Custom construction method and device for ACARS message

Abstract

The invention discloses a user-defined construction method for an ACARS message, and the method comprises the steps: configuring an ACARS message structure of each system in an airplane, so as to obtain input parameter configuration information, triggering rule configuration information, message style configuration information, and state machine configuration information; generating an input parameter custom structure of the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information; generating a triggering rule custom structure of the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the triggering rule configuration information; generating a message style custom structure of the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the message style configuration information; and indexing the input parameter custom structure, the trigger rule custom structure and the message style custom structure based on the state machine configuration information to generate an ACARS message structure of the corresponding system. The invention further discloses a user-defined construction device for the ACARS message and a computer readable medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of aviation communication technology, and more specifically to a custom construction method and apparatus for ACARS messages. Background Technology

[0002] The Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) transmits short messages (i.e., messages) between aircraft and ground stations via radio or satellite to enable air traffic control, thereby significantly improving aircraft safety and operational efficiency.

[0003] ACARS messages are highly customized and client-specific. Due to changes in requirements, product iterations, or bug fixes, various stages in the message generation process, including raw data processing, trigger condition judgment, and message generation, can change. Technical personnel typically need to re-analyze the impact domain, implement modified or even entirely new designs, revise a series of related documents, processes, and software configurations, and re-verify. This process not only impacts development progress, system reliability, and security but also hinders standardization and platform development across different project models.

[0004] In view of this, it is desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for custom construction of ACARS messages. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following provides a brief overview of one or more aspects to offer a basic understanding of them. This overview is not an exhaustive summary of all conceived aspects, nor is it intended to identify the key or decisive elements of all aspects, nor to define the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description that follows.

[0006] This invention provides a method for custom construction of ACARS messages, comprising: configuring the ACARS message structure of each system in an aircraft to obtain input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, and state machine configuration information; generating a custom input parameter structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information; generating a custom trigger rule structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information; generating a custom message style structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the message style configuration information; and indexing the custom input parameter structure, custom trigger rule structure, and custom message style structure based on the state machine configuration information to generate the ACARS message structure of the corresponding system.

[0007] In some embodiments, generating the custom input parameter structure of the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information further includes: performing a hash index on the input parameter configuration information and generating the custom input parameter structure according to the sampling frequency, update duration, and recording frequency customized by each system.

[0008] In some embodiments, generating the custom trigger rule structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information further includes: extracting variables, relational operators, and logical operators from the trigger rule configuration information; and generating the custom trigger rule structure by using postfix expressions on the extracted variables, relational operators, and logical operators.

[0009] In some embodiments, the configuration of the ACARS message structure is performed through a custom interface, and the method further includes: verifying the generated ACARS message structure through the online debugging function on the custom interface.

[0010] In some embodiments, the ACARS message structure fully stores the changes in parameters during message generation.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving raw message data from the aircraft's system; processing the raw message data based on the system's ACARS message structure to generate an ACARS message; and sending the generated ACARS message.

[0012] In some embodiments, the method further includes: obtaining an automatically updated ACARS message structure by updating one or more of the input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, and state machine configuration information; and generating an automatically updated ACARS message based on the automatically updated ACARS message structure.

[0013] This invention also provides a custom construction apparatus for ACARS messages, comprising: a configuration module configured to: configure the ACARS message structure of each system in the aircraft to obtain input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, and state machine configuration information; and an ACARS message structure generation module configured to: generate a custom input parameter structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information; generate a custom trigger rule structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information; generate a custom message style structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the message style configuration information; and index the custom input parameter structure, the custom trigger rule structure, and the custom message style structure based on the state machine configuration information to generate the ACARS message structure of the corresponding system.

[0014] In some embodiments, the ACARS message structure generation module is further configured to generate a custom input parameter structure for the corresponding system's ACARS message based on the input parameter configuration information by performing a hash index on the input parameter configuration information and generating a custom input parameter structure according to the sampling frequency, update duration, and recording frequency defined by each system.

