Port expansion device for aircraft

Abstract

A port expansion device for an aircraft. The port expansion device (101B) is connected to a user interface terminal in the aircraft. The user interface terminal displays a selection page, which is designed to enable a peripheral system to be selected from the peripheral systems (FM1, ACARS) connected to the user interface terminal so as to pass the graphical interface control to the selected peripheral system. Other peripheral systems (ROPS, BTV) are connected to the user interface terminal via a control circuit system (CC) of the port expansion device (101B), which simulates the behavior of the peripheral systems. The control circuit system (CC) outputs a name representing a menu navigation action on the user interface terminal and simulates another selection page in the style of a selection page generated by the user interface terminal, so that a peripheral system can be selected from the other peripheral systems (ROPS, BTV). Port expansion is thus performed transparently.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a port expansion device intended to be connected to a user interface terminal in an aircraft, and to an aircraft comprising such a port expansion device. The invention relates to a method implemented by such a port expansion device, and to a computer program product designed to implement this method and to an information storage medium on which such a computer program is stored. Background Art

[0002] In aircraft, user interface terminals called MCDU ('multipurpose control and display unit' in English) allow users (pilots, co-pilots) to control different systems of the aircraft (herein referred to as peripheral systems). These user interface terminals thus serve as a common platform for interacting with users to control these peripheral systems.

[0003] These user interface terminals accordingly include a screen on which the names of the peripheral systems connected to the user interface terminal are displayed via a selection page. When the user selects a peripheral system via this selection page, the user interface terminal in question switches to the selected peripheral system. The control operations performed on the user interface terminal are then passed to the selected peripheral system for processing, and the graphical interface displayed on the screen is generated by the selected peripheral system.

[0004] A difficulty encountered by these user interface terminals is that they have a limited number of ports that allow peripheral systems to be connected thereto. It is desirable to alleviate this shortcoming in the prior art. It is particularly desirable to provide a solution that allows the number of ports of these user interface terminals to be expanded without having to replace these user interface terminals with user interface terminals having a greater number of ports. It is also desirable to provide a solution that enables the number of ports of these user interface terminals to be transparently expanded to the user interface terminal, the peripheral system, and the user. Summary of the invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a port expansion device, which is intended to be connected to a user interface terminal in an aircraft, the user interface terminal being intended to directly connect a peripheral system thereto and to display a selection page on the screen of the user interface terminal, the selection page being designed to allow a user to select a peripheral system from among the peripheral systems so as to pass graphical interface control to the selected peripheral system. Other peripheral systems are connected to the user interface terminal via the control circuit system of the port expansion device, and the port expansion device enables the control circuit system to be designed to simulate peripheral system behavior and implement the following items: implement means for responding to a name request from the user interface terminal with a name representing a menu navigation action on the user interface terminal; when the user interface terminal performs a graphic interface control transfer from the user interface terminal to the control circuit system, implement means for simulating another selection page in the style of the selection page generated by the user interface terminal, and the other selection page is designed to allow a user to select a peripheral system from other peripheral systems connected to the control circuit system; and when the control circuit system detects that a peripheral system is selected from among the other peripheral systems by the graphic interface control transfer, implement means for performing a graphic interface control transfer from the user interface terminal to the selected peripheral system, and the control circuit system serves as a relay between the selected peripheral system and the user interface terminal.

[0006] Thus, by means of the port extension device, the number of existing ports on the user interface terminal is extended, and this is done transparently to the user interface terminal because the control circuit system simulates the behavior of the peripheral system. In addition, the port extension is transparent to the user because the control circuit system simulates another selection page in the style of the selection page generated by the user interface terminal. Finally, because the control circuit system acts as a relay between the peripheral system connected thereto and the user interface terminal, the port extension is also transparent to the peripheral system for which the control circuit system acts as a relay.

[0007] According to a particular embodiment, the port expansion device comprises a connector intended to connect the port expansion device to the user interface terminal and a line intended to connect the other peripheral system, and in that the control circuit system is included in a housing linking the connector and the line.

