Avionics Database Integration via Dynamic Linked Library

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight management systems rely on standardized databases, which can be inflexible and lack the ability to incorporate enhanced, non-standard data for improved flight planning and navigation, limiting their effectiveness in dynamic operational environments.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that integrates a standard avionics database onboard an aircraft with a non-standard avionics database external to the flight management system, utilizing a dynamic linked library (DLL) to provide enhanced supplemental data for calculating flight management services, enabling the use of non-standard databases for improved flight management operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standard avionics databases are used onboard the aircraft, then system reliability and compatibility are ensured, but adaptability and data enhancement capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The database system is segmented into a standard avionics database component and a non-standard avionics database component. This allows the standard database to maintain reliability and compatibility while the non-standard database provides enhanced adaptability and supplemental data capabilities through modular integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A database manager acts as an intermediary between the flight management system and both standard and non-standard avionics databases. This intermediary component enables reliable data retrieval from standardized sources while facilitating adaptive access to non-standardized external data sources through a unified interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If non-standard avionics databases are integrated external to the FMS, then data enhancement and operational flexibility are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The database manager provides universal functionality by managing both standard and non-standard avionics databases through a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach allows the system to access diverse data sources without requiring separate complex integration mechanisms for each database type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The database manager serves as a mediator that abstracts the complexity of integrating non-standard external databases from the flight management system. It handles the complexity of data retrieval, format conversion, and integration internally, presenting a simplified interface to the FMS.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a unified database interface is implemented for both standard and non-standard databases, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The database manager acts as an intermediary layer that provides a unified interface for accessing both standard and non-standard databases. This abstraction layer handles the complexity of interface management and data format conversion internally, presenting a consistent and simplified interface to users and the flight management system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The database manager implements universal functionality by supporting multiple database types through a single interface paradigm. This allows the system to operate easily with diverse data sources while the complexity of handling different formats and structures is managed within the database manager itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4372720A1Methods and systems for enhanced flight management services using non-standard databases
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 HONEYWELL INT SRO
  • EP4372720A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4372720A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4372720A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for providing flight management services with non-standard databases. The system has a flight management system (FMS) for an aircraft that calculates flight management services for the aircraft. Also included is a standard avionics database onboard the aircraft that provides data to the FMS for the calculation of flight management services for the aircraft. A non-standard avionics database is located external to the FMS that is a dynamic linked library (DLL) which provides enhanced supplemental data to the FMS for the calculation of flight management services for the aircraft.