[0015] In some embodiments, the ACARS message structure generation module is further configured to generate a custom trigger rule structure for the corresponding system's ACARS message based on the trigger rule configuration information by: extracting variables, relational operators, and logical operators from the trigger rule configuration information; and generating a custom trigger rule structure by using postfix expressions on the extracted variables, relational operators, and logical operators.

[0016] In some examples, the configuration of the ACARS message structure is done through a custom interface, and the device further includes a verification module configured to verify the generated ACARS message structure through online debugging functions on the custom interface.

[0017] In some examples, the ACARS message structure fully stores the changes in parameters during message generation.

[0018] In some examples, the device further includes an ACARS message transmission module configured to: receive raw message data from the aircraft's system; process the raw message data based on the system's ACARS message structure to generate ACARS messages; and send the generated ACARS messages.

[0019] In some examples, the device further includes an update module configured to: obtain an automatically updated ACARS message structure by updating one or more of the input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message pattern configuration information, and state machine configuration information; and generate automatically updated ACARS messages based on the automatically updated ACARS message structure.

[0020] The present invention also provides a computer-readable medium storing computer programs for custom construction of ACARS messages, which can be executed by a processor to perform the aforementioned method for custom construction of ACARS messages.

[0021] By utilizing the technical solution of this invention, personalized messages can be flexibly generated according to the needs of different aircraft systems, and the message structure of each system can be customized according to its specific requirements, thereby ensuring that each system can generate messages that meet its needs, greatly improving the flexibility and adaptability of message generation. Furthermore, this invention optimizes the processing of input parameters and triggering rules through techniques such as hash indexing and postfix expressions, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of message generation. Simultaneously, the introduction of a customizable interface and online debugging function allows users to intuitively customize and verify the message structure, further enhancing the user experience. In addition, the technical solution of this invention can automatically generate new message structures based on user updates to configuration information, achieving automatic message updates. The message structure generated using the technical solution of this invention has the ability to completely record the changes in various parameters during the message generation process, providing complete data support for subsequent anomaly analysis, scenario backtracking, and problem troubleshooting, significantly improving the maintainability and reliability of the message system. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The features, essence, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which provide a detailed description. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are consistently used. It should be noted that the described drawings are schematic and non-limiting. Some components in the drawings may be enlarged and are not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0023] Figure 1 An exemplary architecture for custom construction of ACARS messages according to the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 2 An exemplary method for custom construction of ACARS messages according to the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 3 An exemplary custom input parameter structure of the present invention is shown.

[0026] Figure 4 An exemplary trigger rule custom structure of the present invention is shown.

[0027] Figure 5 An exemplary message style customization structure of the present invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 6 A block diagram of the custom construction apparatus for ACARS messages of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Figure 7 A system block diagram is shown, including the custom construction apparatus for ACARS messages according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the described exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described embodiments can be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other exemplary embodiments, well-known structures have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concepts of this disclosure. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the various aspects described in the embodiments can be combined arbitrarily without conflict.

[0031] ACARS messages are character-oriented data chains whose construction involves several key stages, including triggering logic, data processing, protocol format, and transmission methods. During the triggering, generation, and transmission of message data, the triggering conditions, parameter processing, and format protocol may all change. This requires technical personnel to modify a series of documents, processes, and corresponding software code related to system requirements, and to re-verify and test them. Furthermore, the current ACARS software's final output is only the ACARS message. When problems occur, it is difficult to reproduce abnormal scenarios because the generation of a single message often requires troubleshooting using multiple files. For example, the takeoff message alone requires five files, including triggering logic, parameter input, and message style, which undoubtedly reduces troubleshooting efficiency.

