Aircraft display and control system with virtual backplane architecture
First Claim
1. An aircraft control system for controlling a plurality of aircraft functions, said system comprising:
- a) a virtual backplane bus having,1) a system bus,2) a plurality of network interface controllers coupled to said system bus, each of said interface controllers capable of synchronizing with other said interface controllers and transmitting and receiving predefined periodic and deterministic data across said system bus, and,3) a plurality of backplane buses, one of said backplane busses coupled to each of said interface controllers such that all of said predefined periodic and deterministic data is broadcast across said backplane bus;
b) a plurality of modules, each of said modules having,1) a functional portion, and,2) a backplane interface coupled with one of said backplane buses and in communication with said network interface controller for transmitting and receiving data across said system bus, said backplane interface having,a) a receiver portion having access to all said predefined periodic and deterministic data broadcast on said system bus, and,b) a transmit portion communicating intermodule data from said functional portion to said network interface controller.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft control system improves system flexibility, scalability, redundancy, and separation. The system uses a "virtual backplane" architecture which maximizes system flexibility and scalability and allows easy integration of new functions. The architecture comprises four major elements: processing modules; input and output modules (i.e. I/O modules); database modules; and an aircraft wide system network. Inter module communication occurs via the aircraft wide system network thereby eliminating the need for point to point communication and making modules independent of physical location or what modular units (MUs) they are in. Predetermined periodic and deterministic broadcast techniques improve the safety and communications efficiency of the system.
48 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An aircraft control system for controlling a plurality of aircraft functions, said system comprising:
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a) a virtual backplane bus having, 1) a system bus, 2) a plurality of network interface controllers coupled to said system bus, each of said interface controllers capable of synchronizing with other said interface controllers and transmitting and receiving predefined periodic and deterministic data across said system bus, and, 3) a plurality of backplane buses, one of said backplane busses coupled to each of said interface controllers such that all of said predefined periodic and deterministic data is broadcast across said backplane bus; b) a plurality of modules, each of said modules having, 1) a functional portion, and, 2) a backplane interface coupled with one of said backplane buses and in communication with said network interface controller for transmitting and receiving data across said system bus, said backplane interface having, a) a receiver portion having access to all said predefined periodic and deterministic data broadcast on said system bus, and, b) a transmit portion communicating intermodule data from said functional portion to said network interface controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An aircraft communications network comprising:
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a) a system bus; b) at least two modular units, each of said modular units having, 1) a network interface controller capable of synchronizing with other said network interface controllers and transmitting and receiving predefined periodic data on said system bus, and, 2) at least one module, each of said modules having an interface portion in communication with said network interface controller capable of transmitting and receiving data such that all intermodule communications are broadcast across said system bus.
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15. A method of redundant control of aircraft systems comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an aircraft wide virtual backplane network, said network including, 1) a system bus, and, 2) at least two network interface controllers capable of synchronizing with other said network interface controllers and transmitting and receiving predefined periodic data on said system bus; b) providing at least two modules, each of said modules having a backplane interface portion and a functional portion, said interface portion having a receiver and a transmitter suitable for handling communication between one of said network interface controllers and said module such that all intermodule communications between said modules are broadcast across said system bus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification