Serial Databus Spare-Bandwidth Logging for Engine Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft electronic engine controllers face challenges in storing and transmitting large amounts of continuous engine operating data due to limited memory requirements and the difficulty of accessing serial databus bandwidth, making it time-consuming to download data from engines mounted under the cowls.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes spare bandwidth in serial databus transmission frames by dividing data files into selectively-sized portions, allocating them into available slots, and transmitting them over the databus, where a bus recorder can reconstitute the data in a more accessible area, such as the avionics bay, and transmit it to a remote station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored on EECs, then data availability is maintained, but memory requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data storage function from the EEC by transmitting data files over the serial databus to external storage locations. The EEC generates and transmits the data file, but the actual storage is performed externally, eliminating the need for substantial onboard memory while maintaining data availability through multiple access points.
2Ease of operation
If data is transmitted over serial databus, then data accessibility improves, but bandwidth capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data file into multiple data words, with each data word containing a label and associated data. These segmented data words are then allocated to different time slots within transmission frames, allowing the limited serial databus bandwidth to efficiently carry the complete data file through distributed transmission across multiple frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a time dimension to the transmission process by utilizing multiple time slots within transmission frames. Instead of attempting to transmit the entire data file in a single transmission, the system distributes data across multiple time slots and frames, effectively using the time dimension to overcome the bandwidth limitation of the serial databus.
3Loss of information
If data is downloaded from EECs, then complete data retrieval is achieved, but retrieval time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-transmitting the data file from the EEC to external storage locations during normal operations. This allows the data to be staged in advance at multiple accessible locations, so when retrieval is needed, the complete data file is already available externally, eliminating the time-consuming process of accessing the EEC mounted under the cowls.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for data (510) acquisition utilizing spare or unused databus (124) capacity are provided. In one example aspect, the system (100) includes a vehicle (110) that includes an engine (114) and a controller. The controller generates a data file (170) indicative of Continuous engine (114) Operation data (510) (CEOD). The data file (170) is transmitted over a serial databus (124) to a bus recorder (126). Particularly, the data file (170) is continuously generated by the controller and stored in a buffer (134). The available bandwidth of a transmission frame (182) for the serial databus (124) is determined. A portion of the data file (170) is retrieved from the buffer (134) based at least in part on the determined bandwidth. The portion of the data file (170) is divided into relatively small transmission payloads (174) and packed into the available bandwidth of the transmission frame (182). This process is repeated on a continuous basis and the bus recorder (126) records the data (510). The data file (170) is then reconstituted and decoded.