[0032] The technical solution of this invention effectively solves the above-mentioned problems. By generating ACARS messages using the solution of this invention, no changes to the overall design are required; only the structural configuration needs to be modified to achieve automatic updates of ACARS messages. Furthermore, the technical solution of this invention can decouple the management of multi-source heterogeneous data across different disciplines. Users can flexibly customize data structures according to their specific professional needs, generate custom ACARS message structures, and combine them with the interaction data of the aircraft crew system to generate the final ACARS message. In this way, not only can unified management of multi-disciplinary, multi-source heterogeneous data be achieved, but the complexity of data management can also be simplified, the utilization rate of data management can be improved, and the efficiency of inter-discipline collaborative communication can be enhanced. In addition, the ACARS messages generated based on the above method can also completely store the changes in various parameters during the message generation process, which provides strong support for scenario backtracking and troubleshooting.

[0033] Figure 1 An exemplary architecture 100 for custom construction of ACARS messages according to the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 1The leftmost section shows the user-defined ACARS message structure interface. This interface is the core window for human-computer interaction, primarily used for entering user-defined configuration information. Through this interface, users can flexibly define the structure of ACARS messages according to the needs of different aircraft systems. Furthermore, this interface allows for unified management of adding, deleting, modifying, and querying ACARS messages, and can adaptively handle various custom ACARS structure operations based on different user needs.

[0035] Broadly speaking, users can configure the following key elements through the interface: input parameters, trigger rules, message styles, and state machines. These customizations form the basis for building ACARS messages, determining their structure and functionality.

[0036] Users can customize different ACARS message structures for various systems within an aircraft. This is intended as an example, not a limitation. Figure 1 Section (a) shows the ACARS message structures that users can customize for the aircraft's information systems, flight control systems, flight management systems, and maintenance systems. Each system's message structure can be customized to its specific needs, ensuring that each system generates messages that meet its requirements.

[0037] After receiving various custom information entered by the user in the custom ACARS message structure interface, such as Figure 1 As shown in part (b), architecture 100 can parse this custom information to obtain user-defined input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message pattern configuration information, and state machine configuration information. Subsequently, it can perform logical processing on this configuration information to generate corresponding custom structures. The step shown in part (b) transforms the user's configuration information into structured data that the computer can understand and process.

[0038] Specifically, the parsed input parameter configuration information can be logically processed to generate a custom input parameter structure, the parsed trigger rule configuration information can be logically processed to generate a custom trigger rule structure, the parsed message pattern configuration information can be logically processed to generate a custom message pattern structure, and the parsed state machine configuration information can be indexed to generate an ACARS message structure.

[0039] It is important to note that Figure 1 The architecture 100 shown is merely an example for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In practical applications, the specific implementation methods of each functional module, data processing flow, and interaction protocol can be adjusted and extended according to different aircraft platforms, system integration requirements, or communication standards.

[0040] Figure 2 An exemplary method 200 for custom construction of ACARS messages according to the present invention is shown.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, method 200 begins at step 205. In step 205, the ACARS message structure of each system in the aircraft is configured to obtain input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message pattern configuration information, and state machine configuration information.

[0042] Input parameters refer to the relevant data collected from the aircraft when generating ACARS messages. This data is an important component of the message content, reflecting the aircraft's flight status, system operation, and so on. Specifically, users can set the required set of input parameters according to the business characteristics of different systems. For example, for flight control systems, users may focus on flight status parameters such as airspeed, altitude, and attitude angles; while for maintenance systems, the focus is more on equipment operating parameters such as engine speed, lubricating oil temperature, and hydraulic system pressure.

[0043] Triggering rules define the conditions under which ACARS messages are generated and sent. These rules ensure timely generation of messages corresponding to specific events during critical flight phases or when specific events occur. Users can set message generation conditions based on actual application scenarios, such as triggering message generation when the aircraft reaches a specific altitude, experiences an engine malfunction, or enters a specific flight phase (e.g., takeoff or landing), thereby promptly notifying the ground station of relevant information. Triggering rules support complex logical combinations, including multi-condition judgments and timing relationship judgments, ensuring the accuracy and real-time nature of message triggering.