[0008] According to a particular embodiment, the port expansion device comprises further lines intended to connect the peripheral system to be directly connected to the user interface terminal, and the further lines are directly connected to the connector.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment, the connector is a female connector according to the ARINC-739 standard.

[0010] According to a particular embodiment, the further selection page comprises an element reserved for returning to a selection page generated by the user interface terminal, and when the user selects the element, the control circuit system implements means for executing a transfer of graphical interface control back to the user interface terminal.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, in order to define said further selection page, said control circuitry implements means for retrieving the name of each peripheral system connected thereto by sending a name request to said peripheral system.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling peripheral systems, the system comprising a user interface terminal, a peripheral system, and a port expansion device as outlined above, a subset of the peripheral systems being directly connected to the user interface terminal, and another subset of the peripheral systems being connected to the user interface terminal via a control circuit system of the port expansion device.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to propose an aircraft comprising a control system as outlined above.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to propose a method implemented by a control circuit system of a port expansion device connected to a user interface terminal in an aircraft, wherein the user interface terminal is designed to directly connect a peripheral system thereto and display a selection page on the screen of the user interface terminal, wherein the selection page is designed to allow a user to select a peripheral system from among the peripheral systems so as to transfer graphical interface control to the selected peripheral system. Other peripheral system terminals are connected to the user interface terminal via the control circuit system, and the method enables the control circuit system to simulate peripheral system behavior and implement the following steps: a means of responding to a name request from the user interface terminal with a name representing a menu navigation action on the user interface terminal; when the user interface terminal performs a graphic interface control transfer from the user interface terminal to the control circuit system, simulating another selection page in the style of the selection page generated by the user interface terminal, the other selection page being designed to allow the user to select a peripheral system from other peripheral systems connected to the control circuit system; and when the control circuit system detects that a peripheral system has been selected from among the other peripheral systems by means of the graphic interface control transfer, performing a graphic interface control transfer from the user interface terminal to the selected peripheral system, the control circuit system serving as a relay between the selected peripheral system and the user interface terminal.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to propose a computer program product that can be stored on a medium and / or downloaded from a communication network so as to be read by a processor of a port expansion device as outlined above. This computer program comprises instructions for implementing the above method when the processor executes the program. Another object of the invention is to propose an information storage medium on which such a computer program is stored. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above-mentioned and other features of the present invention will appear more clearly after reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, which description is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] - Figure 1 shows a plan view of an aircraft in which an assembly formed by a user interface terminal and a port expansion device is installed;

[0018] - Figure 2A schematically illustrates a user interface terminal in a first layout, and Figure 2B schematically illustrates a user interface terminal in a second layout;

[0019] - Figure 3 Schematically illustrates an exemplary hardware architecture of a control unit of a user interface terminal;

[0020] - Figure 4A schematically illustrates a first exemplary display obtained on the screen of the user interface terminal, and Figure 4B schematically illustrates a second exemplary display obtained on the screen of the user interface terminal;

[0021] - Figure 5 schematically illustrates a port expansion device intended to be connected to a user interface terminal;

[0022] - Figure 6 Schematically illustrates an exemplary hardware architecture of a control circuit system included in a port expansion device;

[0023] - Figure 7 Schematically shows a method for displaying a graphical interface page through a user interface terminal so as to enable acquisition Figure 4A The first exemplary display algorithm;

[0024] - Figure 8 Schematically shows a method for responding to a request from a user interface terminal through a control circuit system included in a port expansion device to enable acquisition of Figure 4A The first exemplary display algorithm;

[0025] - Fig. 9Schematically shows a method for display management through a user interface terminal to enable acquisition Figure 4B The algorithm of the second exemplary display; and

[0026] - Fig.10 Schematically shows a method for performing display management by a control circuit system included in a port expansion device to enable acquisition of Figure 4B The second example shows the algorithm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 An aircraft 100 is shown in a plan view. The aircraft 100 is equipped with a set of computerized devices intended to provide assistance to the pilot of the aircraft 100. More generally, this set of computerized devices is intended to allow the operation of the aircraft 100. As described below, this set of computerized devices comprises a control system 101, formed by a user interface terminal 101A and a port expansion device 101B, to which at least a subset of the plurality of peripheral systems is connected via the port expansion device 101B. The port expansion device 101B thus forms a line enabling the connection of the peripheral systems to the user interface terminal 101A.

