Automatic Priority Assignment for Avionics Virtual Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current avionics systems face challenges in efficiently assigning priorities to virtual links in network communications, particularly due to the time-consuming and computationally intensive process of determining optimal latency and jitter settings, which becomes more complex with future generation switches having multiple priorities, making it difficult to achieve desired latency and jitter goals.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes a configuration engine and a switch, which automatically assigns priority to virtual links based on latency or jitter, allowing for efficient priority assignment on a per-switch output port basis, enabling more efficient network routing and resource allocation by determining optimal priority settings quickly and with less computational power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual priority assignment using network calculus tool is used, then theoretical upper bounds for data transmission delays can be determined, but the process takes significant time (up to two hours) and is computationally intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the computationally expensive network calculus tool with a simplified priority assignment mechanism that uses pre-configured priority values stored in lookup tables. Instead of performing intensive real-time calculations, the system uses lightweight, pre-computed priority assignments that can be quickly retrieved and applied, dramatically reducing the time required while maintaining adequate performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs priority assignments during the network configuration phase rather than during runtime operations. By pre-calculating and storing priority values in configuration tables before the network becomes operational, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming calculations during actual data transmission, thus reducing operational delays while maintaining analysis accuracy.
2Reliability
If expert manual adjustment of priorities is performed, then some latency requirements may be met, but it is highly unlikely that an optimal solution is achieved and the process remains time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated priority assignment system that performs optimization without requiring expert manual intervention. The configuration tool automatically calculates optimal priority values based on network parameters and requirements, eliminating the need for expert analysts to manually adjust priorities. This self-service approach maintains reliability by meeting latency requirements while dramatically improving productivity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies priority parameters during the configuration process to optimize network performance. By automatically adjusting priority values based on calculated network conditions and requirements, the system explores different parameter combinations to find optimal solutions, achieving both reliability (latency compliance) and productivity (configuration efficiency) without manual expert intervention.
3Device complexity
If current generation switches with two priorities are used, then implementation is simpler, but future generation switches with eight priorities will make priority selection more difficult and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a universal priority assignment methodology that works effectively regardless of the number of available priority levels. The automated configuration tool adapts to different switch capabilities (whether 2, 8, or any other number of priorities) by calculating appropriate priority assignments based on network requirements rather than being tied to a specific priority structure. This makes the system equally effective for both current generation switches with two priorities and future generation switches with eight priorities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic priority assignment system that automatically adapts to the capabilities of the specific switch being configured. Rather than using fixed priority assignment rules, the system dynamically calculates optimal priority values based on the actual number of priority levels available in the switch, making the approach equally effective whether the switch has two priorities (current generation) or eight priorities (future generation).
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a first and at least one second processing circuit, a configuration engine, and a switch. The configuration engine stores a virtual link configuration for a plurality of virtual links, which indicates a priority and a predetermined network pathway for communicating data packets from the first processing circuit to the at least one second processing circuit. The configuration engine automatically assigns priority to a first virtual link of the plurality of virtual links based on at least one of latency or jitter. The switch receives a first data packet from the first processing circuit. A first virtual link identifier is extracted from the first data packet. A first priority and a first predetermined network pathway corresponding to the first virtual link identifier from the virtual link configuration are retrieved. The first data packet is transmitted along the first predetermined network pathway based on the first priority.