[0044] A message format refers to the format and structure of an ACARS message. It specifies the components of the message, the content of each component, and the arrangement of the data, so that the ground station can correctly parse and understand the message content. Users can customize the message format and structure according to the actual communication protocol and data specifications, including the order of data segments, data types (such as binary, hexadecimal, signed / unsigned numeric, characters, etc.), data length, checksum method, etc., to ensure that the generated message meets the parsing requirements of the ground station.

[0045] A state machine is a mathematical model used to describe the transitions between different states of a system. In ACARS, state machines are used to describe the various states and their transition conditions during message generation, transmission, reception, and processing. Users can configure the state transition logic during message generation, such as defining the initial state of the message, state transitions when trigger conditions are met, state updates after message generation is complete, and state handling in abnormal situations, ensuring the reliability and controllability of the message generation process.

[0046] In some embodiments, users of various systems in the aircraft can access them through custom interfaces (such as...). Figure 1 The "User-Defined ACARS Message Structure Interface" shown allows users to customize the input parameters, trigger rules, message styles, and state machines of ACARS messages for the corresponding system, obtaining configuration information for these parameters, trigger rules, message styles, and state machines. In some examples, the interface offers various configuration options for input parameters, trigger rules, message styles, and state machines (e.g., common flight parameter libraries, standard trigger condition templates, typical message format frameworks, general state machine models, etc.), allowing users to select and load appropriate options online. The interface also supports fully independent user input of new configuration information, exhibiting good compatibility and extensibility, and is capable of parsing and processing various user-defined configuration contents.

[0047] The customizable interface allows users to dynamically adjust each stage of message construction based on evolving business needs, communication protocol updates, or specific requirements of different aircraft models, without requiring cumbersome modifications to the underlying code or system refactoring.

[0048] In step 210, a custom structure for the input parameters of the corresponding system's ACARS message is generated based on the input parameter configuration information.

[0049] This step aims to transform potentially loosely configured or unstructured parameter requirements from users into a structured data model. In practice, the input parameter configuration information can be hashed and indexed to generate a custom structure for the input parameters based on each system's custom sampling frequency, update duration, and recording frequency.

[0050] Hash indexes are an efficient indexing method that allows for quick location and access to input parameters, thereby improving processing efficiency. The sampling frequency determines the density of data collection, the update duration specifies the validity period of parameter values, and the recording frequency indicates the storage strategy for historical data. The settings for sampling frequency, update duration, and recording frequency can be adjusted according to the needs of different systems to ensure that each system can generate messages that meet its requirements.

[0051] As an example, Figure 3 An exemplary custom input parameter structure of the present invention is shown. Specifically, Figure 3 This diagram illustrates an exemplary custom structure for input parameters in an ACARS message representing an alarm event from an aircraft warning system. The structure clearly shows the various attributes of the input parameters, their corresponding size, and format. The specific settings for these parameter attributes can be adjusted according to the actual needs of the aircraft system.

[0052] return Figure 2 In step 215, a custom trigger rule structure for the corresponding system's ACARS message is generated based on the trigger rule configuration information. This step aims to transform the trigger conditions described by the user in natural language or a similar manner (e.g., "when the aircraft altitude exceeds 10,000 feet and the engine vibration value exceeds the threshold") into a logical structure that can be accurately parsed and executed by the computer.

[0053] Specifically, key constituent elements can be extracted from the trigger rule configuration information, including the variables involved (such as "height" and "engine vibration value"), relational operators (e.g., extracting ">" from "greater than"), and logical operators (e.g., extracting "AND" from "and"). Then, algorithms such as postfix notation (Reverse Polish notation) can be used to reorganize these extracted elements into a conditional judgment logic structure that is easy for a computer to execute, i.e., a custom trigger rule structure.

