Message Exchange Controller for Redundant Avionics Bus Segregation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exchange controller structures are unable to manage physical redundancy in communication systems, leading to a decrease in security and availability of data, especially in multi-loop or multi-plane systems with different communication planes like ARINC 664 or non-switched systems, resulting in reduced segregation and dissimilarity levels.
Innovation Solution
A message exchange and generic communications controller structure that recovers, stores, and processes redundant messages from separate external buses, allowing for the generation and transmission of resultant messages to consumption units, while maintaining the segregation and dissimilarity levels of redundant communication systems, using a message storage/exchange buffer and interfaces for multiple connections to production/consumption units and external communication buses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing exchange controller structures are used to connect avionics equipment to multiple communication systems, then bulk, assembly and maintenance problems are resolved, but the ability to manage physical redundancy and maintain security levels is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The exchange controller is divided into separate functional modules: a first part for managing first communication systems and a second part for managing second communication systems. This segmentation allows independent management of redundant communication planes while maintaining ease of assembly and maintenance through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
A message buffer is introduced as an intermediary component between communication systems and the exchange controller. The buffer receives messages from multiple communication systems and distributes them to appropriate destinations, enabling the controller to manage physical redundancy without compromising security levels or increasing assembly complexity.
2Reliability
If redundant communication systems are implemented to increase data availability, then overall availability improves, but the segregation and dissimilarity levels between communication planes are decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The exchange controller is segmented into distinct first and second parts, each managing separate communication systems. This segmentation maintains segregation levels by preventing mixing of communication planes while enabling redundant data transmission through both independent parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the exchange controller are assigned different communication systems with distinct characteristics. The first part handles first communication systems while the second part handles second communication systems, maintaining local quality and dissimilarity between communication planes to preserve security levels.
3Device complexity
If multiple communication systems are integrated within a single exchange controller, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to maintain physical redundancy and time transparency is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The exchange controller is divided into separate first and second parts that independently manage different communication systems. This segmentation maintains time transparency by ensuring that each part operates independently with its own timing mechanisms, while reducing overall device complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The message buffer serves multiple functions: it buffers messages from both first and second communication systems, distributes them to appropriate destinations, and maintains synchronization across redundant systems. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while preserving time transparency and physical redundancy capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a message exchange controller structure (1) comprising means (3) forming a message exchange controller, associated with a member (4) forming a storage/exchange buffer, a member (5) forming interfaces for multiple connections to several message production/consumption units, and a member (6) forming interfaces for connecting to several external buses;which is characterized in that the means exchange controller-forming means (3) are able to recover redundant messages from external buses, store those messages in the storage/exchange buffer-forming member (4), recover those messages from the storage/exchange buffer-forming member (4), and process those messages so as to generate a resultant message (MF), to send it to at least one consumption unit.