[0028] In a particular embodiment, the user interface terminal 101A is of MCDU type, preferably according to the ARINC-739 standard. The user interface terminal 101A may be a variant of the MCDU, called KCCU ('keyboard cursor control unit' in English).

[0029] The user interface terminal 101A has a limited number of ports for directly connecting peripheral systems, and the port expansion device 101B is designed to expand this number of ports to enable a greater number of peripheral systems to be connected, and to do so transparently to the user interface terminal 101A.

[0030] Figure 2A The user interface terminal 101A is schematically shown in a first layout. Figure 2AIn the embodiment, the user interface terminal 101A comprises a screen 200A, a set of twelve buttons B1 to B6 and B11 to B16 at the edge of the screen 200A, and a keyboard K. The user interface terminal 101A also comprises a male connector MC intended to be connected to the port expansion device 101B. Preferably, the male connector MC is according to the ARINC-739 standard and therefore meets the requirements of the MS24264R military equipment standard. As a variant, the user interface terminal 101A can be equipped with a female connector as a substitute for the male connector MC (which means that the port expansion device 101B is then equipped with a corresponding male connector).

[0031] The user interface terminal 101A is designed to display a graphical interface GUI ('graphical user interface' in English) page on the screen 200A. The displayed graphical interface GUI page is generated by the user interface terminal 101A, and when the user has selected a peripheral system via a selection page, the displayed graphical interface GUI page is generated by the selected peripheral system until the selected peripheral system is switched back to the user interface terminal 101A. In other words, once the peripheral system is selected via the selection page, user interface control transfer is performed: commands made by the user on the keyboard K and on buttons B1 to B6 and B11 to B16 are transferred by the user interface terminal 101A to the selected peripheral system through the line formed by the port expansion device 101B, and the graphical interface displayed on the screen is provided by the selected peripheral system to the user interface terminal 101A through the line formed by the port expansion device 101B. Some keys of the keyboard K and / or possibly some buttons B1 to B6 and B11 to B16 may remain within the control range of the user interface terminal 101A, for example in order to allow the user to request that the selected peripheral system switch back to the user interface and thereby return to a selection page or to another menu page managed by the user interface terminal 101A.

[0032] More specifically, the selection page is a graphical interface GUI page generated by the user interface terminal 101A. This selection page displays a list of peripheral systems connected to the user interface terminal 101A via a line formed by the port expansion device 101B. The names of the peripheral systems in question are displayed in corresponding display areas A1 to A6 and A11 to A16 on the selection page. These display areas A1 to A6 and A11 to A16 are displayed corresponding to buttons B1 to B6 and B11 to B16 at the edges of the screen, respectively. By pressing one of the buttons B1 to B6 and B11 to B16, the user selects the peripheral system whose name is written in that display area A1 to A6 and A11 to A16 displayed corresponding to the pressed button. Hereinafter, reference is made to Figure 4AAn exemplary selection page displayed on the screen of the user interface terminal 101A is shown.

[0033] Figure 2B The user interface terminal 101A is schematically shown in a second layout. This second layout is similar to Figure 2A . The difference is that there is a touch screen 200B as a substitute for the screen 200A. Therefore, these display areas A1 to A6 and A11 to A16 are active areas in the sense that touching one of the display areas enables the selection of a peripheral system whose name is displayed on the display area. The touch screen may also display other graphical elements, such as a virtual keyboard ( Figure 2B not shown).

[0034] Figure 3 Schematically illustrated is an exemplary hardware architecture of a control unit CU included in the user interface terminal 101A. The control unit CU thus comprises: a processor or CPU ('central processing unit' in English) 310; a random access memory RAM 311; a read-only memory ROM 312; a storage unit, such as a hard disk HDD ('hard disk drive' in English) 313; a set of communication interfaces COM 314 enabling the control unit CU to be connected to a plurality of peripheral systems via a male connector MC; and a connection interface DISP ('display' in English) for connecting to a screen of the user interface terminal 101A, linked by a communication bus 301.

