Virtualizing Aircraft CAN Bus Units via Network Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interacting with multiple physical CAN buses in aircraft is challenging due to the need for many connectors and separate tapping, making it difficult to manage redundancy and separation of concerns effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for virtualizing multiple controller area network bus units connected to an aircraft, where physical CAN bus units detect and transmit measured state data to a network switch, which generates a single transmission signal and sends it to a computing device with virtual CAN bus units, allowing bridging between physical and virtual buses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple physical CAN buses are used for redundancy and separation of concerns, then reliability and functional separation are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to the need for many connectors and separate tapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of CAN bus units within a computing device that replicate the functionality of physical CAN buses. These virtual bus units provide the same communication and redundancy capabilities as physical buses but without requiring separate physical connectors and tapping points, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network switch as an intermediary device that bridges physical CAN buses and virtual CAN bus units. This mediator consolidates multiple physical connections into a single interface while maintaining the redundancy and separation of concerns through virtualization, reducing the complexity of managing multiple physical connectors
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical CAN buses are used for separation of concerns, then functional separation is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for many connectors and separate tapping
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device with virtual CAN bus units provides a universal interface that can handle multiple CAN bus communications through a single connection point. The virtualization layer allows one physical interface to perform the functions of multiple physical buses, making the system easier to operate while maintaining functional separation through software configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Virtual copies of CAN bus units are created within the computing device, allowing multiple virtual interfaces to be managed through a single physical connection. This copying approach maintains the separation of concerns for different functions while simplifying operation by consolidating the physical interface requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A system for virtualizing a plurality of controller area network bus units communicatively connected to an aircraft, the system comprising a plurality of physical controller area network bus units, each is configured to detect a measured state datum of a plurality of measured state data of the aircraft; and transmit the plurality of measured state data to at least a network switch, the at least a network switch configured to receive the plurality of measured state data from the plurality of physical controller area network bus units, generate a single transmission signal as a function of the plurality of measured state data, and transmit the single transmission signal to a computing device, and the computing device configured to receive the transmission signal originating from the at least a network switch, and bridge each virtual controller area network bus unit of the plurality of virtual controller area network bus units.