Aircraft Software Configuration Loading via Transportable Data Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for updating software configurations in aircraft electronic components are inefficient and error-prone, requiring numerous data carriers, manual handling, and complex administration, which poses risks to flight safety and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A data loading system that connects to a database system to retrieve and store current software configurations on a transportable device, allowing direct loading onto an aircraft's data bus without media breaks, enabling selection and automatic transfer of updates, and providing digital verification and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data carriers (diskettes, CDs) are used to transfer software configurations, then software updates can be distributed to aircraft, but the process becomes complex and error-prone requiring manual handling and administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the software configuration data from physical data carriers (diskettes, CDs) and transfers it to a portable data loading device that can directly interface with the aircraft's data bus. This eliminates the need for manual data carrier handling and reduces administrative complexity while maintaining software update reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable data loading device serves as an intermediary between the data carriers and the aircraft's data bus system. It automatically reads software configurations from data carriers and transfers them to the appropriate aircraft systems, eliminating manual intervention and reducing errors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple data carriers are created for different software configurations, then various aircraft variants can be updated, but the administration and distribution becomes extremely complex
Solution Approach 1:
The portable data loading device is designed to handle multiple software configurations and aircraft types through a single unified system. It can read different data carrier formats and automatically adapt to the target aircraft's requirements, providing universal functionality that eliminates the need for separate administration procedures for different aircraft variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of software configurations in a standardized format that can be replicated and distributed across multiple aircraft types. This copying approach maintains adaptability to different aircraft variants while simplifying administration through consistent digital file handling rather than physical carrier management.
3Reliability
If manual verification and checking of software configurations is performed, then flight safety requirements are met, but the process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The portable data loading device incorporates automatic verification and feedback mechanisms that check software configuration integrity during the loading process. The system provides real-time feedback on transfer status and validates data integrity, ensuring flight safety requirements are met while significantly reducing the time required compared to manual verification processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The data loading system performs self-verification and self-checking of software configurations automatically during the transfer process. The portable device validates data integrity and confirms successful loading without requiring extensive manual intervention, thereby maintaining safety standards while reducing process time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a data-loading system and a corresponding method (10) for loading software configurations (12) into the electronic components (38, 39, 40, 41,...) of aircraft (30), said data-loading system (10) comprising a databank system (11) and at least one transportable data-loading device (14). Software configurations (12) for at least one fleet of aircraft (30) are stored in the databank system (11), and said data-loading device (14) is configured to load, via a port, an allocated software configuration (12) that has been obtained from said databank system (11) into a data bus (33) of an aircraft (30) which corresponds to this software configuration (12). Said data-loading device (14) is configured to load the latest individual software configurations (12) of all of the aircraft (30) of the fleet, from the databank system (11), and to store these on said data-loading device (14), this loading process taking place at a ground-based storing position (13) by means of a data connection (16).