[0035] The processor CPU 310 can execute instructions loaded into the memory RAM 311 from the memory ROM 312, from an external memory (not shown), from a storage medium (such as a hard disk HDD), or from a communication network (not shown). When the control unit CU is powered on, the processor CPU 310 can read instructions from the memory RAM 311 and can execute these instructions. These instructions form a system that enables the processor CPU 310 to implement the following reference Figure 7 and Fig. 9 A computer program that describes all or some of the algorithms and steps.

[0036] References below Figure 7 and Fig. 9All or some of the described algorithms and steps may therefore be implemented in software form by a programmable machine such as a DSP ('digital signal processor') or a microcontroller by executing a set of instructions, or in hardware form by a machine or dedicated components such as FPGA ('field-programmable gate array') or ASIC ('application-specific integrated circuit system') components. In general, the user interface terminal 101A includes an electronic circuit system designed to implement the following references in software and / or hardware form. Figure 7 and Fig. 9 Describe the algorithm and steps.

[0037] Figure 4A The first exemplary display obtained on the screen of the user interface terminal 101A is schematically shown. The first exemplary display shows the above-mentioned selection page.

[0038] In this first example, a button B16 (or if the screen is a touch screen, the effective display area A16) is reserved for returning to a graphical interface GUI page generated by the user interface terminal 101A and having a higher level than the selected page. Therefore, the display area A16 is marked as 'return' and does not correspond to a peripheral system. Pressing the button B16 (or if the screen is a touch screen, the effective display area A16) therefore does not select a peripheral system from among the peripheral systems connected to the user interface terminal 101A via the port expansion device 101B.

[0039] In this first exemplary display corresponding to a selection page generated by user interface terminal 101A:

[0040] - Display area A1 is marked as FM1 ('Flight Management #1' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is the flight management system;

[0041] - Display area A2 is marked as ACARS ('aircraft communication addressing and reporting system' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is a system for coded communication with the ground;

[0042] - Display area A3 is marked as CMS ('cabin management system' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is the cabin management system;

[0043] - Display area A4 is marked as SATCOM (abbreviation for 'satellite communications' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is a satellite communication system;

[0044] - Display area A5 is marked as ACMS ('aircraft condition monitoring system' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is the maintenance assistance system;

[0045] - Display area A6 is marked as ATSU ('air traffic services unit' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is the air traffic control system;

[0046] - Display area A11 is marked as NAV B / UP ('navigation backup' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is the backup navigation system;

[0047] - Display area A12 is marked as FWS ('flight warning system' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is the monitoring and warning system;

[0048] - Display area A13 is marked as FG ('flight guidance' in English), and the corresponding peripheral system is the flight guidance system;

[0049] - the display area A14 is labeled IRIDIUM (a reference to the company of the same name specializing in aviation communication systems), and the corresponding peripheral system is therefore a communication system; and

[0050] - Display area A15 is marked as 'next'. This name itself does not correspond to a peripheral system. Pressing button B15 (or if the screen is a touch screen, the active display area A15) therefore does not select a peripheral system from the peripheral systems connected to the user interface terminal 101A to switch to it, but rather switches to the control circuit system CC integrated into the port expansion device 101B. This control circuit system CC simulates the peripheral system behavior so as to be transparent to the user interface terminal 101A. As described in detail below, this control circuit system CC makes it possible to expand the number of peripheral systems that can be connected to the user interface terminal 101A at the same time.

[0051] Figure 4B A second exemplary display obtained on the screen of the user interface terminal 101A is schematically shown. This second exemplary display corresponds to a graphical interface page generated by the control circuit system CC when the user interface terminal 101A switches to the control circuit system CC. The graphical interface page generated by the control circuit system CC is therefore designed to allow the user to select a peripheral system that the user interface terminal 101A cannot directly detect. This graphical interface page generated by the control circuit system CC is in the style of a selection page generated by the user interface terminal 101A, so that the user will not be aware that control has been switched to the control circuit system CC. In other words, the control circuit system CC simulates a selection page. In this way, the existence of this control circuit system CC is completely transparent to the user.

