Information processing platform of airborne information system

Abstract

The invention discloses an information processing platform of an airborne information system, relates to the field of avionics equipment and information systems, and is characterized in that the information processing platform comprises a plurality of airborne information processing units and a plurality of information aggregation devices; the airborne information processing units are connected through a double-link redundant network bus to form a looped network, and each airborne information processing unit carries out virtualization management on hardware resources of the airborne information processing unit through a virtual machine and a container; each information aggregation device forms a looped network through a high-speed network and serves as a network node, each information aggregation device is provided with two network ports, a bridge route is connected between the two network ports, and each information aggregation device carries out virtualization management on hardware resources of the information aggregation device through a virtual machine and a container; each information aggregation device is connected with the airborne information processing unit or other information aggregation devices through two network ports to form a daisy chain interconnection link for communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of avionics equipment and information systems, and more specifically, to an information processing platform for an airborne information system. Background Art

[0002] The airborne information system is an avionics system in civil aircraft that is closely related to the business of airlines. This avionics system is used to provide information support for decision support and security, airborne flight status, maintenance informationization, etc.

[0003] At present, the defects of airborne information systems are mainly reflected in:

[0004] 1) The current airborne information system architecture uses star access, which occupies a lot of network port resources and has a lot of cable length and weight. Secondly, the network port of the expansion device requires the network server to update the configuration.

[0005] 2) The airborne information system uses a network server as the management center of the system, which has an obvious single point of failure. Once the single-point network server is damaged, the business functions of the network server cannot be executed, which will lead to the loss of the business functions of the airborne information system.

[0006] 3) As the equipment configuration of the aircraft is constantly adjusted, each change in configuration requires reconfiguration of the hardware resources of the airborne information system, such as network servers, network ports, computing, storage and other hardware resources. However, the current airborne information system only allows a small amount of expansion and adjustment, resulting in low configurability of hardware resources. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present application provides an information processing platform for an airborne information system, which solves the problems of the existing airborne information system requiring configuration update of a network server during port access, loss of business functions, and low configurability.

[0008] In an information processing platform of an airborne information system provided in the present application, the information processing platform includes a plurality of airborne information processing units and a plurality of information aggregation devices;

[0009] Each airborne information processing unit is connected to each other through a dual-link redundant network bus to form a ring network. Each airborne information processing unit virtualizes and manages the hardware resources of the airborne information processing unit through virtual machines and containers.

[0010] Each information aggregation device forms a ring network through a high-speed network. As a network node of the airborne information system, each information aggregation device has two network ports and bridges the two network ports. Each information aggregation device virtualizes and manages the hardware resources of the information aggregation device through virtual machines and containers.

[0011] Each information aggregation device is connected to an onboard information processing unit or other information aggregation devices through two network ports to form a daisy chain interconnection link for communication.

[0012] In one implementation, the information processing platform also includes multiple terminal devices; wherein each information aggregation device provides wired or wireless access services for the terminal device, or each onboard information processing unit provides wired or wireless access services for the information terminal device.

[0013] In one implementation, the information aggregation device is further configured with a local subnet, and the local subnet provides access services for the information terminal device through an Ethernet interface.

[0014] In one implementation, when an onboard information processing unit fails, the remaining onboard information processing units run the business functions and services deployed by the failed onboard information processing unit according to a pre-configured file.

[0015] In one implementation, the airborne information processing unit has an AFDX interface connected to an AFDX switch of the aircraft avionics system, a 429 interface connected to an RDIU interface unit of the aircraft avionics system, and an Ethernet interface connected to an aircraft cabin system.

[0016] In one implementation, the onboard information processing unit includes an information service module, an avionics safety interface, an information security interface, and a power service module;

[0017] Among them, the AFDX interface, 429 interface and Ethernet interface are provided by the avionics safety interface.

[0018] In one implementation, the main control board module of the information convergence device is of the same type as the information service module.

[0019] In one implementation, the information aggregation devices form a ring network through a high-speed network using optical fiber or a single-pair Ethernet network based on ARINC854.

[0020] In one implementation, the airborne information processing unit and / or the information aggregation device is also configured with a communication module to achieve communication connection with a ground system.

