Aircraft Server System for Secure PED Access via Virtual Clients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft communication systems face challenges in securely and easily connecting personal electronic devices (PEDs) to aircraft networks while protecting against external intrusion.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft server system with a wireless transceiver and virtual network server units that remotely control PEDs via near field communication (NFC), enabling secure access to aircraft networks and content through virtual network clients, and using inductive energy transfer for power and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If PEDs are directly connected to aircraft networks, then ease of operation is improved, but security against external intrusion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server system as an intermediary between PEDs and the aircraft network. The server establishes wireless connections to PEDs and manages their access to network resources, preventing direct connections that would expose the network to security risks while maintaining ease of use for passengers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network architecture into multiple components: the aircraft network, the server system, and individual PEDs. This segmentation allows the server to act as a controlled gateway, managing each PED's access separately and preventing unauthorized intrusion into the core aircraft network.
2Reliability
If virtual network servers remotely control PEDs, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server system performs multiple functions: it acts as a wireless access point, a virtual network server, and a security gateway. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high security through centralized control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates secure and easy access to aircraft networks and resources for PEDs, preventing malicious manipulation by external devices and ensuring reliable communication and content access.
Implementation Method 1
NFC utilizes electromagnetic field induction that enables communication between PEDs
Implementation Method 2
a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly emit and receive radio frequency signals
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The present invention pertains to an aircraft server system (20), comprising a wireless transceiver (21) configured to wirelessly emit and receive radio frequency signals in the passenger cabin (100) of an aircraft, and a plurality of virtual network server units (22a; 22n), each configured to remotely control one or more virtual network clients (1e) on one of a plurality of personal electronic devices (1), PEDs, wirelessly connected to the aircraft server system (20).