Aircraft Router Interface for Wireless Link Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft connection interfaces require substantial maintenance and coordination with equipment vendors when adding or removing connectivity links, leading to logistical delays and costs due to the need to update each piece of equipment individually.
Innovation Solution
A connection interface with a router that uses a mapping table to manage multiple connectivity link classes and automatically transmit active link information to connected equipment, allowing data transmission through authorized links without requiring updates to individual equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the list of authorized connectivity links is loaded directly in each piece of equipment, then each equipment can independently manage its connections, but adding or removing connectivity links requires modifying each piece of equipment individually, leading to substantial maintenance costs and logistical delays
Solution Approach 1:
The router acts as an intermediary between the connectivity links and the equipment. Instead of loading the complete list of authorized connectivity links into each piece of equipment, the system stores this information in the router and provides it to equipment on demand through queries. This mediator approach eliminates the need to update each equipment when connectivity links change, resolving the maintenance complexity issue while preserving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The router is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple pieces of equipment with different connectivity requirements. By centralizing the authorized connectivity links information in the router, the system provides a universal solution that works for all connected equipment without requiring individual customization or updates to each device, thereby reducing maintenance burden while maintaining versatility.
2Reliability
If each piece of equipment is updated individually when connectivity links change, then the equipment remains synchronized with available links, but this process incurs substantial logistics, update delays, and modification costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where equipment can query the router to obtain the current list of authorized connectivity links. When connectivity links change, the router updates its information and subsequent queries from equipment return the updated list. This feedback loop ensures synchronization between equipment and available links without requiring proactive updates to each device, thereby maintaining reliability while eliminating update delays.
Solution Approach 2:
Each piece of equipment performs self-service by querying the router for the current authorized connectivity links information when needed. Instead of relying on external updates or maintenance personnel to synchronize each device, the equipment autonomously retrieves the latest information from the router, ensuring synchronization without causing downtime or requiring coordinated maintenance activities.
3Ease of operation
If connectivity link information is stored in each piece of equipment, then equipment can operate independently, but coordination with external equipment vendors is required for updates, increasing complexity and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The router serves as an intermediary that centralizes the management of connectivity link information. Equipment maintains operational independence by querying the router for current authorized links, while the router handles all updates and coordination centrally. This eliminates the need for complex coordination with multiple equipment vendors, as all connectivity management is funneled through the single intermediary router, reducing device complexity while preserving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A standardized connection interface between aircraft equipment and a wireless data transmission network external to the aircraft includes a router. The router includes a mapping table between a plurality of connectivity link classes and one or more connectivity links associated with each connectivity link class. The router is configured to transmit the list of active connectivity link classes to each item of equipment, to establish a transmission of data between the piece of equipment and at least one wireless data transmission network (14A to 14E) through an active connectivity link, based on the list of active connectivity link classes and a list of connectivity link classes to which the piece of equipment is authorized to connect.