Flight Management System Open World Data Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight management systems face challenges in securely integrating open world data from non-secure sources like electronic flight bags into avionic systems, risking corruption or malware that can jeopardize aircraft safety.
Innovation Solution
A flight management system with at least two flight management computers, where one is active and the other is inactive, includes a validation subsystem that independently validates open world data before transmission to the active computer, using a validation unit with storage, computation, and display capabilities to filter out erroneous or malicious data without modifying the internal architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If open world data is directly integrated into the flight management computer, then the workload of the crew is reduced and error probability is lowered, but the risk of data corruption and malware infiltration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary validation subsystem between the open world data source and the flight management computer. This subsystem includes a validation unit that independently verifies data integrity before transmission, acting as a mediator that enables data flow while preventing corruption and malware infiltration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the open world data source, the validation subsystem with validation unit, and the flight management computer. This segmentation isolates the critical flight management system from direct exposure to untrusted data sources while maintaining operational benefits.
2Reliability
If a validation subsystem is introduced to secure open world data, then data security is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The validation unit is designed to perform multiple functions: data reception, integrity validation, and secure transmission. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional component, the system achieves enhanced security without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The validation subsystem performs self-validation of data integrity using cryptographic techniques and predefined validation rules. This automated self-service approach reduces the need for complex manual verification processes and external intervention, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If physical link between open world data and flight management computer is established, then data accuracy is improved, but the risk of installing malware increases
Solution Approach 1:
The validation unit performs preliminary validation actions on incoming data before it reaches the flight management computer. By pre-verifying data integrity and blocking potentially harmful content in advance, the system ensures data accuracy while preventing malware infiltration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of direct data linkage into a benefit by using the validation subsystem to detect and block malicious content. The very connection that could introduce malware becomes an opportunity for real-time security monitoring and data purification.
Data Source
AI summary
A flight management system for an aircraft and method of securing open world data using such a system. The flight management system includes at least two flight management computers including one computer termed active forming part of an active guidance subsystem configured to supply data for guiding the aircraft. Another computer is termed inactive at the current time. The flight management system includes a validation subsystem that includes the inactive flight management computer and a validation unit connected to the flight management computers. The validation subsystem is independent of the active guidance subsystem and configured to validate open world data and to transmit at least to the active flight management computer data that is validated during the validation.