METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATING PROCEDURES FOR VERIFYING EQUIPMENT IN AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20100152954A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus, Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus, Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Bonzom, Jean-Marc, RIC, Georges, Gillet, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,761,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test

Abstract

The object of the invention is a method and a device for testing or evaluating the configuration of an equipment item in an aircraft comprising an on-board information system having a highly secured part and a less secured part, the less secured part comprising a network interface capable of exchanging data with an external information system, the secured part comprising a maintenance function. After at least one command to test or evaluate the configuration of the equipment item has been received (400) via the said network interface, the received command is encoded (410) then transmitted (415) to the secured part of the information system of the aircraft. In response to the reception of the encoded command, this is filtered (420). In response to the filtering step, the encoded command is translated and executed (425) in relation to the maintenance function.

Claims

1. A method for testing or evaluating the configuration of at least one equipment item in an aircraft, the said aircraft comprising an on-board information system, the said information system comprising a secured part and a less secured part, the said less secured part comprising a network interface capable of exchanging data with an information system external to the said aircraft, the said secured part comprising at least one maintenance function, this method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps,

receiving at least one command to test or evaluate the configuration of the said at least one equipment item via the said network interface;

encoding the said at least one received command;

transmitting the said encoded command to the said secured part of the said information system of the said aircraft;

in response to reception of the said encoded command, filtering the said at least one encoded test command; and

in response to the said filtering step, translating and executing the said encoded command in relation to the said at least one maintenance function.

2. A method according to claim 1, additionally comprising a step of determining a result in response to the said execution of the said at least one command and a step of transmitting the said result to the said information system external to the said aircraft via the said communication interface.

3. A method according to claim 2, according to which the said step of transmitting the said result comprises a step of transmitting the said result from the said secured part of the said information system of the said aircraft to the said less secured part of the said information system of the said aircraft, and a step of transmitting the said result from the said less secured part of the said information system of the said aircraft to the said information system external to the said aircraft.

4. A method according to claim 1, according to which the said less secured part comprises at least one second maintenance function, distinct from the said at least one maintenance function, referred to as at least one first maintenance function, the method additionally comprising a step of evaluating the said at least one command capable of determining if the said at least one command is intended for the said secured part or for the said less secured part of the said information system of the said aircraft, the said steps of encoding, of transmitting, of filtering, of translating and of executing the said at least one command being executed if the said at least one command is intended for the said secured part of the said information system of the said aircraft.

5. A method according to the preceding claim, additionally comprising, if the said at least one command is intended for the said less secured part of the said information system of the said aircraft, a step of executing the said at least one received command in relation to the said at least one second maintenance function.

6. A method according to the preceding claim, according to which the said at least one received command is encoded prior to execution thereof.

7. A method according to claim 1, additionally comprising an initial step of establishing a secured communication channel between the said information system of the said aircraft and the said information system external to the said aircraft.

8. A computer program comprising instructions capable of employing each of the steps of the method according to any one of the preceding claims when the said program is executed on a computer.

9. A device comprising means capable of employing each of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. An aircraft comprising a device comprising means capable of employing each of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.