Aircraft Interface Manager for Peripheral Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of portable PCs, tablets, or smartphones in aircraft cockpits faces challenges due to space constraints and unsuitability for attachment, and existing solutions complicate installation and maintenance, adding new displays and controls.

Innovation Solution

An interface manager device that interconnects peripheral devices to an aircraft's network and power supply, with configurable interfaces for selective authorization and energy management, allowing flexible and controlled incorporation of devices within the avionics context.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If peripheral devices are integrated into the aircraft cockpit, then functionality and versatility are improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidinstallation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An interface manager device is introduced as an intermediary component between peripheral devices and the aircraft's avionics network. This manager handles authentication, authorization, and connection management, thereby simplifying the integration process for peripheral devices while maintaining security and control over the complex avionics system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface manager device provides multiple functions including authentication, authorization, data transfer management, and power supply control through a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach reduces the overall system complexity compared to implementing separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If peripheral devices are added to the cockpit, then adaptability is improved, but space constraints and installation complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidspace constraints

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The interface manager combines multiple functions (authentication, data transfer, power supply) into a single integrated device, reducing the total space required compared to having separate components for each function. This consolidation allows peripheral devices to be integrated without proportionally increasing cockpit space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If unauthorized connections are allowed, then ease of operation is improved, but security and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connectionVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interface manager performs authentication and authorization checks before establishing any data or power connections. This preliminary security verification ensures that only authorized peripheral devices can connect to the avionics network, maintaining security while allowing easy operation for authorized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback through the configuration interface, allowing operators to view and control which peripheral devices are authorized to connect. This feedback mechanism maintains security by allowing dynamic control over connection authorization while keeping the system easy to operate through centralized management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If energy is supplied to all peripheral devices, then functionality is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The interface manager implements selective power supply by authorizing energy delivery only to authenticated and authorized peripheral devices. This partial action approach ensures that power is consumed only when and where needed, rather than supplying energy to all potential connections, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining full functionality for authorized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10805299B2Interface manager device in an aircraft

Publication Date: 2020.10.13 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

An interface manager device interconnects peripheral devices to a network of ACD type or of AISD type of an aircraft, and includes: a first data interface for connecting it to the network; a first electrical power supply interface for connecting it to a general electrical power source; second data interfaces and second electrical power supply interfaces, for connecting it to the peripheral devices, which are deactivated by default. The interface manager device is configurable via a configuration interface so as to selectively authorize connections between the second data interfaces and the first data interface, and to selectively authorize connections between the second electrical power supply interfaces which are associated with them and the first electrical power supply interface, and to activate the second interfaces concerned. The interface manager device propagates a received data packet when said data packet relate to an authorized connection and deletes said data packet otherwise.