Wireless Avionics Network Architecture for Fault-Tolerant Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wired communication systems in aircraft are inflexible, scalable, and costly, with excessive cables consuming space and increasing maintenance complexity, while lacking security and reliability for wireless data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A layered wireless avionics communication network architecture incorporating spatial and spectral redundancy, dynamic buffering, and a deployment matrix for fault-tolerant communication, enabling synchronous and asynchronous data exchange with internal and external applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wired communication systems are used in aircraft, then data transmission reliability is maintained, but system flexibility and scalability are reduced while maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsystem flexibility and scalability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces wired mechanical communication systems with wireless communication systems. The wireless avionics communication network eliminates physical cable connections while maintaining data transmission reliability through protocol layers, error correction mechanisms, and redundant communication paths, thereby improving system flexibility and scalability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces communication protocol layers and network management entities as intermediaries between wireless communication components. These intermediaries ensure reliable data transmission by handling error correction, data prioritization, and network coordination, compensating for the lack of physical connection stability inherent in wireless systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If wired communication systems are used in aircraft, then data transmission stability is maintained, but maintenance costs and complexity increase due to excessive cables

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the physical cable infrastructure from the avionics communication system. By removing excessive cables and wired connections, the system reduces maintenance complexity and costs while maintaining data transmission stability through wireless communication protocols and network management mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes mechanical wired connections with wireless communication systems. This replacement eliminates the need for physical cable maintenance, connection inspections, and hardware repairs, thereby reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining transmission stability through software-based error correction and protocol management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If wireless communication is implemented in aircraft, then system flexibility and scalability are improved, but data loss and reliability concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem flexibility and scalabilityVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements error correction codes, data redundancy mechanisms, and buffer memory systems as beforehand cushioning measures. These pre-configured protective mechanisms compensate for potential wireless communication failures, data corruption, or packet loss, ensuring reliable data transmission while maintaining system flexibility and scalability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms including acknowledgment protocols, error detection and correction systems, and network status monitoring. These feedback loops enable the wireless avionics network to detect and correct transmission errors, request retransmission of lost data, and adapt to changing communication conditions, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving system flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Object-affected harmful factors

If wired communication systems are used in aircraft, then security against unauthorized access is maintained through physical connectivity control, but scalability and deployment flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protectionVSAvoiddeployment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical connectivity-based security with software-based security mechanisms including encryption, authentication protocols, and access control lists. These electronic security measures protect wireless communications from unauthorized access while allowing flexible system deployment and reconfiguration without physical cable changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3562126B1Architecture for wireless avionics communication networks
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC
  • EP3562126B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3562126B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3562126B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for architectures for wireless avionics communication networks. The embodiments further include detecting a signal strength of wireless nodes (110), assigning a primary data controller (108b) and standby data controller (108a) for each of the wireless nodes (110) based at least in part on the signal strength, and generating a deployment matrix (300) based on the assignment of the primary data controller (108b) and the standby data controller (108a). The embodiments also include broadcasting the deployment matrix (300) over a wired connection, allocating a buffer size based on data rates of each of the wireless nodes (110) connected to the primary data controller (108b) and the standby data controller (108a), and exchanging data based on the deployment matrix (300).