[0054] As an example, Figure 4 An exemplary custom trigger rule structure of the present invention is shown. Specifically, Figure 4 An exemplary custom structure for triggering rules of ACARS messages for alarm events in an aircraft alarm system is shown.

[0055] return Figure 2 In step 220, a custom message pattern structure for the corresponding system's ACARS messages is generated based on the message pattern configuration information. This step involves logically processing the message pattern configuration information to transform the user-configured message pattern into structured data that the computer can understand and process.

[0056] Specifically, based on the message pattern configuration information, the various components of the message (such as header, data segments, checksum, etc.), the data type used in each part (for example, some fields may need to be represented in binary to save space, some may need hexadecimal for specific device interfaces, some may need signed or unsigned numeric types, while text information uses character format), the byte order of the data, padding rules, and possible compression or encryption instructions, thereby constructing a custom message pattern structure. This custom message pattern structure ensures that regardless of changes in input parameters, the final generated message maintains consistency and standardization in format.

[0057] As an example, Figure 5 An exemplary message style customization structure of the present invention is shown. Specifically, Figure 5 This illustrates an exemplary message style custom structure for ACARS messages of alarm events from an aircraft alarm system.

[0058] return Figure 2 In step 225, the custom structures for input parameters, trigger rules, and message styles are indexed based on the state machine configuration information to generate the corresponding ACARS message structure for the system. This step aims to comprehensively process the custom structures for input parameters, trigger rules, and message styles, integrating these structured data into a complete ACARS message structure.

[0059] As mentioned earlier, in ACARS, state machines are used to describe the various states and their transition conditions during message generation, transmission, reception, and processing. Through state machine indexing, the system can organically combine custom input parameter structures, custom trigger rule structures, and custom message style structures to generate a complete ACARS message structure. For example, according to state machine transition methods such as message generation conditions and closing conditions, the custom input parameter structures, custom trigger rule structures, and custom message style structures can be indexed separately to generate the ACARS message structure.

[0060] The transition conditions of the state machine can be defined according to user needs. For example, when a trigger rule is met, the state machine transitions from the "waiting" state to the "generating message" state; if a delay is required during the generation of a message, the state machine can transition to the "delay" state. Through this state machine transition mechanism, the system can flexibly control the message generation process, ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of messages.

[0061] The ACARS message construction method of this invention effectively decouples triggering rules from input parameters. In conventional ACARS message generation processes, triggering conditions are often tightly coupled with specific parameters. Once the source or format of the parameters changes, the corresponding triggering logic needs to be modified synchronously, increasing maintenance complexity and the risk of errors. This invention separates input parameter configuration and triggering rule configuration into two independent configurable dimensions, allowing users to configure input parameters and triggering conditions separately. These are dynamically associated and indexed through a state machine, rather than being hard-coded. For example, users can flexibly change or expand input parameters without modifying the triggering rules; similarly, multiple different triggering conditions can be defined based on the same set of parameters. This decoupling design not only improves configuration flexibility and reusability but also significantly reduces the logic adjustment costs caused by parameter changes, further enhancing the adaptability and maintainability of the entire message construction process.

[0062] The final generated ACARS message structure integrates all the information required to generate the message, enabling the target ACARS message to be automatically and accurately generated when the conditions are met, based on this structure.

[0063] The generated ACARS message structure has the ability to fully record the changes of each parameter during the message generation process. This means that from the acquisition of input parameters and the judgment of trigger conditions to the final generation of the message pattern, the state transitions of all key data in the entire process are recorded in detail and stored in the ACARS message structure. This provides complete data support for subsequent anomaly analysis, scenario backtracking, and problem troubleshooting, significantly improving the maintainability and reliability of the message system.

[0064] In some embodiments, method 200 further includes the actual generation and transmission process of ACARS messages ( Figure 2 (Not shown in the image). Specifically, raw message data can be received from various component systems of the aircraft (such as flight control systems, information systems, etc.). Subsequently, based on the ACARS message structure predefined and generated for each system, the received raw message data is processed (e.g., parsing, filtering, format conversion, etc.) to generate ACARS messages. The generated ACARS messages can then be transmitted to the ground station via a communication link (such as radio or satellite) to complete message transmission.