[0052] exist Figure 4B In a specific embodiment shown in , an element for returning to the selection page generated by the user interface terminal 101A is reserved. Button B16 (or if the screen is a touch screen, the effective display area A16) is used for this purpose, for example. As a result, display area A16 is also marked as 'return' and does not correspond to a peripheral system. Pressing button B16 (or if the screen is a touch screen, the effective display area A16) will therefore not select a peripheral system from the peripheral systems connected to the port expansion device 101B but not directly detected by the user interface terminal 101A. Specifically, pressing button B16 (or if the screen is a touch screen, the effective display area A16) switches back to the user interface terminal 101A. In other words, the control circuit system CC then passes the graphical interface control back to the user interface terminal 101A to display the actual selection page.

[0053] In this second exemplary display corresponding to a graphical interface page in the form of a simulated selection page generated by the control circuitry CC:

[0054] - Display area A1 is marked as ROPS ('runway overrun prevention system' in English) and the corresponding peripheral system is the runway overrun prevention system;

[0055] - the display area A2 is marked BTV ('brake to vacate' in English) and the corresponding peripheral system is the system for controlling the braking distance during landing; and

[0056] The display area A3 is labeled EFB ('electronic flight bag' in English) and the corresponding peripheral system is a computerized assistance system for the pilot, which includes a reference manual and other applications dedicated to the management of the pilot's flight.

[0057] exist Figure 4B , the other display areas are vacant. However, other peripheral systems can be connected to the control circuit system CC and thus appear on a graphical interface page generated by the control circuit system CC in a simulated form of the selection page generated by the user interface terminal 101A. Therefore, by virtue of the control circuit system CC, these three peripheral systems can be used by the user by manipulating the user interface terminal 101A, whereas if this control circuit system CC does not exist, only one of the three peripheral systems will be able to be connected to the user interface terminal 101A.

[0058] Figure 5 There is schematically illustrated a port expansion device 101B comprising the control circuitry CC already outlined.

[0059] The port expansion device 101B comprises a female connector FC allowing the port expansion device 101B to be physically connected to the user interface terminal 101 A. The female connector FC is preferably according to the ARINC-739 standard.

[0060] The port expansion device 101B includes a line that enables the peripheral system to be directly connected to the user interface terminal 101A via the female connector FC. In an illustrative manner, this is the case with the FM1, ACARS, CMS, SATCOM, ACMS, ATSU, NAV B / UP, FWS, FG and IRIDIUM peripheral systems. The port expansion device 101B includes an additional line that enables the connection of other peripheral systems that cannot all be directly connected to the user interface terminal 101A due to the lack of ports on the user interface terminal 101A via the control circuit system CC. In an illustrative manner, the peripheral systems ROPS, BTV and EFB are the case. This line thus forms a harness 502, and the control circuit system CC is incorporated into an electrically insulating housing that assembles the harness 502 with the contacts of the female connector FC, thereby providing an electrical link with the male connector MC of the user interface terminal 101A. It is therefore possible to use a connector form factor that is the same as the connector form factor used when the number of peripheral systems to be connected does not exceed the connection capacity of the user interface terminal 101A.

[0061] It should be noted that, as a variant, the lines linking the peripheral systems directly to the user interface terminal 101A may be formed independently of the lines of other peripheral systems to the user interface terminal 101A via the control circuit system CC and therefore rely on one or more connectors separate from the female connector FC of the port expansion device 101B.

[0062] Figure 6 Schematically shows an exemplary hardware architecture of the control circuit system CC included in the port expansion device 101B. The control circuit system CC thus includes: a processor or CPU 610; a random access memory RAM 611; a read-only memory ROM 612; a storage unit (such as an SD card reader 613), or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory EEPROM (such as a flash memory) linked by a communication bus 601; a set of communication interfaces COM 614, which on the one hand enables the control circuit system CC to be connected to the user interface terminal 101A via the male connector MC, and on the other hand enables the control circuit system CC to be connected to a plurality of peripheral systems.

