Avionics Network Monitoring via Shared Medium State Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of active components in aircraft computer networks can lower the overall reliability of avionic systems, making it challenging to effectively monitor and manage breakdowns in shared communication media, which are critical for ensuring operational functionality.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to determine alarm conditions based on the state of both avionic systems and communication medium components, simplifying the analysis of breakdowns by using a centralized monitoring system that evaluates the impact of communication medium states on avionic systems and activates alarms accordingly, thereby reducing combinatorial analysis and maintaining high reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If active components are used in computer networks to optimize data transfer, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but system reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shared communication medium as an intermediary between avionic systems, allowing passive communication without requiring active components within the systems themselves. This mediator handles data transfer optimization while the systems maintain simple, reliable interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication medium provides self-service by automatically managing data routing and transfer optimization without requiring active control components in each avionic system. The medium adapts to traffic patterns independently, eliminating the need for complex active components in individual systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If monitoring logic is simplified to reduce design effort, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having each avionic system monitor its own complex breakdown configurations, the patent inverts the approach by having a centralized monitoring system observe the shared communication medium. This simplifies individual system design while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability through the medium's inherent signaling of breakdown conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared communication medium serves multiple functions: data transmission, optimization of transfer, and breakdown detection. This universal component handles what would otherwise require separate monitoring systems for each avionic system, simplifying design while maintaining precision through the medium's comprehensive visibility into system states.
Data Source
AI summary
A method monitors at least one avionic system connected to a communication medium that includes at least one active communication switch component. The method includes determining a state of the switch component and evaluating an indicator of a state of the communication medium from the state of the switch component and from a predetermined modeling of communication flows of the communication medium. The method also includes selecting and activating an alarm according to the evaluated state of the communication medium and according to a predetermined modeling of consequences of the evaluated state of the communication medium on a function of the at least one avionic system. A corresponding device and a method for determining conditions for alarm activation are also disclosed.