Secure Aircraft Telecommunication System Bidirectional Data Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current on-board aircraft telecommunication systems partitioned into secure and non-secure areas only allow one-way communication from the secure area to the non-secure area, preventing any communication in the reverse direction and causing incompatibilities with modern communication protocols, which hampers data transfer reliability and security.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a two-way communication system by using distinct protocols for links between secure and non-secure areas, where the secure area uses Ethernet (TFTP/UDP/IP) and the non-secure area uses ARINC 429 or CAN protocols, allowing data encapsulation and decapsulation to facilitate return acknowledgments and message transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If one-way links are used from secure area to non secure area, then security protection is improved, but communication bidirectionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into two distinct protocol stacks: a first protocol stack for secure area to non-secure area communication and a second protocol stack for non-secure area to secure area communication. This segmentation allows each direction to have optimized security characteristics while enabling bidirectional communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A protocol conversion mechanism acts as an intermediary between the two different protocol stacks. The first telecommunication equipment unit converts messages from the first protocol to the second protocol and vice versa, enabling seamless bidirectional communication while maintaining security boundaries.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If one-way links are used, then security protection is improved, but data transfer reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The second link from non-secure area to secure area enables feedback mechanisms where the destination equipment can return acknowledgments and control messages to the source equipment. This feedback capability ensures reliable data transfer by allowing the sender to verify successful receipt and implement retransmission if necessary.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If one-way links are used, then security protection is improved, but protocol compatibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the protocol parameters by implementing different protocol stacks for different communication directions. The first protocol stack uses standard Ethernet/IP protocols for outward communication, while the second protocol stack uses aviation-specific protocols (ARINC 429 or CAN) for return communication, optimizing each for its specific operational context.
Data Source
AI summary
An on-board telecommunication system, partitioned into a secure area and a non secure area, including at least a first telecommunication equipment unit in the secure area, a second telecommunication equipment unit in the non secure area, and a first one-way link from the first to the second equipment. The first equipment unit is configured to transmit data on the first link according to a first protocol. The system further includes a second link from the second to the first equipment unit, in accordance with a second protocol, the first two layers of which are distinct of those of the first protocol, the second equipment configured to transmit data on the second link as messages in accordance with the first protocol and encapsulated in frames in accordance with the second protocol.