Non-certified Computer for Aircraft Communication Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The certification process for aircraft components, such as communications management units (CMUs), is time-consuming and costly, hindering rapid modification of functionality to meet customer demands or address safety flaws.
Innovation Solution
A non-certified computer is used to process uplink and downlink data by receiving data from a certified CMU, identifying message types, and performing encoding, encrypting, and compressing operations for downlink data, while decoding, decrypting, and decompressing for uplink data, without requiring government certification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a certified communications management unit (CMU) is used to process communication data, then the system meets government certification requirements and ensures safety, but the modification time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the communication processing function into two separate components: a certified CMU that handles only routing and data forwarding, and a non-certified computer that handles all processing functions (encoding, encrypting, compressing, decoding, decrypting, decompressing). This segmentation allows the non-certified computer to be modified rapidly without affecting certification compliance, as the CMU retains its certified status while the non-certified computer handles flexible processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-certified computer acts as an intermediary between the certified CMU and the external communication systems. It receives data from the CMU, performs all necessary processing operations, and returns processed data to the CMU for routing. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain certification compliance through the CMU while enabling rapid modifications in the non-certified processing computer.
2Reliability
If a certified communications management unit (CMU) is used to process communication data, then the system meets government certification requirements and ensures safety, but the modification cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the communication processing function into two separate components: a certified CMU that handles only routing and data forwarding, and a non-certified computer that handles all processing functions (encoding, encrypting, compressing, decoding, decrypting, decompressing). This segmentation allows the non-certified computer to be modified rapidly without affecting certification compliance, as the CMU retains its certified status while the non-certified computer handles flexible processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-certified computer can be implemented using off-the-shelf, cost-effective hardware and software components that do not require expensive certification processes. These components can be rapidly developed, tested, and deployed without the high costs associated with certifying aviation-grade equipment, thereby reducing overall modification costs while maintaining system safety through the certified CMU.
3Productivity
If rapid modification of communication functionality is implemented in a certified CMU, then customer demands can be met and safety flaws corrected quickly, but the certification process becomes a bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the communication processing function into two separate components: a certified CMU that handles only routing and data forwarding, and a non-certified computer that handles all processing functions (encoding, encrypting, compressing, decoding, decrypting, decompressing). This segmentation allows the non-certified computer to be modified rapidly without affecting certification compliance, as the CMU retains its certified status while the non-certified computer handles flexible processing operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are provided for facilitating less expensive and more rapid implement and modification of processes, e.g., communications processes, performed in a vehicle, e.g., a commercial aircraft, by implementing those functions on a non-certified computer. This is because the non-certified computer and the functions which it performs do not require certification by a government entity. Optionally, the non-certified computer is communicatively coupled to a communications management unit which requires certification from the government entity. Optionally, the non-certified computer may be an electronic flight bag for commercial aviation applications.