Version control for software configurable aircraft systems
First Claim
1. A software version control method comprising:
- installing a software configurable component on an aircraft;
automatically setting a listen switch of the software configurable component to an on state upon installation of the software configurable component in a new installation location, wherein the software configurable component does not command power outputs to a configuration manager on a power path while the listen switch is in the on state and wherein automatically setting the listen switch of the software configurable component to an on state comprises;
reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the installation location to obtain a location tag value;
comparing a previously read tag value with the location tag value; and
setting the listen switch to the on state if the previously read tag value does not match the location tag value;
manually setting the listen switch to an on state if no previous tag value has been read by the software configurable component;
listening for a software version from the configuration manager on a communication bus;
turning off the listen switch if a software version of the software configurable component matches the software version of the configuration manager; and
downloading an updated software version to the software configurable component if the software version of the software configurable component does not match the software version of the configuration manager.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A software version control system and method includes installing a software configurable component on an aircraft, automatically setting a listen switch of the software configurable component to an on state upon installation of the software configurable component in a new installation location, listening for a software version from a configuration manager on a communication bus, turning off the listen switch if a software version of the software configurable component matches the software version of the configuration manager, and downloading an updated software version to the software configurable component if the software version of the software configurable component does not match the software version of the configuration manager.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A software version control method comprising:
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installing a software configurable component on an aircraft; automatically setting a listen switch of the software configurable component to an on state upon installation of the software configurable component in a new installation location, wherein the software configurable component does not command power outputs to a configuration manager on a power path while the listen switch is in the on state and wherein automatically setting the listen switch of the software configurable component to an on state comprises; reading a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the installation location to obtain a location tag value; comparing a previously read tag value with the location tag value; and setting the listen switch to the on state if the previously read tag value does not match the location tag value; manually setting the listen switch to an on state if no previous tag value has been read by the software configurable component; listening for a software version from the configuration manager on a communication bus; turning off the listen switch if a software version of the software configurable component matches the software version of the configuration manager; and downloading an updated software version to the software configurable component if the software version of the software configurable component does not match the software version of the configuration manager. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A software version control system comprising:
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a central processing unit (CPU); a configuration manager that stores a current software version; a software configurable component that includes a listen switch, wherein the listen switch is automatically set to an on state upon installation of the software configurable component; a communication bus connected between the configuration manager and the software configurable component, wherein the software configurable component listens for the current software version when the listen switch is set to the on state, and wherein the software configurable component does not command power outputs to the configuration manager on a power path while the listen switch is in the on state; wherein the software configurable component further comprises; a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader that interrogates an RFID tag upon installation of the software configurable component to receive a new unique identifier; a memory that holds a previous unique identifier; a processor that compares the new unique identifier with the previous unique identifier, wherein the processor sets the listen switch to the on state if the new unique identifier is different than the previous unique identifier; and a manual override button that sets the listen switch to an off state; wherein the software configurable component downloads a software update from the configuration manager if the current software version does not match a software version of the software configurable component when the listen switch is set to the on state. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification