Method and device for storing data traffic in intercommunicative data transmission links

Abstract

Data recorder (7; D) for storing data traffic in intercommunicative data transmission links of hardware components (10', 11', 12', 13', 14', 15', 16', 17') that are integrated or can be integrated into at least one data communication network (1), wherein at least some of the hardware components use different data communication standards; wherein the data recorder (7; D) has a data conversion device (70) or is connectable to a data conversion device (70); wherein the data recorder (7; D) has at least one mass storage device (74; M) and wherein the data recorder (7; D) is configured to convert incoming data information conforming to an external data communication standard into a recorder-proprietary data communication standard and to store the data information in the recorder-proprietary data communication standard characterized by that the data recorder (7; D) is designed such that, in the event that it is not possible to convert the incoming data information into the recorder's proprietary data communication standard, it stamps the data information with a date and time stamp and stores it in the external data communication standard.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a data recorder for storing data traffic in intercommunicative data transmission connections of hardware components that are integrated or can be integrated into at least one data communication network, wherein at least some of the hardware components use different data communication standards. The invention further relates to a method for converting and storing data from an input data stream that is present in different data communication standards in a data recorder. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Particularly in the military sector, there are numerous communication standards used for exchanging data (information) with other communication systems, whether using the same or different data communication networks. Examples of such standards include "Link 11," "Link 16," "VMF," and "ADATP 3." Each individual military communication system typically supports only one or a few of these standards, making efficient information exchange—known as interoperability—generally impossible.

[0003] When different armed forces or branches cooperate, it is essential to be able to react flexibly to new threat situations or defense scenarios. This may necessitate combining armed forces, branches, or even just parts of branches with others as needed to optimally accomplish specific military tasks. To achieve this, it is crucial that these military units can communicate seamlessly with each other and, in particular, exchange data.

[0004] In military data communication, particularly during international operations involving the armed forces of multiple nations, there are numerous sets of rules (such as NATO's STANAG guidelines, national military guidelines, or mission-specific guidelines) that the armed forces must adhere to. Even in everyday operations, there are many possible military actions whose use is bound by specific rules. Especially in international operations, these sets of rules are often so complex that it is difficult to have all the applicable rules for the current operation and situation readily available during combat.

[0005] The resulting complex communication makes it desirable to be able to trace data traffic at a later time, for example, for post-operation analysis. Similar problems can also arise in civilian life, so the invention is not limited to the military sphere.

[0006] The publication DE 10 2007 015 762 A1 describes a data recording system with a computer unit having a storage unit, a time stamp unit and an interface unit for connection to different vehicles.

[0007] Document US 2014 / 0095211A1 describes a method for normalizing and aggregating data from vehicle devices. In this method, data in a variety of message formats and from a variety of devices is received and converted into a standard message format for further processing.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a data recorder that makes it possible to provide the data traffic in data communication connections between participants in a generally readable form even at a later time, for example for evaluation purposes, even if the participants in the data traffic use different data communication standards.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is intended to provide a method for converting and storing data from an input data stream in a data recorder that is available in different data communication standards. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The problem directed at the data recorder is solved by the data recorder with the features of claim 1.

[0011] In the data recorder according to the invention for storing data traffic in intercommunicative data transmission connections of hardware components that are integrated or can be integrated into at least one data communication network, wherein at least some of the hardware components use different data communication standards, the data recorder has a data conversion device or is connectable to a data conversion device and also has at least one mass storage device. The data recorder is configured to convert incoming data information, which corresponds to an external data communication standard, into a recorder-proprietary data communication standard and to then store the data information in the recorder-proprietary data communication standard.The data recorder is designed so that, in the event that a conversion of the incoming data information into the recorder's proprietary data communication standard is not possible, it stamps the data information with a date and time stamp and stores it in the external data communication standard. ADVANTAGES

[0012] Storing the originally heterogeneous data information in the recorder's proprietary data communication standards makes it possible to quickly evaluate stored data without costly subsequent conversion and to supply it with homogeneous operational logging.

[0013] Further preferred and advantageous design features of the data recorder according to the invention are the subject of dependent claim 2.

