IP Sequencing for Passenger Flight Information System Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passenger flight information systems (PFIS) face challenges in reliably identifying and communicating with seat electronics boxes (SEBs) and other line replaceable units, which is crucial for providing passenger services like audio and video entertainment, due to the modular and dynamic nature of aircraft environments.
Innovation Solution
The system employs Internet Protocol (IP) sequencing to assign unique IP addresses to each SEB and other components, enabling the PFIS to identify and communicate with them effectively, using a process that involves UDP broadcast messages and Ethernet switches to manage IP and MAC address distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional identification methods are used for SEBs in a modular aircraft environment, then the system structure remains simple and flexible for reconfiguration, but reliable identification and communication with specific SEBs becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aircraft network into multiple Ethernet domains, with each SEB assigned to a specific domain based on its physical location. This segmentation enables reliable identification and communication within each domain while maintaining the modular flexibility of the overall system. The domain-based approach allows the system to scale without increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-assigning IP addresses to SEBs based on their expected physical locations before installation. This allows the system to maintain reliable identification and communication protocols in place from the outset, rather than attempting to dynamically assign addresses after deployment, which would complicate the system.
2Ease of repair
If SEBs are individually removable and replaceable in the aircraft, then maintenance and reconfiguration become easier, but tracking and identifying specific SEB locations becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures each SEB with a unique IP address that corresponds to its designated physical location in the aircraft before installation. When SEBs are removed or replaced, the system maintains location information through the predetermined addressing scheme, eliminating the need to retrack or reidentify components after maintenance activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where SEBs automatically report their status and location information to the central management system. This continuous feedback ensures that location information is maintained and updated, allowing the system to track SEB positions even as components are moved or replaced during maintenance operations.
3Productivity
If IP addressing is implemented for each SEB, then communication and identification become reliable and efficient, but the complexity of IP address management and distribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the IP address management into domain-specific segments, where each Ethernet domain manages its own IP address assignments independently. This segmentation reduces the complexity of overall IP management by breaking it into smaller, more manageable units, while still enabling efficient communication across the entire aircraft network through standardized domain interconnection protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method utilizing Internet Protocol (IP) sequencing to identify components of a passenger flight information system (PFIS). More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method which assigns an IP address to each line replaceable unit (LRU), such as a seat electronics box (SEB) or other seat components of a PFIS, so that the components can be readily identified by the PFIS when communication is to occur between the components and, for example, a head end unit of the PFIS. Once the IP sequencing process has been performed, the PFIS can be used to provide services to the passengers, such as audio and video entertainment. Such entertainment can be set in accordance with an auto-scripting process in which the flight crew can select the theme for the flight.