[0021] In one implementation, the onboard information processing unit and the information aggregation device both use a spanning tree protocol or a rapid spanning tree protocol.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] In an information processing platform of an airborne information system provided in the present application, the airborne information processing unit uses a ring network to build a backbone network of the airborne information system, avoiding single point failure of the equipment, and deploying nodes in the ring network, the nodes are information aggregation devices, which serve as expandable ports of airborne information processing units in various regions, and then communicate and connect with terminal devices (such as cameras, printers, etc.) through the expansion network ports and wireless ports deployed by the information aggregation devices, so that the information generated by the terminal devices is aggregated into the backbone network, realizing distributed access of the terminal devices, and no longer needing to reconfigure the network server. Secondly, the information processing platform is composed of multiple airborne information processing units with AFDX / 429 / Ethernet interfaces and hardware resources in the information aggregation devices, that is, providing the computing power, storage, network and other hardware resources required by the airborne information system, these hardware resources can be virtualized and allocated through virtual machines and containers, and the virtualization of hardware resources realizes the dynamic redeployment of business functions without adjusting the hardware architecture, thereby improving the same software allocation and reuse, and using containers as the smallest unit of application scheduling and management, which is convenient for resource planning and fault recovery, and improves the configurability of hardware resources. Finally, since multiple airborne information processing units are connected to each other through a dual-link redundant network bus to form a core processing platform, under normal circumstances, the airborne information processing units deploy different applications and reserve a certain amount of hardware resource margin. When an airborne information processing unit has an abnormality or failure, other airborne information processing units will detect the abnormality or failure and, based on the pre-set configuration files, the remaining airborne information processing units' redundant hardware resources will take over the corresponding application, thereby ensuring that the business functions corresponding to the application run normally. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present application, constitute a part of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an information processing platform of an airborne information system provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with examples and drawings. The illustrative implementation scheme of the present application and its description are only used to explain the present application and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0027] It should be noted that the terms "include" or "may include" used in various embodiments of the present application indicate the presence of the function, operation or element applied for, and do not limit the addition of one or more functions, operations or elements. In addition, as used in various embodiments of the present application, the terms "include", "have" and their cognates are only intended to indicate specific features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination of the foregoing items, and should not be understood as first excluding the presence of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination of the foregoing items or the possibility of adding one or more features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination of the foregoing items.

[0028] In various embodiments of the present application, the expression "or" or "at least one of B or / and C" includes any combination or all combinations of the words listed at the same time. For example, the expression "B or C" or "at least one of B or / and C" may include B, may include C, or may include both B and C. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 A structural diagram of an information processing platform of an airborne information system provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the information processing platform includes multiple airborne information processing units and multiple information aggregation devices; each airborne information processing unit is connected to each other through a dual-link redundant network bus to form a ring network, and each airborne information processing unit virtualizes the hardware resources of the airborne information processing unit through virtual machines and containers; each information aggregation device forms a ring network through a high-speed network, and as a network node of the airborne information system, each information aggregation device has two network ports and bridges the route between the two network ports, and each information aggregation device virtualizes the hardware resources of the information aggregation device through virtual machines and containers; wherein each information aggregation device is connected to the airborne information processing unit or other information aggregation devices through two network ports to form a daisy chain interconnection link for communication.

[0030] In this embodiment, a ring network is used to build the backbone network of the platform. Information aggregation equipment is deployed in the ring network as expandable ports in each area, and then the extended network ports and wireless ports deployed on the information aggregation equipment are connected to the devices near the nodes to converge into the backbone network.

[0031] The characteristics of the entire information processing platform are as follows: It is divided into three levels as a whole: airborne information processing unit, information aggregation device and terminal device. The information processing platform consists of multiple airborne information processing units (AIPU) and information aggregation devices, providing the hardware resources required for the core computing power, storage, network, etc. in the airborne information system, and is pre-configured with extended functions and services. It should be noted that the hardware resources are required by the airborne information system, such as the number of ports, etc. This is a conventional technical means known to technicians in this field. The information aggregation device is both a system computing node and an endpoint for terminal device access and aggregation. Each is connected to the AIPU or other information aggregation device through two left and right communication links to form a daisy chain interconnection link for communication. Usually only one link is used for communication. When the communication link is broken, another communication link is enabled for communication. Each information aggregation device is an extended aggregation point of the airborne information system, providing terminal devices with aggregation access functions including network interfaces and wireless interfaces. Terminal devices include cockpit printers, cameras, EFBs, etc., which are connected to the information aggregation device loop through network interfaces or wireless links, or directly connected to airborne information processing units.

[0032] Multiple AIPUs are connected through a dual-link redundant network bus to form a core processing resource platform. Under normal circumstances, different applications are deployed in the airborne information processing units and a certain resource margin is reserved. Once an airborne information processing unit is abnormal or damaged, other airborne information processing units will detect it and, based on the pre-set configuration files, the redundant applications residing on other airborne information processing units will assume the corresponding business functions and services.

