Communication Network Switching Architecture for Aircraft Data Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication networks for carriers, such as aircraft, face complexity leading to energy losses and limited resistance to failures, particularly in switches, due to their architecture and inability to adapt effectively to changes in throughput.
Innovation Solution
A communication network with a simplified architecture is proposed, where the number of switches is minimized, and each switch is directly connected to different input and output blocks via point-to-point data links, ensuring that no single switch downtime causes communication downtime, and the network remains robust against failures and throughput changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex architecture with multiple routing matrices is used to adapt to throughput evolution and ensure resistance to failures, then reliability and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and energy loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into input blocks, output blocks, and a minimal set of switching elements connected via data links. This segmentation allows the system to achieve reliability through distributed architecture rather than complex redundant routing matrices, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining failure resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The network employs dynamic routing capabilities where data links can be reconfigured to adapt to throughput changes and failure conditions. This dynamic adaptability replaces the need for static complex architectures with multiple predetermined routing matrices, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple routing matrices are connected in parallel to adapt to throughput evolution, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and energy loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network uses dynamic reconfiguration of data links between switching elements to adapt to throughput changes. Instead of maintaining multiple parallel routing matrices that consume energy even when not fully utilized, the system dynamically adjusts the active data links to match current throughput requirements, reducing energy loss while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network adapts to throughput evolution by changing operational parameters such as data link activation states and routing configurations rather than by physically adding or reconfiguring multiple complete routing matrices. This parameter-based adaptation reduces energy consumption compared to maintaining multiple full-scale routing structures.
3Device complexity
If a simplified architecture with minimized switches is used, then device complexity and energy loss are reduced, but resistance to failures may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The network incorporates redundant data links and switching elements configured to provide alternative routing paths before failures occur. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when failures happen, the system can quickly switch to pre-prepared alternative routes, maintaining reliability despite the simplified overall architecture with minimized switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by organizing the network around data links connecting input/output blocks to switching elements in a distributed manner. This dimensional reorganization allows the simplified architecture to achieve failure resistance through spatial distribution and multiple paths rather than through complex hierarchical routing matrices.
4Loss of energy
If switches are directly connected to input and output blocks via data links, then energy loss is reduced and adaptability is improved, but the network may become more vulnerable to switch failures
Solution Approach 1:
The switching function is segmented across multiple distributed switching elements rather than concentrated in a single complex switch. This segmentation reduces the vulnerability of any individual switch to failure while maintaining direct data link connections to input and output blocks, achieving both energy efficiency and failure resilience simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The network configuration includes alternative data link paths and redundant switching capabilities that are prepared in advance. When a switch failure occurs, the system can quickly activate pre-configured alternative routes through other switching elements, mitigating the vulnerability to individual switch failures while maintaining the energy-efficient direct connection architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
This communication network (18) extends between a plurality of input blocks (E1, . . . , EN1) including a predetermined number P1 of input ports, multiple of the number N1 of input blocks, and a plurality of output blocks (S1, . . . , SN2), each output block including a number P2 of output ports (Z1, . . . , ZP2) greater than or equal to the predetermined number of input ports. In this network, when the number P1 of input ports is even, the number N3 of switches is equal to:N3=N1×P12,and when the number P1 is odd, the number N3 of switches is equal to:N3=N1P1×P12-12,and, for each switch, the first (30) and second (32) input terminals are each connected to different input blocks and the first (34) and second (36) output terminals are each connected to different output blocks.