[0065] In some embodiments, method 200 further includes: obtaining an automatically updated ACARS message structure by updating one or more of the input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, and state machine configuration information; and generating an automatically updated ACARS message based on the automatically updated ACARS message structure. Figure 2 (Not shown in the image).

[0066] When business requirements change, protocols are updated, or issues need to be fixed, users can update one or more of the following through a custom interface: input parameter configuration, trigger rule configuration, message style configuration, or state machine configuration. These changes are automatically identified to obtain updated configuration information. Subsequently, an automatically updated ACARS message structure can be generated based on the updated configuration information. This update process requires no manual intervention in the underlying code or system reconstruction; it automatically processes subsequent raw data based on the new message structure. For example, if a user updates the trigger rule for the flight control system's ACARS message from "altitude > 10,000 feet" to "altitude > 10,000 feet and airspeed > 250 knots" through the custom interface, the new trigger rule will automatically take effect and generate the corresponding message structure. The updated message structure will then be automatically applied to the raw data processing flow, achieving automatic updates to the message structure and the generated messages.

[0067] As can be seen from Method 200, the technical solution of this invention, through a structured and customized approach, bridges the standardization gap caused by significant protocol differences in various types of message data, enabling the message data generation process to be generalized and platform-based. Furthermore, it encapsulates and describes the complex and differentiated message triggering logic in a component-based and rule-based manner, making the configuration and maintenance of the triggering logic clear and simple, greatly improving its versatility and reusability. The ACARS message structure constructed using Method 200 not only achieves a high degree of automation and precise control in the message data generation process, but can also be applied to multiple different aircraft model projects, significantly improving development efficiency, system reliability, and the degree of standardization between projects.

[0068] Figure 6 A block diagram of the apparatus 600 for custom construction of ACARS messages according to the present invention is shown.

[0069] See Figure 6 The device 600 may include a configuration module 602, an ACARS message structure generation module 604, a verification module 606, an ACARS message transmission module 608, and an update module 612. Each of these modules may be directly or indirectly connected to or communicate with each other on one or more buses 612.

[0070] In various embodiments of the present invention, the configuration module 602 is configured to configure the ACARS message structure of each system in the aircraft to obtain input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, and state machine configuration information.

[0071] In various embodiments of the present invention, the ACARS message structure generation module 604 is configured to: generate a custom input parameter structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on input parameter configuration information; generate a custom trigger rule structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on trigger rule configuration information; generate a custom message style structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on message style configuration information; and index the custom input parameter structure, the custom trigger rule structure, and the custom message style structure based on state machine configuration information to generate the ACARS message structure of the corresponding system.

[0072] In some embodiments, the ACARS message structure generation module 604 is further configured to generate a custom input parameter structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information by performing the following operations: hashing the input parameter configuration information and generating a custom input parameter structure according to the sampling frequency, update duration, and recording frequency customized by each system.

[0073] In some embodiments, the ACARS message structure generation module 604 is further configured to generate a custom trigger rule structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information by: extracting variables, relational operators, and logical operators from the trigger rule configuration information; and generating a custom trigger rule structure by using postfix expressions on the extracted variables, relational operators, and logical operators.

[0074] In various embodiments of the present invention, the configuration of the ACARS message structure is performed through a custom interface, and the verification module 606 is configured to verify the generated ACARS message structure through the online debugging function on the custom interface.

[0075] In various embodiments of the present invention, the ACARS message transmission module 608 is configured to: receive raw message data from the aircraft's system; process the raw message data based on the system's ACARS message structure to generate ACARS messages; and send the generated ACARS messages.

