INHERENT POWER-OVER-DATA BUS SIGNALING FOR SECURE OPERATING MODE SWITCHING

• US 20140379880A1
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Klose, Peter, Hanka, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 9,948,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/625 wherein it is irrelevant whether the variable actually regulated is ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4028 the transportation system being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method for changing an operating mode of a processing unit of a network node is described. The processing unit is connected to a communication and supply line for providing data communication and for providing a supply voltage. The method includes an establishing of a communication connection of the processing unit of the network node via the communication and supply line, a determination of a change of the supply voltage of the communication and supply line by the processing unit, and a setting of an operation mode of the processing unit based on the determined change of the supply voltage.

Claims

1. A method for changing an operating mode of a processing unit of a network node connected to a communication and supply line for providing data communication and for providing a supply voltage, the method comprising:

establishing a communication connection of the processing unit of the network node via the communication and supply line;

determining a change of the supply voltage of the communication and supply line by the processing unit; and

setting an operation mode of the processing unit based on the determined change of the supply voltage.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the operation mode of the processing unit comprises at least changing between a normal operation mode and a configuration mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode is set based on a determination of a predefined present voltage or voltage range of the supply voltage.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode of the processing unit is set based on determination of a predefined timely change of the supply voltage.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode is set based on a combination of the determined change of the supply voltage and a predefined set of data received by the processing unit via the communication connection.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication connection of the processing unit to the communication and supply line is established via a data switch of the network node.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the supply voltage of the communication and supply line is provided to the data switch.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit provides a further supply voltage to the data switch.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

connecting the data connection to a previous and a next network node by the data switch;

detecting a failure of the processing unit by the data switch; and

short-circuiting the data connection between the previous and the next network node in case of a failure of the processing unit.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising exchanging, by an interface of the processing unit, data with application data services.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

changing the supply voltage by a central server unit, which is connected to the communication and supply line.

12. A network node for a data network, comprising:

a processing unit;

a sensor for measuring a voltage in a supply voltage in a communication and supply line connected to the processing unit;

wherein the network node is supplied with the supply voltage from the supply and communication line;

wherein the processing unit is adapted to establishing a communication connection of a processing unit of the network node via the communication and supply line;

wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a change of the central supply voltage of a communication and supply line with the sensor; and

wherein the processing unit is adapted to set an operation mode of the processing unit as a function of the state of the supply voltage.

13. A data network, comprising:

a central server unit;

a network node comprising;

a processing unit;

a sensor for measuring a voltage in a supply voltage in a communication and supply line connected to the processing unit;

wherein the network node is supplied with the supply voltage from the supply and communication line;

wherein the processing unit is adapted to establishing a communication connection of a processing unit of the network node via the communication and supply line;

wherein the processing unit is adapted to determine a change of the central supply voltage of a communication and supply line with the sensor; and

wherein the processing unit is adapted to set an operation mode of the processing unit as a function of the state of the supply voltage, and

a communication and supply line adapted to provide data communication between the central server unit and the network node and to supply a supply voltage from the central server unit.

14. The data network of claim 13,

wherein the central server unit comprises a server power supply adapted to provide the supply voltage to the communication and supply line;

and

wherein the central server unit comprises a server supply voltage switch for changing the supply voltage supplied to the network node.