Control device, input/output device, connection switch device and method for an aircraft control system

• US 8,984,177 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Einig, Johannes, Gross, Claus-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shyu, Jing-Yih
• Application Number:
  US13/421,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20120233359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1658 Data re-synchronization of a redundant component, or initial sync of replacement, additional or spare unit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2025 using centralised failover control functionality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

A connection switching device for an aircraft network includes a switching network and a second identification device. The switching network connects input/output devices, such that applications may be interconnected or such that an application may be connected to a peripheral device. The second identification device detects an input/output device that is connected to the connection switching device.

Claims

1. A connection switching device for an aircraft network, comprising:

a switching network; and

a second identification device,

wherein the switching network connects input/output devices, such that applications installed on the input/output devices are interconnected or such that an application installed on one of the input/output devices is connected to a peripheral device,

wherein the second identification device detects one of the input/output devices that is connected to the connection switching device, determines a type of the input/output device and communicates the type of the input/output device to a control device,

wherein the second identification device receives an application communicated by one of the input/output devices, and

wherein the connection switching device communicates with a connection determination device of the control device for re-routing a connection to the application for error treatment.

2. The connection switching device according to claim 1, wherein the second identification device comprises a port through which the type of input/output device is identified.

3. The connection switching device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory device comprising a dynamic memory area for storage of virtual connections.

4. The connection switching device of claim 1, wherein the control device identifies the input/output device and determines an application associated with the input/output device.

5. The connection switching device of claim 1, wherein the application is a control for a landing flap.

6. The connection switching device according to claim 1, wherein the second identification device determines the type of the input/output device based on an individual feature associated with the input/output device.

7. The connection switching device according to claim 1, wherein the error treatment takes place during a flight.

8. An input/output device for an aircraft network, comprising:

a first identification device that communicates at least one application running on the input/output device to a connection switching device, the connection switching device comprising;

a switching network; and

a second identification device,

wherein the switching network connects input/output devices, such that applications installed on the input/output devices are interconnected or such that an application installed on one of the input/output devices is connected to a peripheral device,

wherein the second identification device detects the input/output device that is connected to the connection switching device, determines a type of the input/output device and communicates the type of the input/output device to a control device,

wherein the second identification device receives the at least one application communicated by the input/output device, and

wherein the connection switching device communicates with a connection determination device of the control device for re-routing a connection to the at least one application for error treatment.

9. The input/output device according to claim 8, wherein the first identification device comprises a pin coding.

10. The input/output device according to claim 8, wherein the first identification device communicates the at least one application running on the input/output device based on an external query from the connection switching device or the control device.

11. A method for identifying an input/output device, comprising:

communicating at least one application running on the input/output device to a connection switching device, the connection switching device comprising;

a switching network; and

a second identification device,

wherein the switching network connects input/output devices, such that applications installed on the input/output devices are interconnected or such that an application installed on one of the input/output devices is connected to a peripheral device, and

wherein the second identification device detects the input/output device that is connected to the connection switching device, determines a type of the input/output device and communicates the type to a control device,

wherein the second identification device receives the at least one application communicated by the input/output device,

wherein the connection switching device communicates with a connection determination device of the control device for re-routing a connection to the at least one application for error treatment.

12. A method for identifying an input/output device in a connection switching device, comprising:

detecting the input/output device with the connection switching device, the input/output device comprising;

a first identification device that communicates at least one application running on the input/output device to the connection switching device, the connection switching device comprising;

a switching network; and

a second identification device,

wherein the switching network connects input/output devices, such that applications installed on the input/output devices are interconnected or such that an application installed on one of the input/output devices is connected to a peripheral device,

wherein the second identification device detects the input/output device that is connected to the connection switching device, determines a type of the input/output device and communicates the type to a control device;

wherein the second identification device receives the at least one application communicated by the input/output device,

wherein the connection switching device communicates with a connection determination device of the control device for re-routing a connection to the at least one application for error treatment; and

switching connections of input/output devices, such that applications are interconnected or such that an application is connected to the peripheral device.

13. A system comprising:

a control device;

a first input/output device; and

a connection switching device, the control device and the first input/output device connected to the connection switching device and the connection switching device comprises;

a switching network; and

a second identification device,

wherein the switching network connects the first input/output device with other input/output devices, such that applications installed on the first input/output device are interconnected with the other input/output devices or such that an application installed on the first input/output device is connected to a peripheral device,

wherein the second identification device detects the first input/output device that is connected to the connection switching device, determines the type of the first input/output device and communicates the type of the first input/output device to the control device,

wherein the second identification device receives an application communicated by the first input/output device, and

wherein the connection switching device communicates with a connection determination device of the control device for re-routing a connection to the application for error treatment.