[0063] The processor CPU 610 is capable of executing instructions loaded into the memory RAM 611 from the memory ROM 612, from an external memory (not shown), from a storage medium (such as an SD card), or from a communication network (not shown). When the control circuit system CC is powered on, the processor CPU 610 is capable of reading instructions from the memory RAM 611 and is capable of executing these instructions. These instructions form the processor CPU 610 to implement the following reference Figure 8 and Fig.10 A computer program that describes all or some of the algorithms and steps.

[0064] References below Figure 8 and Fig.10 All or some of the described algorithms and steps may thus be implemented in software form by a programmable machine such as a processor DSP or a microcontroller by executing a set of instructions, or in hardware form by a machine or dedicated components such as FPGA or ASIC components. In general, the port expansion device 101B includes an electronic circuit system designed to implement the following referenced in software and / or hardware form. Figure 8 and Fig.10 Describe the algorithm and steps.

[0065] As far as power supply is concerned, the control circuit system CC is preferably powered by a branch of a cable present in the wiring harness 502 intended to power the user interface terminal 101 A. Due to the low complexity of the control circuit system CC, powering the control circuit system CC in addition to the user interface terminal 101 A has a negligible impact on the power supply energy budget.

[0066] Figure 7 Schematically shows a method for the user interface terminal 101A to display a selection page, in particular to enable acquisition Figure 4A The first example shows the algorithm.

[0067] In step 701, the user interface terminal 101A detects that peripheral systems are physically connected to the user interface terminal 101A. The user interface terminal 101A does not know that at least one of the detected peripheral systems is actually a control circuit system CC (specifically, there may be multiple such control circuit systems CC systems in the same port expansion device 101B). The other detected peripheral systems are those that are directly connected to the user interface terminal 101A, and from the perspective of the user interface terminal 101A, the remaining peripheral systems are masked by the control circuit system CC.

[0068] In step 702, the user interface terminal 101A sends a name request to each connected peripheral system. This triggers a program within the control circuit system CC, as described below with reference to Figure 8 as described.

[0069] At step 703, the user interface terminal 101A receives in response the name of each connected peripheral system, including the name provided by the control circuitry CC.

[0070] At step 704, the user interface terminal 101A displays a selection page. The selection page is displayed in a style specific to the user interface terminal 101A (because it is the user interface terminal 101A that generates this portion of the graphical interface presented to the user). The selection page lists the response received at step 703, such as the above reference Figure 4A Just as described.

[0071] Figure 8 An algorithm for the response by the control circuitry CC to the request sent from the user interface terminal 101A in step 702 is schematically illustrated.

[0072] At step 801, it is detected that the control circuitry CC is connected to the user interface terminal 101A.

[0073] At step 802 , the control circuitry CC receives the request transmitted at step 702 by the user interface terminal 101A.

[0074] In step 803, the control circuit system CC simulates the behavior of the peripheral system and responds to the request from the user interface terminal 101A with a name representing the menu navigation action on the user interface terminal 101A. Such a name invites the user to select it in order to find other accessible peripheral systems. For example, the general name provided by the control circuit system CC is: 'next' (such as Figure 4A ), 'next page', 'more', or '...'. The user interface terminal 101A therefore believes that it has received a valid name for the peripheral system, but in fact, the user interface terminal receives a name that the user believes represents a menu navigation action on the graphical interface of the user interface terminal 101A.

[0075] Fig. 9 Schematically illustrates a method for display management by the user interface terminal 101A, in particular enabling acquisition of Figure 4B The second exemplary display of and the algorithm for doing so is transparent to the user interface terminal 101A.

[0076] In step 901, the user interface terminal 101A detects a user's selection of a peripheral system listed in a selection page generated by the user interface terminal 101A.

[0077] In step 902, the user interface terminal 101A passes the user interface control to the peripheral system, that is, the user interface terminal 101A passes the control operation performed by the user on the user interface terminal 101A to the peripheral system for processing, and the user interface terminal 101A receives the graphical interface to be displayed from the peripheral system.

[0078] If the selection concerns a peripheral system directly connected to the user interface terminal 101A, the user interface terminal 101A thus switches to said peripheral system. If the selection concerns the control circuit system CC, the user interface terminal 101A thus switches to the control circuit system CC as if the control circuit system CC were the peripheral system. This triggers a program within the control circuit system CC, as described below with reference to Fig.10 This allows the control circuit system CC to cause the user interface terminal 101A to display a selection page simulation, such as by Figure 4B What is shown.