[0033] The information aggregation device uses computing, storage and network resources similar to those of the airborne information processing unit, and virtualizes and manages resources through virtual machines and containers, thereby achieving software-based allocation and reuse of hardware resources. The information aggregation devices are deployed in the cockpit, cabin and cargo hold of the aircraft, and are connected to each other through high-speed networks. Each information aggregation device uses Ethernet or other bus expansion interfaces, as well as wireless network interfaces such as Wi-Fi, NearLink, and 5G, so that terminal devices can access the information through wired or wireless methods. In addition to being connected to the information aggregation device, the terminal device can also be directly connected to the airborne information processing unit. The connection method can be accessed through bus interfaces such as Ethernet or wirelessly. External communication modules such as 5G and Wi-Fi terminals communicate with ground base stations or AP hotspots (such as operator networks and airport networks) through wireless radio frequencies, and then access the airborne information processing unit or information aggregation device through open interfaces such as Ethernet and other standard buses, thereby joining the backbone network of the airborne information system.

[0034] It should be noted that the essence of the information aggregation device is a hardware device, and its factory configuration is the same. The information aggregation device needs to perform bridge routing at two network ports (left and right networks). If no measures are taken to stop loop forwarding, it will cause message loop forwarding and cause network congestion. STP / RSTP (Spanning Tree / Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) is usually used to eliminate path loops in the ring network. In this case, the two (or one) AIPUs as the starting point and end point of the ring network are used as the root bridge (ROOT). Each information aggregation device calculates the node closest to the root bridge as the new root bridge, obtains the node IP address through DHCP, records the left and right network node information, and determines the subsequent data forwarding direction. Then calculate and generate a new root bridge and forwarding direction in the remaining nodes until the calculation of the ring network composition nodes is completed. Each information aggregation device also has a local subnet, which can be extended to access information terminals or portable devices such as PMAT / PEFB, cameras, etc. through the Ethernet port. Each node has no less than 4 local subnet extension interfaces. Each information aggregation device can also be wirelessly extended through a wireless access point. The information aggregation equipment uses domestic SparkLink / NearLink, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G NR technologies, and the information terminal equipment can be connected to the information network wirelessly. The information aggregation equipment is manually / automatically turned on or off by maintenance personnel. To save the weight of cables, optical fiber can be used between information aggregation devices, or a single-pair Ethernet network (OPEN) based on ARINC854 can be used. The information aggregation equipment can also be self-organizing topologically networked through SparkLink / NearLink, Wi-Fi and 5G NR technologies as a redundant backup for wired network connections. Depending on the installation location, the information aggregation device can have a built-in antenna or an external independent antenna.

[0035] Information aggregation equipment is a key node in the core network of the airborne information system. It is a gateway device for terminal devices to access the airborne network through wired or wireless means. It is necessary to deploy high-level network security measures, such as intrusion detection, trusted computing, access control, zero-trust networks, etc.

[0036] The information aggregation device adopts a main control board module with functions close to the information service template of the airborne information processing unit, and adopts a software and hardware platform consistent with the information service module, which can be used as a computing power or resource supplement for the server platform.

[0037] If necessary, the information aggregation device can be expanded by adding an avionics network interface and STP / RSTP root bridge protocol, so that the information aggregation device can replace the airborne information processing unit and form a distributed network architecture with other information aggregation devices.

[0038] In some embodiments, the information processing platform also includes multiple terminal devices; wherein each information aggregation device provides wired or wireless access services for the terminal device, or each airborne information processing unit provides wired or wireless access services for the information terminal device.

[0039] Specifically, information terminals include intelligent side display (ISDT), PEFB / PMAT, cameras, printers, antennas, etc., as well as future AR / VR / XR, etc., and are usually used as expansion devices of airborne information systems.

[0040] Among them, terminal devices are generally optional according to user needs, and the number of terminal devices may affect the number of information aggregation devices. Smart side displays, printers, etc. are usually connected to the onboard information processing unit, but can also be connected to the aircraft network through the information aggregation device. Cameras usually use Ethernet to access the information aggregation device. The antenna can only be connected to an information aggregation device with an external antenna configuration. Considering the needs of redundancy and reliability, terminals that provide similar functions (such as two side displays) cannot be connected to the same onboard information processing unit or information aggregation device. Terminal devices (including fixed and wireless access devices) must undergo security authentication before they can access the information aggregation device network. The security authentication methods include hardware fingerprint authentication, digital certificates, and dynamic authentication codes, which can be determined based on the characteristics of the terminal device. The information aggregation device or onboard information processing unit needs to continuously monitor the data interaction of each terminal device, compare it with its authorization policy, record abnormal access or privilege escalation applications, and detect malicious traffic in a timely manner.

[0041] In some embodiments, the information aggregation device is also configured with a local subnet, and the local subnet provides access services for information terminal devices through an Ethernet interface.

[0042] Specifically, each information aggregation device is configured with a local subnet, wherein the local subnet has no less than 4 expansion interfaces.

[0043] In some embodiments, when an onboard information processing unit fails, the remaining onboard information processing units run the business functions and services deployed by the failed onboard information processing unit according to a pre-configured file.