[0014] Not according to the invention, the data recorder could be configured to stamp and store incoming data information with a date-time stamp in both the recorder's proprietary data communication standard and the external data communication standard. This enables even better subsequent analysis of a deployment, since the original, unconverted data message is also available in the event of communication problems.

[0015] According to the invention, the data recorder is designed such that, in the event that a conversion of the incoming data information into the recorder's proprietary data communication standard is not possible, it stamps the data information with a date and time stamp and stores it in the external data communication standard.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the data recorder has, or is connectable to, a storage device in which the conversion information for converting between a given external data communication standard and the recorder's proprietary data communication standard is stored or can be stored as a rule set data set. This design makes it possible to implement a new external data communication standard in the data recorder quickly, easily, and cost-effectively, since only the rule set for the conversion between this new external data communication standard and the recorder's proprietary data communication standard needs to be created and implemented. The data recorder then immediately supports the conversions between the new external data communication standard and the recorder's proprietary data communication standard.

[0017] The part of the problem relating to the method is solved by the steps of the method according to claim 3.

[0018] This inventive method for converting and storing data of an input data stream in different data communication standards in a data recorder, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprises the following steps: a) Receiving an input data stream supplied through a data communication input and present in an external data communication standard; b) Analyzing and recognizing the external data communication standard and determining and loading an initial rule set data set stored in the storage device; c) Converting the data information contained in the external data communication standard into data information of a recorder-proprietary data communication standard; d) storing the converted data information in the mass storage device.

[0019] If the external data communication standard is not recognized in step b) and consequently cannot be converted in step c), then in step d) only the data information in the external data communication standard is stamped with a date and time stamp and stored.

[0020] This method achieves the advantages already indicated with regard to the device according to the invention.

[0021] Not according to the invention, in step d) the data information could also be stored simultaneously in the external data communication standard, whereby the respective data information is provided with a date-time stamp.

[0022] According to the invention, the method is characterized in that if the external data communication standard is not recognized in step b) and consequently cannot be converted in step c), in step d) only the data information in the external data communication standard is stamped with a date and time stamp and stored.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] It shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a data communication network with an integrated data recorder; Fig. 2 a flowchart of a process according to the invention; and Fig. 3 a flowchart of a modification of the method according to the invention. PRESENTATION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION EXAMPLES

[0025] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically represents a data communication network 1, which is shown here only as an example of a ring, but can also have any other suitable network topology.

[0026] This data communication network 1 connects a multitude of communication partners 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, which in turn have hardware components 10', 11', 12', 13', 14', 15', 16', 17' that participate in data communication, for example, via a respective data radio link. These hardware components can be, for example, sensors, actuators, weapon systems, on-board computers, weapon control computers, or command centers, and can either communicate directly with the data communication network 1 or communicate via the data communication network 1 through one or more other networks. For example, a weapon control computer 11' of the armed helicopter 11 can be directly connected to the data communication network 1 via data radio.A radar sensor 13' of an air surveillance aircraft 13 or a computer 14' evaluating the sensor signals of another air surveillance aircraft 14 can each be directly connected to the data communication network 1 as a hardware component and communicate via it.

[0027] When we speak of a hardware component here, this implies that this hardware component may also be a computer or be formed by a computer, and that the data to be exchanged is generated or further processed by software running in the computer for or by this hardware component.

[0028] Using the example of the in Fig. The ships 10, 12, 15, 16, 17 shown in Figure 1 can be explained as follows: the corresponding hardware components of these ships, for example, sonar systems 10', 17', ship radar systems 12', target acquisition and tracking systems 15', or weapon system computers 16', are first integrated into the ship's own onboard data communication network and then communicate with the data communication network 1 via a network communication computer. The aforementioned hardware components 10', 11', 12', 13', 14', 15', 16', 17' integrated into the data communication network 1 can belong to different armed forces, each of which uses its own data communication standard. By incorporating at least one gateway device 2 that translates these different data communication standards, the hardware components can communicate with each other via the data communication network 1.The conversion of data information between the different data communication standards takes place in real time, i.e. "on the fly", without the need to temporarily store the data in the gateway device 2, and thus virtually without any time delay.