[0079] Fig.10 Schematically showing a method for displaying management by the control circuit system CC so as to enable acquisition Figure 4B The second example shows the algorithm.

[0080] In step 1001, the control circuitry CC detects a user interface control transfer from the user interface terminal 101A. Step 1001 follows step 902 performed by said user interface terminal 101A.

[0081] In step 1002, the control circuit system CC retrieves the name of each peripheral system connected to the control circuit system CC. For example, this name is written into the non-volatile memory of the control circuit system CC by previous configuration. Preferably, the control circuit system CC sends a name request to each peripheral system connected to the control circuit system CC, and the user interface terminal 101A does the same with respect to the peripheral system directly connected to it. The control circuit system CC receives the name of each peripheral system connected to the control circuit system CC in response.

[0082] In step 1003, the control circuit system CC simulates a selection page in the style of the selection page generated by the user interface terminal 101A so that the user does not realize that control has been switched to the control circuit system CC. The simulated selection page lists the peripheral systems whose names have been retrieved in step 1002, such as the peripheral systems referenced above. Figure 4B The simulated selection page is thus transmitted to the user interface terminal 101A for display on the screen.

[0083] At step 1004, the control circuitry CC detects, by means of a control transfer, a user's selection of a peripheral system listed in a selection page simulated by the control circuitry CC.

[0084] In step 1005, the control circuit system CC passes the user interface control to the peripheral system, that is, the user interface terminal 101A passes the control operations performed by the user on the user interface terminal 101A to the control circuit system CC, and the control circuit system CC passes these control operations to the peripheral system for processing. In the other direction, the control circuit system CC receives the graphic interface to be displayed from the peripheral system, and then passes this graphic interface to be displayed to the user interface terminal 101A.

[0085] The control circuitry CC thus acts as a transparent relay between the user interface terminal 101A and the peripheral systems.

Claims

1. A port expansion device connected to a user interface terminal in an aircraft, the user interface terminal being configured to connect a first set of peripheral systems directly to the user interface terminal and to display a first selection page on a screen of the user interface terminal, the first selection page displaying names of peripheral systems in the first set of peripheral systems, thereby allowing a user to select a peripheral system from among the first set of peripheral systems so as to pass a graphical interface control to the selected peripheral system, in, The port expansion device includes control circuitry configured to connect a second set of peripheral systems to the user interface terminal, the control circuitry further configured to: responding to a name request from the user interface terminal with a name representing a menu navigation action on the user interface terminal; When receiving a graphic interface control transmitted from the user interface terminal, simulating a second selection page in the same style as the first selection page, wherein the second selection page displays the names of the peripheral systems in the second set of peripheral systems, thereby allowing the user to select a peripheral system from among the second set of peripheral systems; and upon detecting selection of a peripheral system from the second set of peripheral systems, passing graphical interface control from the control circuitry to the selected peripheral system from the second set, the control circuitry thereby acting as a relay between the selected peripheral system from the second set and the user interface terminal; Wherein, the first set of peripheral systems are directly connected to the user interface terminal, and the second set of peripheral systems are connected to the user interface terminal through the control circuit system of the port expansion device.

2. The port expansion device of claim 1, further comprising a connector configured to connect the port expansion device to the user interface terminal and a line configured to connect the second set of peripheral systems, wherein The control circuitry is included in a housing connecting the connector and the circuit.

3. The port expansion device of claim 2, further comprising an additional line configured to connect a peripheral system directly to the user interface terminal, wherein The further line is connected directly to the connector.

4. The port expansion device according to claim 2, wherein: The connector is a female connector according to the ARINC-739 standard.

5. The port expansion device according to claim 1, wherein: The second selection page includes an element enabling a return to a first selection page generated by the user interface terminal, and the control circuitry is configured to pass graphical interface control back to the user interface terminal upon detecting user selection of the element.

6. The port expansion device according to claim 1, wherein: The control circuit system is further configured to retrieve a name of each peripheral system connected to the control circuit system by sending a name request to each peripheral system when generating the second selection page.

