Asynchronous Avionics Data Transmission With Redundant NICs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing avionics data networks face challenges in meeting strict maximum transmission delay bounds without introducing significant complexity, particularly in aerial vehicles, where synchronous network transmission is often required for determinism.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a computing device that transmits data packets in parallel via three or more redundant network interface controllers (NICs) and using a token bucket filter (TBF) to control peak information rates, combined with redundant network switches for relaying packets, and employing prioritized fair share schedulers to ensure deterministic end-to-end transmission delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If synchronous network transmission is used to achieve deterministic transmission delay bounds, then transmission delay bound is satisfied, but device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission delay boundVSAvoidnetwork design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using asynchronous transmission instead of synchronous transmission. Multiple redundant NICs transmit data packets asynchronously in parallel, and the destination device receives and processes them without requiring synchronized timing, thereby achieving deterministic delay bounds without the complexity of synchronous protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the transmission path into multiple parallel channels using three or more redundant NICs and corresponding network switches. Each NIC transmits data packets independently through separate network paths, allowing asynchronous transmission while maintaining overall deterministic performance through redundancy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If redundant network paths are implemented to mitigate single event effects, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork availabilityVSAvoidnetwork configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by deploying three or more redundant NICs and network switches before any failure can occur. This redundant infrastructure is pre-configured to handle single event effects, ensuring that if one path fails, other paths are already in place to maintain transmission without requiring complex real-time reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of transmission mode from synchronous to asynchronous, and increases the number of transmission channels from single to multiple (three or more). This parameter change enables the system to achieve higher reliability through redundancy while simplifying the overall network configuration by eliminating synchronous protocol requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12452165B2Asynchronous data transmission over avionics communication network

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

An avionics data communication network includes a computing device configured to asynchronously transmit data packets in parallel via three or more redundant network interface controllers (NICs). The data packets offered to the avionics data communication network are bound using a token bucket filter (TBF). Three or more redundant network switches are configured to receive and relay the data packets from a different NIC of the three or more redundant NICs of the computing device. An avionics device is configured to receive the data packets from the computing device within a deterministic end-to-end transmission delay bound, the avionics device receiving the data packets via at least one of the three or more redundant network switches.