Removable Aircraft Computer Pairing for Secure Avionics Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft computers that link avionics and non-avionics equipment face challenges in ensuring data security and integrity, particularly due to the need for complex certification processes and risks of unintentional or malicious data exchanges, which are not adequately addressed by prior two-part computer structures.
Innovation Solution
A computer system for aircraft comprising a dock part fixedly installed in the aircraft, connected via a bidirectional data bus to avionics equipment, and a removable server part, with a pairing mechanism to authenticate and control data exchanges, ensuring only authenticated servers can communicate with avionics systems, and implementing data analysis and filtering functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a two-part computer structure (dock part and server part) is used to reduce certification costs, then certification complexity is reduced, but data security and integrity between parts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system is divided into two separate parts: a dock part installed in the aircraft and a server part that can be installed on the dock part. This segmentation allows the server part to be certified under less stringent requirements while the dock part maintains necessary aviation certifications, thereby reducing overall certification complexity while preserving data security through controlled interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The dock part acts as an intermediary between the avionics equipment and the removable server part. It manages data exchanges and implements security controls at the interface, ensuring that data integrity and security are maintained despite the separation into two parts with different certification levels.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a removable server part is used to enable easy upgradability, then adaptability is improved, but data exchange security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dock part establishes security protocols and authentication mechanisms before data exchanges occur. Pairing codes are verified in advance, and security controls are pre-configured to prevent unauthorized or malicious data exchanges, thereby enabling easy upgradability while maintaining data security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements verification mechanisms where the dock part checks pairing codes and authentication data from the server part before allowing data exchanges. This feedback loop ensures that only authenticated and authorized server parts can communicate with the avionics equipment, preventing data corruption even as server parts are frequently replaced or upgraded.
3Reliability
If pairing mechanism with authentication is implemented to ensure data security, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex authentication and pairing verification functions are extracted and centralized in the dock part, which is installed in the aircraft. The removable server part has a simpler design, while the dock part handles all security-critical operations. This extraction maintains high data exchange security while keeping the overall system manageable by concentrating complexity in a fixed, certified component.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer for an aircraft includes a dock part installed fixedly in the aircraft: configured so as to be connected to at least one avionics equipment by way of a bidirectional data bus, comprising a docking station, a server part installed removably on the docking station of the dock part, configured so as to exchange data and signals with the dock part through a connector, and configured so as to be connected to at least one non-avionics equipment through at least one communications link, the dock part being configured so as to implement a pairing mechanism with the server part in order to authorize or prevent the transmission of data between the server part and said at least one avionics equipment.