing data blocks during the first frame. The method also includes sending the outgoing caboose packet from the first processing system to the second processing system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sending outgoing data in a first outgoing data block from a first processing system to a second processing system;

updating a first data structure at the first processing system, wherein the first data structure indicates an order of transmission of each of a plurality of outgoing data blocks, wherein the plurality of outgoing data blocks includes the first outgoing data block;

in response to an end of a first frame, generating an outgoing caboose packet based on the first data structure, the outgoing caboose packet including information identifying the order of transmission of each of the plurality of outgoing data blocks during the first frame, wherein the outgoing data is generated during a processing frame, and wherein the processing frame includes the first frame and at least one second frame;

sending the outgoing caboose packet from the first processing system to the second processing system, wherein the first frame and the at least one second frame are cross-channel data link frames, and wherein state data is communicated between the first processing system and the second processing system during the first frame;

selecting data to be processed during an interim time period after the end of the first frame and prior to a beginning of the at least one second frame, wherein the data to be processed is selected based on incoming data received from the second processing system during the first frame;

processing the selected data during the interim time period to generate processed data; and

sending the processed data in a second outgoing data block to the second processing system during the at least one second frame.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving incoming data blocks from the second processing system during the first frame; and

as each of the incoming data blocks is received, writing the incoming data block to a memory device of the first processing system without interrupting a processor of the first processing system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein related incoming data blocks are written to contiguous memory locations of the memory device.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an incoming caboose packet from the second processing system after the end of the first frame, wherein the incoming caboose packet includes information identifying an order of transmission of each of the incoming data blocks sent from the second processing system to the first processing system and information descriptive of each of the incoming data blocks.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating a memory map using the incoming caboose packet at the first processing system, wherein the memory map indicates a particular location within the memory device associated with data included in each of the incoming data blocks and wherein the memory map is generated based on the order of transmission of each of the incoming data blocks and based on the information descriptive of each of the incoming data blocks.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

in response to receiving a read request for particular data;

accessing the memory map that identifies a plurality of locations in the memory device associated with the particular data;

assembling the particular data by reading particular incoming data blocks stored at the plurality of locations; and

writing the particular data to a processing memory location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information descriptive of each of the incoming data blocks indicates that the incoming data block includes status data related to a particular subsystem.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising, in response to a failure of the first processing system, restarting the first processing system using state data received via the incoming data blocks and the incoming caboose packet.

9. A system, comprising

a first processing system configured to be communicatively coupled to a second processing system, the first processing system including:

a first processor; and

a first memory storing instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to;

send outgoing data in a first outgoing data block from a first processing system to a second processing system;

update a first data structure at the first processing system, wherein the first data structure indicates an order of transmission of each of a plurality of outgoing data blocks, wherein the plurality of outgoing data blocks includes the first outgoing data block;

in response to an end of a first frame, generate an outgoing caboose packet based on the first data structure, the outgoing caboose packet including information identifying the order of transmission of each of the plurality of outgoing data blocks during the first frame, wherein the outgoing data is generated during a processing frame, and wherein the processing frame includes the first frame and at least one second frame;

send the outgoing caboose packet from the first processing system to the second processing system, wherein the first frame and the at least one second frame are cross-channel data link frames, and wherein state data is communicated between the first processing system and the second processing system during the first frame;

select data to be processed during an interim time period after the end of the first frame and prior to a beginning of the at least one second frame, wherein the data to be processed is selected based on incoming data received from the second processing system during the first frame;

process the selected data during the interim time period to generate processed data; and

send the processed data in a second outgoing data block to the second processing system during the at least one second frame,

wherein the second processing system includes;

a second processor;

a receive buffer, the receive buffer including a plurality of receive buffer memory locations;

a receiver configured to;

receive incoming data blocks from the first processing system, wherein the incoming data blocks correspond to the plurality of outgoing data blocks sent by the first processing system;

write each of the incoming data blocks to a particular receive buffer memory location; and

receive, from the first processing system, the caboose packet; and

a memory mapping module to generate, based on the caboose packet, a map associating a particular receive buffer memory location of the plurality of receive buffer memory locations with data included in each of the incoming data blocks.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein in response to a read request for particular data, the second processor is configured to:

access the memory map to identify one or more receive buffer memory locations corresponding to the particular data; and

copy the particular data from the one or more identified receive buffer memory locations to a processor memory of the second processing system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein incoming data blocks are not copied to the processor memory of the second processing system until a read request is received.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second processing system includes:

a transmitter adapted to packetize additional outgoing data into additional outgoing data blocks and to send the additional outgoing data blocks to the first processing system, and

a transmission manager configured to update a second caboose data structure when an additional outgoing data block is transmitted, wherein the second caboose data structure includes information indicating an order in which each of the additional outgoing data blocks was transmitted.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitter sends a second caboose packet based on the second caboose data structure from the second processing system to the first processing system when a second frame ends, wherein the second caboose packet includes the information indicating the order in which each of the additional outgoing data blocks was transmitted.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the receiver receives the incoming data blocks and writes the incoming data blocks to the receive buffer memory locations without interrupting the second processor.

15. A moveable platform, comprising:

a plurality of platform management systems; and

a cross-channel data link that facilitates communication of state information between the platform management systems;

wherein a first platform management system is configured to;

send first data blocks to at least one second platform management system via the cross-channel data link;

update a first data structure at the first platform management system, wherein the first data structure indicates an order of transmission of each of the first data blocks;

in response to an end of a first frame, generate a first caboose packet based on the first data structure, wherein outgoing data included in the first data blocks is generated during a processing frame, wherein the processing frame includes the first frame and at least one second frame, wherein the first frame and the at least one second frame are cross-channel data link frames, and wherein state data is communicated between the first platform management system and the at least one second platform management system during the first frame;

send the first caboose packet via the cross-channel data link to the at least one second platform management system when the first frame ends, the first caboose packet including information indicating an order of transmission of each of the first data blocks and information descriptive of content of each of the first data blocks; and

select data to be processed during an interim time period after the end of the first frame and prior to a beginning of the at least one second frame, wherein the data to be processed is selected based on data received from the second platform management system during the first frame,

wherein the at least one second platform management system is configured to;

receive the first data blocks from the first platform management system and store the first data blocks to memory locations of a receive buffer of the at least one second platform management system; and

receive the first caboose packet from the first platform management system and to map the memory locations of the receive buffer of the at least one second platform management system to the content of each of the first data blocks based on the first caboose packet.

16. The moveable platform of claim 15, wherein the at least one second platform management system does not reconstruct the content of any of the first data blocks until a read request for the content is received.

17. The moveable platform of claim 15, wherein the at least one second platform management system is further configured to:

send second data blocks to the first platform management system via the cross-channel data link during the first frame; and

send a second caboose packet via the cross-channel data link to the first platform management system when the first frame ends, the second caboose packet including information indicating an order of transmission of each of the second data blocks and information descriptive of content of each of the second data blocks; and

wherein the first platform management system is further configured to;

receive the second data blocks from the at least one second platform management system and store the second data blocks to memory locations of a receive buffer of the first platform management system; and

receive the second caboose packet from the at least one second platform management system and use the second caboose packet to map the memory locations of the receive buffer of the first platform management system to the content of each of the second data blocks.

18. The moveable platform of claim 15, wherein the moveable platform comprises an unmanned vehicle and the plurality of platform management systems provide onboard vehicle control to the unmanned vehicle.