7. A control system for controlling peripheral systems, comprising a user interface terminal, a peripheral system, and a port expansion device according to claim 1, wherein a first set of the peripheral systems is directly connected to the user interface terminal, and a second set of the peripheral systems is connected to the user interface terminal through a control circuit system of the port expansion device.

8. An aircraft comprising a control system according to claim 7.

9. A method implemented by a control circuit system of a port expansion device connected to a user interface terminal in an aircraft, the user interface terminal being configured to connect a first set of peripheral systems directly to the user interface terminal and to display a first selection page on a screen of the user interface terminal, the first selection page displaying names of peripheral systems in the first set of peripheral systems, thereby allowing a user to select a peripheral system from among the first set of peripheral systems so as to pass graphical interface control to the selected peripheral system, A second set of peripheral systems is connected to the user interface terminal via the control circuit system, the method comprising: receiving a name request from the user interface terminal, responding to a name request from the user interface terminal with a name representing a menu navigation action on the user interface terminal; When receiving a graphic interface control transmitted from the user interface terminal, simulating a second selection page in the same style as the first selection page generated by the user interface terminal, wherein the second selection page displays the names of the peripheral systems in the second set of peripheral systems, thereby allowing the user to select a peripheral system from among the second set of peripheral systems; and upon detecting selection of a peripheral system from the second set of peripheral systems, passing graphical interface control from the control circuitry to the selected peripheral system from the second set, the control circuitry thereby acting as a relay between the selected peripheral system from the second set and the user interface terminal; The first set of peripheral systems are directly connected to the user interface terminal, and the second set of peripheral systems are connected to the user interface terminal through the control circuitry of the port expansion device.

10. A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program comprising instructions for execution by a port expansion device, the instructions causing the port expansion device to execute the method according to claim 9 when the instructions are executed by a processor of a control circuit system of the port expansion device.

11. A port expansion device, the port expansion device connected to a user interface terminal, the user interface terminal being configured to connect to a first set of peripheral systems and to generate and display a first selection page, the first selection page displaying names of peripheral systems in the first set of peripheral systems, thereby allowing a user to select a peripheral system from the first set of peripheral systems to transfer user interface control, the port expansion device comprising: a connector configured to connect the port expansion device to the user interface terminal, and a control circuit system configured to connect a second set of peripheral systems to the user interface terminal, the control circuit system configured to: receiving a common name request from the user interface terminal; responding to the generic name by passing user interface control from the user interface terminal to the control circuitry; When receiving a user interface control transmitted from the user interface terminal, sending a name request to the second set of peripheral systems and receiving a name of a peripheral system in the second set of peripheral systems; generating and displaying a second selection page using the names of the peripheral systems in the second set of peripheral systems, the second selection page identifying the names of the peripheral systems in the second set of peripheral systems, thereby allowing a user to select a peripheral system from among the second set of peripheral systems; as well as upon detecting selection of a name of one of the peripheral systems from the second set of peripheral systems, passing user interface control from the control circuitry to the selected peripheral system from the second set; The first set of peripheral systems are directly connected to the user interface terminal, and the second set of peripheral systems are connected to the user interface terminal through the control circuitry of the port expansion device.

12. The port expansion device according to claim 11, wherein: The connector is a female connector configured to connect the port expansion device to the user interface terminal.

13. The port expansion device of claim 11, further comprising wiring configured to directly connect the first set of peripheral systems to the user interface terminal via the connector.

14. The port expansion device of claim 13, further comprising additional wiring configured to connect the second set of peripheral systems to the user interface terminal via the control circuit.

15. The port expansion device according to claim 11, wherein: Names representing elements on the first user interface generated by the user interface terminal include “next”, “next page”, “more” or “…”.

16. The port expansion device according to claim 11, wherein: The first selection page includes elements respectively representing a first set of the peripheral systems.

17. The port expansion device according to claim 11, wherein: The second selection page includes elements respectively representing a second set of the peripheral systems.

18. The port expansion device according to claim 11, wherein the second selection page includes an element enabling return to the first selection page generated by the user interface terminal.

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