[0029] Gateway setup 2 does not need to be configured as described in Fig. The gateway device 2, which is schematically depicted in Figure 1, is not necessarily provided as an independent hardware device in the network 1 between the communicating hardware components, but can, for example, be formed by the respective hardware components or an associated computer, wherein corresponding conversion software according to the invention runs on the computer as gateway software, making this computer a gateway computer and thus a gateway device. The gateway device 2 can also run as gateway software in a network management computer of the data communication network 1.

[0030] A data recorder 7 is connected to the data communication network 1 and records the data traffic in the network, as described below. The data recorder 7 has, at its data communication input 71 connected to the network 1, a data conversion device 70, a data recorder computer 2, a mass storage device 74, and a storage device 76 in which rule set data records for the data conversion device 72 are stored. The operation of the data recorder 7 is described below with reference to the method according to the invention.

[0031] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows, using a flowchart, how, according to the inventive method, input data information received in a first external data communication standard is converted by the inventive data recorder D into a recorder-proprietary data communication standard and subsequently stored.

[0032] In step a), the input data information received in the first external data communication standard is first received as a data stream from the first hardware component via the data communication input E of the data recorder D.

[0033] Then, in step b1), the first external data communication standard is analyzed and recognized, for example, using stored recognition parameters, and the rule set applicable to this recognized first external data communication standard for converting this first external data communication standard into the recorder-proprietary data communication standard is determined from the rule set data sets R1, R2, R3 stored in a storage device S.

[0034] In the next step (b2), the rule set data record R1 belonging to this specific rule set is loaded from storage device S into the main memory of a data recorder computer. Subsequently, in step (c), the data stream is converted by the data recorder computer into the recorder's proprietary data communication standard. In the following step (d1), the converted data information is stamped with a date and time stamp, and in step (d2), it is stored in the mass storage device M along with this date and time information.

[0035] The procedural variant according to Fig. 3 deviates from the one in connection with Fig.Variant 2 described differs in that the input data information present in the external data communication standard is also provided with a date-time stamp in step d1') in parallel with the converted data information and is stored together with the converted data information in the mass storage device M in step d2').

[0036] Due to the automatic detection of the incoming data communication standard and the rapid availability of the associated rule set in storage device S, the data recorder D can operate quickly and flexibly. Should a new data communication standard need to be added, it is only necessary to create a new rule set record that describes the conversion between this new data communication standard and the recorder's proprietary data communication standard, and to store this new rule set record in storage device S. The data recorder is then immediately able to perform conversions for this new data communication standard as well.

[0037] If the data recorder is connected to the gateway device, the data conversion can begin.

[0038] Reference numerals in the claims, description and drawings serve only to improve understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

Claims

[1] Data recorder (7; D) for storing data traffic in intercommunicative data transmission links of hardware components (10', 11', 12', 13', 14', 15', 16', 17') that are integrated or can be integrated into at least one data communication network (1), wherein at least some of the hardware components use different data communication standards; wherein the data recorder (7; D) has a data conversion device (70) or is connectable to a data conversion device (70); wherein the data recorder (7; D) has at least one mass storage device (74; M) and wherein the data recorder (7; D) is configured to convert incoming data information conforming to an external data communication standard into a recorder-proprietary data communication standard and to store the data information in the recorder-proprietary data communication standard characterized by , that the data recorder (7; D) is designed such that, in the event that it is not possible to convert the incoming data information into the recorder's proprietary data communication standard, it stamps the data information with a date and time stamp and stores it in the external data communication standard. [2] Data recorder according to claim 1, characterized by , that the data recorder has a storage device (76; S) or is connectable to a storage device (76; S) in which the conversion information for the conversion between a respective external data communication standard and the recorder's proprietary data communication standard is stored or can be stored as a rule set data set (R1, R2, R3). [3] Method for converting and storing data of an input data stream in different data communication standards in a data recorder, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: a) Receiving an input data stream supplied through a data communication input (E) and present in an external data communication standard; b) Analyzing and recognizing the external data communication standard and determining and loading a first rule set data record (R1) stored in the storage device (S); c) Converting the data information contained in the external data communication standard into data information of a recorder-proprietary data communication standard; d) storing the converted data information in the mass storage device (M); characterized by, that if the external data communication standard is not recognized in step b) and consequently cannot be converted in step c), then in step d) only the data information in the external data communication standard is stamped with a date and time stamp and stored.

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