Resource Sharing Controller for Avionics Memory Partitioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the avionics sector, the increasing complexity of software applications on shared computer processing platforms requires robust temporal and spatial partitioning to ensure independent access to mass memory resources, as existing technologies struggle with real-time processing and performance variability, leading to potential disruptions and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A resource sharing controller is introduced between the file management system and mass memory, which allocates time intervals and memory bandwidth to each application, ensuring independence and optimizing access by sequencing parallel requests based on worst-case execution times, thereby reducing performance variability and enhancing operational safety and development efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multiple applications share the same mass memory resource on a computing platform, then device complexity is reduced and resource utilization is improved, but performance variability increases and real-time processing reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of computing platformsVSAvoidreal-time processing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mass memory access operations by introducing a file management system layer that divides and organizes data access requests from multiple applications. This segmentation allows controlled sharing of the mass memory resource while maintaining isolation between applications, thus reducing the number of computing platforms needed while preserving real-time processing reliability through structured access management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If mass memory access operations are performed with variable data sizes and types, then adaptability is improved, but execution time increases beyond real-time requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in data accessVSAvoidexecution time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing data in the mass memory through the file management system into structured formats and pre-establishing access pathways. This allows the system to handle variable data sizes and types adaptably while maintaining real-time execution requirements, as the preliminary structuring eliminates the need for complex runtime decisions that would extend execution time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If applications share common data on mass memory, then resource utilization is improved, but the risk of overflow and disruptions between applications increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidoverflow risk between applications
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the file management system as an intermediary layer between multiple applications and the mass memory resource. This intermediary controls and mediates access to shared data, allowing high resource utilization through controlled sharing while preventing overflow and disruptions between applications by managing data flow and access permissions through the intermediate file management layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3579108B1Digital platform resource sharing controller and associated method for resource sharing
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 THALES SA
  • EP3579108B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3579108B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3579108B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Resource sharing controller (5) adapted to operate in a computer platform (1) further comprising a data storage medium (4) and software applications (2) comprising commands for accessing the storage medium, adapted to, according to a respective portion allocated to each application, of a maximum capacity for accessing the storage medium, according to a list (Z1) of next commands for accessing the storage medium of each application and in addition to the maximum theoretical times for the execution of said commands, select, for each application and for a next time cycle of access to the storage medium, the next commands to be implemented and to successively distribute, during said next time cycle, access to each application for the implementation of said selected commands.