Methods and devices for configuration validation of a complex multi-element system

• US 8,683,266 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Migliasso, Raphael, Bastien, Olivier, Estrada-Fernandez, Miguel
• Primary Examiner(s): Manoskey, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US13/038,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 714/25, 714/37, 714/30, 714/33, 714/47.1, 714/48, 714/57, 714/27
• US Class Current: 714/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis

Abstract

The object of the invention is in particular the validation of configuration of a system comprising a plurality of elements, at least one reference being associated with each element of the said plurality of elements. After at least one reference key has been calculated (410) according to at least one expected reference of each element of the said plurality of elements, a theoretical configuration report of the said system, comprising the said at least one reference key, is generated (420). Similarly, at least one verification key is calculated (455) according to at least one reference of each element of the said plurality of elements, and a real configuration report of the said system, comprising the said at least one verification key, is generated (460). A configuration error is detected if the values of the said verification key and reference key of the said real and theoretical configuration reports are different.

Claims

1. A computer method for generating a real configuration report of a system permitting rapid verification of configuration of the system, the system including a plurality of elements, at least one reference being associated with each element of the plurality of elements, the method comprising:

calculating one verification key from the at least one reference of each element of the plurality of elements;

generating the real configuration report of the system including the one verification key; and

detecting a configuration error of the system in response to a value of the one verification key being different from a value of a reference key.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating of the one verification key calculates the one verification key using a calculation of cyclic redundancy check type.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating of the one verification key is defined according to predetermined rules.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating of the one verification key calculates the one verification key using a calculation of one of cyclic redundancy check type, checksum type, error correction code type, and cryptographic hash function type.

5. A computer method for rapid verification of configuration of a system including a plurality of elements, at least one reference being associated with each element of the plurality of elements, the method comprising:

calculating at least one reference key according to at least one expected reference of each element of the plurality of elements;

generating a theoretical configuration report of the system including the at least one reference key;

calculating one verification key from the at least one reference of each element of the plurality of elements;

generating a real configuration report of the system including the one verification key; and

detecting a configuration error in response to values of the one verification key and reference key of the real and theoretical configuration reports being different.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the calculating of the one verification key calculates the one verification key using a calculation of one of cyclic redundancy check type, checksum type, error correction code type, and cryptographic hash function type.

10. The method according to claim 5 or claim 9, further comprising determining a theoretical configuration, the theoretical configuration including at least one expected reference for each of the elements that must be present in the system.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising modifying the theoretical configuration according to an indication to update at least one element of the plurality of elements.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising generating a work order including at least the theoretical configuration report.

7. A computer method for generating a real configuration report of a system permitting rapid identification of an erroneous reference of an element of the system, the system including a plurality of elements organized hierarchically by groups, at least one first group including at least one second group and one third group distinct from the at least one first group, at least one reference being associated with each element of the plurality of elements, the method comprising:

calculating one first verification key associated with the at least one second group from at least one reference of each of the elements of the said system belonging to the at least one second group;

calculating one second verification key associated with the at least one third group from at least one reference of each of the elements of the system belonging to the at least one third group;

calculating a third verification key associated with the at least one first group according to at least values of the one first and one second verification keys;

generating a real configuration report of the system including the one first, one second and third verification keys; and

detecting a configuration error in response to a value of the third verification key being different from a value of a third reference key, a location of the configuration error being localizable by the one first and one second keys and at least one first and at least one second reference keys.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the calculating of the third verification key calculates the third verification key using a calculation of one of cyclic redundancy check type, checksum type, error correction code type, and cryptographic hash function type.

9. A computer method for rapid identification of an erroneous reference of an element of a system including a plurality of elements organized hierarchically by groups, at least one first group including at least one second and at least one third groups distinct from the at least one first group, at least one reference being associated with each element of the plurality of elements, the method comprising:

calculating at least one first reference key associated with the at least one second group according to at least one expected reference of each of the elements of the at least one second group, at least one second reference key associated with the at least one third group according to at least one expected reference of each of the elements of the at least one third group, and a third reference key associated with the at least one first group according to at least values of the at least one first and at least one second reference keys;

generating a theoretical configuration report of the system including the at least one first, at least one second and third reference keys;

calculating one first verification key associated with the at least one second group from at least one reference of each of the elements of the system belonging to the at least one second group;

calculating one second verification key associated with the at least one third group from at least one reference of each of the elements of the system belonging to the at least one third group;

calculating a third verification key associated with the at least one first group according to at least values of the one first and one second verification keys;

generating a real configuration report of the system including the one first, one second and third verification keys; and

detecting a configuration error in response to values of the third verification key and third reference key of the real and theoretical configuration reports being different, a location of the configuration error being localizable by the one first and one second keys.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the calculating of the third verification key calculates the third verification key using a calculation of one of cyclic redundancy check type, checksum type, error correction code type, and cryptographic hash function type.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for rapid verification of configuration of a system including a plurality of elements, at least one reference being associated with each element of the plurality of elements, the method comprising:

calculating at least one reference key according to at least one expected reference of each element of the plurality of elements;

generating a theoretical configuration report of the system including the at least one reference key;

calculating one verification key from the at least one reference of each element of the plurality of elements;

generating a real configuration report of the system including the one verification key; and

detecting a configuration error in response to values of the one verification key and reference key of the real and theoretical configuration reports being different.

15. A device for rapid verification of configuration of a system including a plurality of elements, at least one reference being associated with each element of the plurality of elements, the device comprising:

a processor configured to

calculate at least one reference key according to at least one expected reference of each element of the plurality of elements,

generate a theoretical configuration report of the system including the at least one reference key,

calculate one verification key from the at least one reference of each element of the plurality of elements,

generate a real configuration report of the system including the one verification key, and

detect a configuration error in response to values of the one verification key and reference key of the real and theoretical configuration reports being different.

16. An aircraft comprising:

a device including a processor configured to

calculate at least one reference key according to at least one expected reference of each element of the plurality of elements,

generate a theoretical configuration report of the system including the at least one reference key,

calculate one verification key from the at least one reference of each element of the plurality of elements,

generate a real configuration report of the system including the one verification key, and

detect a configuration error in response to values of the one verification key and reference key of the real and theoretical configuration reports being different.