Wireless Nacelle Unit Image Boot Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently transferring and managing engine data from aerial vehicle electronic engine controllers to ground systems, particularly due to difficulties in data validity checks and boot processes.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication unit is integrated with an aerial vehicle's engine, performing data validity checks on primary and secondary image index locations, and rebooting if both fail, while loading and validating images in RAM and performing cryptographic signature checks to ensure secure boot processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If automated engine data transfer is implemented, then data availability at ground system is improved, but data validity check complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs data validity checks on primary and secondary image indexes before transferring engine data to the ground system. By conducting these checks in advance during the boot process, the system ensures data integrity is verified before transmission, resolving the contradiction between improving data availability and managing check complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a dual-image index architecture with primary and secondary indexes, where the secondary index serves as a backup validation mechanism. This beforehand cushioning approach ensures that if the primary index fails validation, the system can fall back to the secondary index, maintaining data availability while distributing validation complexity across multiple prepared structures.
2Reliability
If dual image index validation is performed, then system reliability is improved, but boot process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs validation checks on both primary and secondary image indexes during the boot process before system operation begins. By completing these reliability checks preliminarily during startup rather than during operation, the system ensures high reliability while minimizing time loss to the critical operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs validation on the primary image index first, and only performs secondary index validation if the primary validation fails or is insufficient. This partial action approach maintains system reliability through dual-validation capability while reducing the average boot process time by avoiding unnecessary secondary validations when the primary index is valid.
3Measurement precision
If cryptographic signature checks are implemented, then data integrity is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cryptographic signature checks as an intermediary validation layer between the image index and the actual engine data. This intermediary mechanism provides precise data integrity verification by using cryptographic signatures to authenticate data origin and integrity, while the modular implementation keeps processing complexity manageable through standardized cryptographic operations.
Data Source
AI summary
One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a wireless communication unit configured to be located in a nacelle associated with an engine of an aerial vehicle. The wireless communication unit includes a random access memory. The wireless communication unit includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to perform a first data validity check on a first location for a primary index. The one or more processors are configured to perform a second data validity check on a second location for a secondary index. When the first data validity check fails and the second data validity check fails, the one or more processors are configured to reboot.