Peripherals Manager for Airport Virtualized Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airport communication systems face challenges in establishing effective communication between peripheral devices and virtualized applications due to limitations in IP address management, security firewalls, and the need for complex routing configurations, especially when using non-static IP addresses and mixed public and private addressing schemes.
Innovation Solution
A system that configures a peripherals manager to establish associations between identifiers for communication channels, allowing messages to be exchanged between virtualized applications and peripheral devices by matching identifiers such as names, IP addresses, locations, and keys, enabling flexible communication across different addressing schemes and firewall restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct communication based on fixed IP addresses and hostnames is implemented, then communication stability is improved, but device complexity and security management become worsened due to firewall configurations and routing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtualization server as an intermediary component that mediates communication between peripheral devices and external networks. The server establishes virtual communication channels that abstract away the complex routing and firewall configuration details, allowing stable communication without requiring complex network infrastructure setup. The server acts as a gateway that handles IP address translation and channel management, simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Ease of operation
If firewalls are configured to allow external communication, then communication accessibility is improved, but security is worsened due to potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The virtualization server serves as a secure intermediary that sits between the internal peripheral devices and external networks. It manages communication channels in a controlled manner, allowing authorized external applications to access peripherals through established virtual channels while maintaining security boundaries. The server validates and manages communication requests, preventing unauthorized access while enabling necessary communication flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where the virtualization server automatically manages communication channel establishment and termination. External applications can request access to peripherals through the server's standardized interface, and the server handles authentication and channel creation automatically, reducing manual firewall rule configuration and associated security risks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-static IP addresses are used for flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but communication reliability is worsened due to IP address translation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The virtualization server creates virtual copies of communication channels that abstract the underlying IP addressing complexity. Instead of directly using physical IP addresses (which may change), the server establishes virtual channel identifiers that remain stable. These virtual channels act as consistent endpoints for communication, decoupling the application layer from the network layer IP address changes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple routing configurations are established for different stakeholders, then communication coverage is improved, but setup time and complexity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The virtualization server implements a universal communication interface that serves multiple stakeholders (airport authorities, network providers, information providers) through a single standardized system. Instead of configuring separate routing paths for each stakeholder, the server provides a unified virtualization layer that handles diverse communication requirements through common mechanisms, dramatically reducing setup and management time.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for managing an airport passenger processing system. The system includes a computing device and a peripheral device at an airport, a peripherals interface in communicative connection with the peripheral device and operable to execute a second client application, and a network outside the airport. The network includes a virtualization server for virtualizing an application for a first client application executed by the computing device and a peripherals manager in communication with the virtualization server. The first client application is configured to establish a first communication channel with the virtualization server for communication with an application virtualized on the virtualization server. The second client application is configured to establish a second communication channel with the peripherals manager. At least part of the network is configured to store an association between the first and second communication channels to associate the peripheral device with the computing device.