[0076] In various embodiments of the present invention, the update module 610 is configured to: obtain an automatically updated ACARS message structure by updating one or more of the input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, and state machine configuration information; and generate an automatically updated ACARS message based on the automatically updated ACARS message structure.

[0077] Although Figure 6Specific modules of apparatus 600 are shown, but it should be understood that these modules are exemplary and not limiting. In different implementations, one or more of these modules may be combined, split, removed, or additional modules may be added. For example, in some implementations, the ACARS message structure generation module 604 and the verification module 606 may be combined into a single module. In some implementations, apparatus 600 may also include additional modules.

[0078] Figure 7 A block diagram of a system 700 including the custom construction apparatus for ACARS messages according to the present invention is shown. The system illustrates a typical hardware environment in which the invention can be applied according to exemplary embodiments thereof.

[0079] Now refer to Figure 7 System 700 is described as an exemplary embodiment of a hardware device that can be applied to various aspects of the present invention. System 700 can be any machine configured to perform processing and / or computation, and can be, but is not limited to, a workstation, server, desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, or any combination thereof. The above-described system can be implemented wholly or at least partially by system 700 or similar systems or devices.

[0080] System 700 may include components that can be connected to or communicate with bus 712 via one or more interfaces. For example, system 700 may include bus 712, processor 702, memory 704, input device 708, and output device 710, etc.

[0081] Processor 702 can be any type of processor and may include, but is not limited to, general-purpose processors and / or special-purpose processors (e.g., special-purpose chips), intelligent hardware devices (e.g., general-purpose processors, DSPs, CPUs, microcontrollers, ASICs, FPGAs, programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 702 may be configured to use a memory controller to operate a memory array. In other cases, a memory controller (not shown) may be integrated into processor 702. Processor 702 may be responsible for managing the bus and general processing, including executing software stored in the memory. Processor 702 may also be configured to perform various functions described herein related to the custom construction of ACARS messages. For example, processor 702 can be configured to: configure the ACARS message structure of each system in the aircraft to obtain input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message pattern configuration information, and state machine configuration information; generate a custom input parameter structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information; generate a custom trigger rule structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information; generate a custom message pattern structure for the ACARS message of the corresponding system based on the message pattern configuration information; and index the custom input parameter structure, custom trigger rule structure, and custom message pattern structure based on the state machine configuration information to generate the ACARS message structure of the corresponding system.

[0082] Memory 704 can be any storage device capable of storing data. Memory 704 may include, but is not limited to, disk drives, optical storage devices, solid-state storage, floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes or any other magnetic media, optical discs or any other optical media, ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), cache memory and / or any other memory chip or cartridge, and / or any other medium from which a computer can read data, instructions and / or code. Memory 704 may store computer-executable software 706 including computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform the various functions described herein related to the custom construction of ACARS messages.

[0083] Input device 708 can be any type of device that can be used to input information.

[0084] The output device 710 can be any type of device used for outputting information. In one case, the output device 710 can be any type of output device capable of displaying information.

[0085] The detailed description above, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes examples but does not represent all examples that can be implemented or fall within the scope of the claims. The terms "example" and "exemplary" are used in this specification to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration" and do not imply "superiority or superiority over other examples."

[0086] Throughout this specification, the terms "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the use of these phrases may refer to more than one embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0087] The preceding description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will readily be understood by those skilled in the art, and the universal principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be granted the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein references to the singular form of an element, unless specifically stated otherwise, are not intended to mean “one and only one,” but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. All structural and functional equivalents of the various aspects of the invention described throughout are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be covered by the claims.

[0088] It should also be noted that these embodiments may be described as processes depicted as flowcharts, flow diagrams, structure diagrams, or block diagrams. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of these operations can be executed in parallel or concurrently. Furthermore, the order of these operations can be rearranged.

