Method and system for enhanced interconnectivity in vessel computers

• US 8,719,471 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Fusion Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Fusion Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Fleming, James, McKean, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shyu, Jing-Yih
• Application Number:
  US12/632,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20100146183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/63
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for alleviating processing requirements of a central computer in a vessel. Each apparatus is placed in close proximity to one or more pieces of electronic equipment implementing a legacy interface. The apparatus processes data to and from the electronic equipment, including converting data to formats consistent with the formats used by the intended recipient.

Claims

1. A system for enhanced vessel computer interconnectivity, comprising:

an open system interface converter (OSIC) implementing a legacy interface and having connected thereto electronic equipment utilizing the legacy interface; and

a central computer connected to the OSIC and implementing one or more applications,

wherein the OSIC is configured to;

exchange data between the electronic equipment and the one or more applications of the central computer,

convert data to be exchanged from a first format used by the electronic equipment into a second format used by the one or more applications,

determine a set of the one or more applications that are subscribers of data generated by the electronic equipment,

determine a set of quality of service (QOS) parameters for each of the subscribers,

publish data to each of the subscribers in accordance with the QOS parameters, and

provide a consistent time reference for each sample of the data published to each of the subscribers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of QOS parameters includes at least one of a durability parameter, a durability service parameter, a presentation parameter, a deadline parameter, a latency budget parameter, an ownership parameter, an ownership strength parameter, a liveliness parameter, a time-based filter parameter, a partition parameter, a reliability parameter, a transport priority parameter, a lifespan parameter, a destination order parameter, a history parameter, and a resource limits parameter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the OSIC is configured to detect one or more applications that are publishers of data to be used by the electronic equipment.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the OSIC is further configured to provide a set of QOS parameters to each publisher, and to receive data from each publisher in accordance with the QOS parameters.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the OSIC is further configured to transmit and receive data via an Internet connection.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the OSIC is located in close proximity to the electronic equipment connected thereto.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the OSIC comprises one or more interface cards configured to implement the legacy interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a pin configuration is used to indicate the legacy interface to implement.

9. A method of communicating between a central computer on a vessel and an open system interface converter (OSIC), comprising:

discovering, by the OSIC, one or more subscribers of data generated by electronic equipment connected to the OSIC and located in close geographic proximity to the OSIC, the one or more subscribers including applications implemented by the central computer;

converting the data from a first format used by the electronic equipment into a second format used by the one or more subscribers;

determining a set of quality of service (QOS) parameters for each of the one or more subscribers;

publishing the data to each of the one or more subscribers in accordance with the QOS parameters; and

providing a consistent time reference for the data published to each of the one or more subscribers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of QOS parameters includes at least one of a durability parameter, a durability service parameter, a durability service parameter, a presentation parameter, a deadline parameter, a latency budget parameter, an ownership parameter, an ownership strength parameter, a liveliness parameter, a time-based filter parameter, a partition parameter, a reliability parameter, a transport priority parameter, a lifespan parameter, a destination order parameter, a history parameter, and a resource limits parameter.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining one or more applications that are publishers of data to be used by the one or more pieces of electronic equipment.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

discover one or more subscribers of data generated by electronic equipment connected to the apparatus and located in close proximity to the apparatus, the one or more subscribers including applications implemented by a central computer connected to the apparatus;

convert the data from a first format used by the electronic equipment to a second format used by the one or more subscribers;

determine a set of quality of service (QOS) parameters for each of the one or more subscribers;

publish the data to each of the one or more subscribers in accordance with the QOS parameters; and

provide a consistent time reference for the data published to each of the one or more subscribers.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for discovering one or more subscribers of data generated by one or more external devices connected to a computer and located in close proximity to the computer, the one or more subscribers including applications implemented by a central computer external to the computer;

code for converting the data from a first format used by the one or more external devices into a second format used by the one or more subscribers;

code for determining a set of quality of service (QOS) parameters for each of the one or more subscribers;

code for publishing the data to each of the one or more subscribers in accordance with the QOS parameters; and

code for providing a consistent time reference for the data published to each of the one or more subscribers.