Onboard Avionics Data Synchronization for Real-Time Fault Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing onboard avionics systems generate and record data in-flight, but there is no mechanism for real-time synchronization and collection of data from multiple systems, leading to complex, time-consuming, and error-prone processes, especially requiring human intervention.

Innovation Solution

An onboard system records data from multiple products, systems, and devices with a common timestamp, compiles it into a centralized dataset, modifies the data to conform to a standard format, and transmits it offboard for analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is collected from multiple discrete onboard systems manually, then data can be obtained, but the process becomes complex, time-consuming, and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoiddata collection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple discrete data collection processes into a single centralized system that automatically gathers data from all onboard systems simultaneously. The centralized database consolidates data from flight management systems, weather radar, communication systems, and other avionics into one unified repository, eliminating the need for manual data collection from each system separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service automation where the centralized database automatically queries, retrieves, and stores data from multiple onboard systems without human intervention. The system autonomously synchronizes data collection, applies timestamps, and organizes information, replacing manual data gathering operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If data is collected without synchronization, then data from all systems can be gathered, but real-time correlation of system interactions is impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem interaction informationVSAvoiddata synchronization time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by assigning a common timestamp to data from all systems at the moment of collection, before any analysis occurs. This pre-synchronization ensures that when data is later analyzed, the temporal relationships between system events are already established, enabling real-time correlation of system interactions without requiring post-processing synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual data collection is used, then human intervention can handle complex cases, but the process becomes expensive and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection flexibilityVSAvoiddata collection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automation where the centralized database automatically queries, retrieves, and stores data from multiple onboard systems simultaneously. The system autonomously synchronizes data collection, applies timestamps, and organizes information, replacing manual data gathering operations and eliminating the need for expensive human intervention while maintaining adaptability through automated event-triggered collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically detect and respond to system events, such as triggering data collection when specific conditions are met. This automated feedback loop enables the system to adapt to different operational scenarios without human intervention, maintaining versatility while improving efficiency through intelligent, event-driven data collection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4287149B1Onboard equipment data synchronization system
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 ARINC INC
  • EP4287149B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4287149B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4287149B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An onboard system in an aircraft records data simultaneously from a plurality of onboard products, systems, and devices. The data is recorded in response to an event trigger common to each onboard product, system, and device, and tagged with a common timestamp and stored in a centralized data store. The system compiles the data into a single dataset, synchronizing the data according to the common timestamp. The data may be modified to reflect the common timestamp where the data includes a different timecode from the original source. The data may also be modified to conform to a standard format. The dataset may be encrypted according to a standard and transmitted offboard for later analysis, or analyzed onboard if immediate analysis is required.