[0089] While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, it should be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the precise configurations and components described above. Various modifications, substitutions, and improvements that will be apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the arrangement, operation, and details of the apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for customizing construction of ACARS messages, comprising: configuring ACARS message structures for systems in an aircraft to obtain input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, state machine configuration information; generating input parameter customized structures of ACARS messages for a corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information; generating trigger rule customized structures of ACARS messages for the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information; generating message style customized structures of ACARS messages for the corresponding system based on the message style configuration information; and indexing the input parameter customized structures, the trigger rule customized structures, and the message style customized structures based on the state machine configuration information to generate an ACARS message structure for the corresponding system. The generating of the input parameter customized structures of ACARS messages for the corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information further comprises:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, hash indexing the input parameter configuration information to generate the input parameter customized structures according to sampling frequencies, update durations, and recording frequencies customized for each system. The generating of the trigger rule customized structures of ACARS messages for the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information further comprises:

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, extracting variables, relational operators, and logical operators in the trigger rule configuration information; and generating the trigger rule customized structures through postfix expressions of the extracted variables, relational operators, and logical operators. The configuring of the ACARS message structures is performed through a customizing interface, and the method further comprises:

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, verifying the generated ACARS message structures through an online debugging function on the customizing interface. The ACARS message structures completely store changes of parameters in a message generation process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises:

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, receiving original message data of the system from the system in the aircraft; processing the original message data based on the ACARS message structure of the system to generate an ACARS message; and sending the generated ACARS message. The method further comprises:

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, obtaining an automatically updated ACARS message structure by updating one or more of the input parameter configuration information, the trigger rule configuration information, the message style configuration information, and the state machine configuration information; and generating an automatically updated ACARS message based on the automatically updated ACARS message structure. 8.An apparatus for customizing construction of ACARS messages, comprising: a configuration module configured to configure ACARS message structures for systems in an aircraft to obtain input parameter configuration information, trigger rule configuration information, message style configuration information, state machine configuration information; and an ACARS message structure generation module configured to: generate input parameter customized structures of ACARS messages for a corresponding system based on the input parameter configuration information; generate trigger rule customized structures of ACARS messages for the corresponding system based on the trigger rule configuration information; and generate message style customized structures of ACARS messages for the corresponding system based on the message style configuration information. ​ Based on the message style configuration information, a custom message style structure for the corresponding system's ACARS messages is generated. Based on the state machine configuration information, the custom structure of the input parameters, the custom structure of the trigger rules, and the custom structure of the message style are indexed to generate the corresponding ACARS message structure of the system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The ACARS message structure generation module is further configured to generate a custom input parameter structure for the corresponding system's ACARS messages based on the input parameter configuration information through the following operations: The input parameter configuration information is hashed and indexed, and the custom structure of the input parameters is generated according to the sampling frequency, update duration and recording frequency defined by each system.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The ACARS message structure generation module is further configured to generate a custom trigger rule structure for the corresponding system's ACARS messages based on the trigger rule configuration information through the following operations: Extract the variables, relational operators, and logical operators from the trigger rule configuration information; as well as The extracted variables, relational operators, and logical operators are used to generate the custom structure of the triggering rules through postfix expressions.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The configuration of the ACARS message structure is performed through a custom interface, and the device further includes a verification module configured to: The generated ACARS message structure can be verified using the online debugging function on the custom interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The ACARS message structure fully stores the changes in parameters during message generation.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The device further includes an ACARS message transmission module, which is configured to: Receive raw message data from the aircraft's systems; The original message data is processed based on the ACARS message structure of the system to generate ACARS messages; as well as Send the generated ACARS message.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, The device further includes an update module configured to: An automatically updated ACARS message structure is obtained by updating one or more of the following: the input parameter configuration information, the trigger rule configuration information, the message style configuration information, and the state machine configuration information; and Automatically updated ACARS messages are generated based on the automatically updated ACARS message structure.

15. A computer-readable medium storing a custom-built computer program for ACARS messages, the computer program being executable by a processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-7.

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