Flight Deck Information Controller for Certified Network Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft flight deck systems are inflexible due to certification processes, which restrict the integration of non-essential but useful information from external sources, leading to delays and increased costs in updating the flight deck network, limiting the information available to flight crews.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an information controller that receives and approves non-essential information from external sources, allowing it to be used on the flight deck without interfering with essential safety information, through a flexible approval process that tags the information with usage permissions, enabling efficient and safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the flight deck network is physically separated from other data processing systems and subjected to a certification process, then the safety and appropriateness of displayed information is ensured, but the system becomes inflexible and changes require time-consuming and costly recertification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of flight deck informationVSAvoidflexibility of flight deck network

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides information into two categories: essential safety-critical information that requires certification and remains in the separated flight deck network, and non-essential information that can be integrated from external sources through a gateway. This segmentation allows the certified portion to maintain safety while the non-certified portion provides flexibility and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An information gateway is introduced as an intermediary component between the certified flight deck network and external information sources. The gateway receives, validates, and translates non-essential information into a format suitable for the flight deck network, enabling integration without compromising the certified system's integrity or requiring recertification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the flight deck network is separated from other aircraft network data processing systems, then information accuracy and appropriateness are controlled, but information availability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of flight deck informationVSAvoidavailability of useful information

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The information gateway serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the isolated certified flight deck network and external information sources. It selectively transfers non-essential but useful information (such as weather data, maintenance information, or entertainment content) while maintaining the accuracy and appropriateness controls of the certified system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality standards are applied to different types of information. Essential safety-critical information maintains the high accuracy and certification requirements of the separated network, while non-essential information received through the gateway can have varying quality standards appropriate to its purpose, thereby increasing overall information availability without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If changes are made to the flight deck network to use information from new sources or in new formats, then the system becomes more adaptable, but the certification process must be repeated which is time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to integrate new information sourcesVSAvoidtime required for recertification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments information handling into certified essential information pathways and non-certified non-essential information pathways. Changes to external information sources and formats can be implemented in the non-essential pathway through the gateway without triggering recertification, as long as essential safety-critical information pathways remain unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The information gateway acts as a buffer that absorbs the impact of changes in external information sources. New information sources and formats can be integrated through the gateway without requiring changes to the core certified flight deck network, thereby avoiding time-consuming and costly recertification processes while maintaining system adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9031716B2Information handling for aircraft flight decks

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A system and method for handling information for use on a flight deck network on an aircraft. Information is received from a number of information sources. The number of information sources is not part of the flight deck network. The flight deck network is a certified network. It is determined whether the information is approved to be used on the flight deck network. A manner in which the information is allowed to be used on the flight deck network is also determined. Responsive to a determination that the information is approved to be used on the flight deck network, the information is sent to the flight deck network during operation of the aircraft.