Aircraft Data Delivery via Cloud Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft operators face challenges in efficiently and securely delivering data to and from aircraft, particularly due to bandwidth limitations, high latencies, and increased costs associated with direct satellite communications, especially when aircraft are in remote locations, and there is a need for maintaining data integrity and confidentiality.

Innovation Solution

The use of a third-party cloud environment for storing and delivering aircraft data, where bulk data is secured and only a reference is transmitted over low-bandwidth channels, ensuring integrity and confidentiality, leveraging cloud computing and content delivery networks for timely and cost-effective data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If direct satellite communication is used to deliver aircraft data, then data delivery is achieved, but bandwidth limitations and high latencies occur especially in remote locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery speedVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary cloud storage system that receives aircraft data via high-speed ground connections at hub locations, then serves as a mediator for distributing data to remote aircraft. This intermediary approach bypasses the need for direct satellite communication between aircraft and home base, utilizing local ground infrastructure to reduce latency and bandwidth constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-positions data at distributed cloud storage locations near anticipated aircraft positions. By preparing data in advance at geographically distributed nodes, the system enables rapid data delivery when aircraft arrive at nearby locations, eliminating the need for real-time satellite transmission and reducing both latency and bandwidth requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If direct satellite communication is used for data delivery, then data exchange is achieved, but costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange capabilityVSAvoidcommunication cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud storage network acts as a cost-effective intermediary by utilizing existing ground-based internet infrastructure at hub locations. Instead of expensive direct satellite links for every data transaction, the system leverages low-cost ground connections to populate distributed storage nodes, then uses local area networks for data access, dramatically reducing communication costs while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If bulk data is transmitted over low-bandwidth channels, then bandwidth requirements are reduced, but data integrity and confidentiality must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoiddata integrity and confidentiality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments bulk data into discrete storage units distributed across multiple cloud storage locations. Each segment is independently stored with its own integrity checks and access controls. This segmentation allows the system to transmit only metadata and authentication information over low-bandwidth channels while maintaining the actual data at distributed nodes, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while preserving data integrity and confidentiality through distributed security mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If extensive global computing infrastructure is deployed, then data delivery capability is improved, but physical security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery capabilityVSAvoidphysical security risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements local quality by deploying distributed cloud storage nodes at specific geographic hubs rather than creating a uniform global infrastructure. Each local node serves a specific region, providing data delivery capability tailored to local needs. This approach improves productivity by placing data closer to users while reducing physical security risks by concentrating infrastructure at controlled hub locations rather than dispersing it globally, making security management more feasible and effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2945348B1Vehicle data delivery
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 THE BOEING CO
  • EP2945348B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2945348B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2945348B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method of delivering vehicle data. Reference data is received by a data processing system. The reference data comprises a reference identifying the vehicle data stored in a repository that is located off of a vehicle and reference authentication data identifying a source of the reference data. The data processing system uses the reference authentication data to determine whether the reference data is from an approved source for the reference data. The reference is used to retrieve the vehicle data from the repository by the data processing system when the reference data is determined to be from the approved source for the reference data. The vehicle data comprises authentication data identifying a source of the vehicle data. The data processing system uses the authentication data to determine whether the vehicle data is from an approved source for the vehicle data.