[0044] Specifically, since multiple airborne information processing units are connected to each other through a dual-link redundant network bus to form a core processing platform, under normal circumstances, the airborne information processing units deploy different applications and reserve a certain amount of hardware resource margin. When an airborne information processing unit has an abnormality or failure, other airborne information processing units will detect the abnormality or failure and, based on the pre-set configuration files, the redundant hardware resources of the remaining airborne information processing units will take over the corresponding application, thereby ensuring that the business functions corresponding to the application run normally.

[0045] In some embodiments, the airborne information processing unit has an AFDX interface connected to the AFDX switch of the aircraft avionics system, a 429 interface connected to the RDIU interface unit of the aircraft avionics system, and an Ethernet interface connected to the aircraft cabin system.

[0046] In this embodiment, the avionics system and the cabin system are conventional systems deployed on the aircraft. Therefore, the onboard information processing unit provided in this embodiment has an interface for connecting thereto. This is common knowledge for those skilled in the art and will not be elaborated in this embodiment.

[0047] In some embodiments, the airborne information processing unit includes an information service module, an avionics safety interface, an information security interface and a power service module; wherein the AFDX interface, 429 interface and Ethernet interface are provided by the avionics safety interface.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown, the airborne information processing unit includes an avionics safety interface and an information security interface. The two safety interfaces are the same. Therefore, the AFDX interface, 429 interface and Ethernet interface can be provided not only by the avionics safety interface, but also by the information security interface. However, the information service modules of each airborne information processing unit can be configured as needed, and their numbers are not necessarily the same.

[0049] The information service module (IPM) and the control panel module (CPM) of the information convergence device will serve as the basis for computing, storage, and management. The hardware platform (including the underlying software) of the information service module and the control panel module are of the same level, and different applications can be resident and run according to the deployment strategy. The application software level on a single information service module / control panel module is the same.

[0050] In some embodiments, the information aggregation devices form a ring network through a high-speed network using optical fiber or a single-pair Ethernet network based on ARINC854.

[0051] In this embodiment, the networking method is a conventional technical means in this technical field, and this embodiment does not provide a detailed description of the networking method.

[0052] In some embodiments, the onboard information processing unit and the information aggregation device both use spanning tree / rapid spanning tree protocol.

[0053] In this embodiment, since the onboard information processing unit and the information aggregation device are connected through a ring network, single point failures caused by a single device or cable are avoided. However, since both the onboard information processing unit and the information aggregation device use the STP / RSTP protocol that automatically identifies the topology, when a network node is abnormal, the topology needs to be recalculated, resulting in a brief network shock, affecting the use of the server platform application functions. Therefore, considering the small number of unit information processing units on the server platform, consider determining the network address of the unit information processing unit through the short-circuited state of the I / O address line. The unit information processing unit determines its own network address by reading the I / O code and calculating it with the pre-stored network address.

[0054] The specific implementation methods described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only the specific implementation method of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. An information processing platform for an airborne information system, characterized in that: The information processing platform includes multiple onboard information processing units and multiple information aggregation devices; Each airborne information processing unit is connected to each other through a dual-link redundant network bus to form a ring network. Each airborne information processing unit virtualizes and manages the hardware resources of the airborne information processing unit through virtual machines and containers. Each information aggregation device forms a ring network through a high-speed network. As a network node of the airborne information system, each information aggregation device has two network ports and bridges the two network ports. Each information aggregation device virtualizes and manages the hardware resources of the information aggregation device through virtual machines and containers. Each information aggregation device is connected to an onboard information processing unit or other information aggregation devices through two network ports to form a daisy chain interconnection link for communication.

2. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The information processing platform also includes multiple terminal devices; wherein each information aggregation device provides wired or wireless access services for the terminal device, or each airborne information processing unit provides wired or wireless access services for the information terminal device.

3. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The information aggregation device is also configured with a local subnet, which provides access services for information terminal devices through an Ethernet interface.

4. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When an onboard information processing unit fails, the remaining onboard information processing units run the business functions and services deployed by the failed onboard information processing unit according to pre-configured files.

5. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The airborne information processing unit is provided with an AFDX interface connected to an AFDX switch of an aircraft avionics system, a 429 interface connected to an RDIU interface unit of the aircraft avionics system, and an Ethernet interface connected to an aircraft cabin system.

6. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The airborne information processing unit includes an information service module, an avionics safety interface, an information security interface and a power service module; Among them, the AFDX interface, 429 interface and Ethernet interface are provided by the avionics safety interface.

7. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The main control board module of the information convergence device is of the same type as the information service module.

8. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The information convergence devices form a ring network through a high-speed network using optical fiber or a single-pair Ethernet network based on ARINC854.

9. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The airborne information processing unit and / or information aggregation device is also configured with a communication module to achieve communication connection with the ground system.

10. The information processing platform of an airborne information system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The airborne information processing unit and the information aggregation device both adopt the spanning tree / rapid spanning tree protocol.

Images