Patent Application
20190280961
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to communication networks, and more particularly to distributed communication network architectures for vehicles.
Aircraft implementation of so called line replaceable units (LRUs) and sensor integration is often based on redundant wiring paths. Often, communication data busses are physical copper wires in the aircraft today. This can create duplicate harness and connector weight throughout the aircraft.
In addition, current LRUs rely on a centralized node or master computer to send and receive data from the aircraft to various sensors and subsystems.
It is desirable to further reduce the cost and weight of aircraft as well as the manufacturing and maintenance complexity. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.
The disclosed embodiments relate to a communication node for use in a distributed communication network in a vehicle is provided. The communication node includes, but is not limited to communication module and a processor unit. The communication module is configured to communicate with a target communication module of a target communication node of a plurality of communication nodes in the distributed communication network in the vehicle. The processor unit is configured to automatically and dynamically determine an optimum communication path through the communication network for communication between the particular communication node and a target communication node and to configure the communication module to exchange data with the target communication node over the optimum communication path through the distributed communication network.
In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the communication module can be a wireless communication module, such as a WIFI-module, a GSM-module, an LTE-module or any other suitable wireless communication module. Of course, the wireless communication module can also be a wired communication module, such as an ethernet cable module, for example.
A communication node of the distributed communication network can be a so-called line replaceable unit (“LRU”) or a sensor, such as a pressure sensor, for example.
In the context of the present disclosure, a target communication node is a communication node in a distributed communication network that is to be contacted by a source communication node that submits data or information to the target communication node. The target communication node may be a repeater that repeats the data or information to a destination. Alternatively, the target communication node may be the destination of the data or information.
According to an aspect, disclosed embodiments relate to a distributed communication network for a vehicle. The distributed communication network includes, but is not limited to a plurality of communication nodes. Further, each communication node of the plurality of communication nodes includes, but is not limited to a communication module and a processor unit. The communication module is configured to communicate with a target communication module of a target communication node of the plurality of communication nodes. The processor unit is configured with an algorithm to automatically and dynamically determine an optimum communication path through the distributed communication network for communication between a communication node associated with the processor and the target communication node and to configure the communication module to exchange data with the target communication module over the optimum communication path through the distributed communication network.
According to a further aspect, disclosed embodiments relate to a method for communication in a distributed communication network for use in a vehicle comprising a plurality of communication nodes. The method includes, but is not limited to determining, by a processor unit of a communication node of the plurality of communication nodes, data that are to be transmitted from the communication node to a target communication node in the distributed communication network based on data requests received from another communication node of the plurality of communication nodes. The method further includes, but is not limited to calculating an optimum communication path between the communication node and a target communication node based on information about at least one of traffic in the distributed communication network and latency between communication nodes of the plurality of communication nodes and transmitting the data via the optimum communication path using a communication module of the communication node.
An optimum communication path is a communication path with a lowest jitter and/or a lowest latency and/or minimal data packet collisions. The optimum communication path may be deterministic in a normal or standard setting. Alternatively, algorithms such as Dijkstra's algorithm, Bellman-Ford algorithm, A* search algorithm, Floyd-Warshall algorithm, Johnson's algorithm, and Viterbi algorithm or other shortest path algorithms may be used to determine the optimum communication path, in case a deterministic communication path is not available or not valid due to technical reasons, for example.
Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All of the embodiments described in this Detailed Description are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following description.
It is desirable to provide a communication network architecture in an aircraft that is easy to extend or to reduce. It would also be desirable to improve the integration of various aircraft systems.
In conventional aircraft, communication devices or communication nodes rely on a centralized node or master computer to send and receive data from the aircraft to various sensors and subsystems.
The disclosed embodiments relate to distributed communication network architectures. The distributed communication network can be installed in vehicles. In one exemplary implementation, that will be described below with reference to
Each communication node of the distributed communication network may serve as a repeater and relay data submitted from a source communication node to a target communication node or another repeater.
A greater understanding of the systems, devices, and methods described above may be obtained through a review of the illustrations accompanying this application together with a review of the detailed description that follows.
In an example, the communication node 101, which may be a line replaceable unit (“LRU”), may be used to transmit data to the communication node 111, which may be a sensor, for example. Thus, a processor unit of the communication node 101 determines an optimum communication path to the communication node 111. For this purpose, the processor unit of the communication node 101 may use information about a latency of a connection between the communication nodes 103, 105, 111 and compare this latency with a latency of a connection between the communication nodes 103, 109, 111 and choose the one with a smaller latency.
Since the processor units of the communication nodes 101 to 133 are configured to determine an optimum communication path automatically and dynamically using algorithms that are based on latency and/or traffic load and/or a distance between particular communication nodes, the distributed communication network 100 may change over time without any need for reconfiguration of the processor units or the communication modules of the communication nodes 101 to 133 of the distributed communication network 100. The algorithm may be based on a connectivity strength of each communication line in the distributed communication network, wherein a connectivity strength is defined by at least one of a jitter, a latency and reliability of a bandwidth thru-put. This means, the distributed communication network 100 is resistant to drops or failures of particular communication nodes and may adapt easily to added communication nodes. Thus, the number of communication nodes in the distributed communication network may vary without any need for reconfiguration of the remaining communication nodes.
The distributed communication network 100 may be a distributed ad-hoc wireless computing network of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and Sensors. The distributed communication network 100 reduces a required wire and connector weight and eliminates the need for a central node that all of the data has to pass through, like a Modular Avionics Unit (MAU) or Data Concentration Network (DCN) switch.
The distributed communication network 100 may use end-to-end encryption and hardware cryptography for security. Thus, each communication node 101 to 133 may use an encryption and/or decryption key for communication in the distributed communication network 100.
The distributed communication network 100 does not require access points or data concentration components. Data is shared between communication nodes 101 to 133, such as LRUs and Sensors dynamically, based on the current data needs and requests, for example. Additional communication nodes can be added to the distributed communication network 100 without re-configuring the existing infrastructure and new communication paths can automatically be created. The health of the network can be monitored and reported by various communication nodes 101 to 133, thus providing no single point of failure. The term communication node and the term LRU can particularly refer to subsystem components such as touch screen controllers or standby displays.
Each communication node 101 to 133, particularly each LRU can contain common algorithms and processing capabilities used to determine the data it needs to consume and source on the distributed communication network 100. Each communication node 101 to 133, particularly each LRU acts as a repeater of data, such that latency issues are minimized. If a communication between communication nodes fails during operation, the distributed communication network 100 can re-configure itself and find an alternate communication path to continue to provide the required data. Since wireless communication can be used between the communication nodes 101 to 133, minimum wiring is required in the aircraft. Physical wiring would consist of power and a backup data bus in case the wireless network was inoperable.
The frequency of the distributed communication network 100 can be high enough in the GHz band that a required RF power will not penetrate beyond the aircraft skin. Also, the distributed communication network 100 may be immune to jamming or interference at this higher frequency. Typical ARINC 600 type connectors which drive the overall size of a communication node can be eliminated and will shrink an envelope size of communication nodes 101 to 133 used in the distributed communication network 100. These smaller LRU's can be combined, thus reducing their physical size, and relocated to other areas of the airplane that could potentially gain more usable cabin volume and decrease total aircraft weight. It should be appreciated that the distributed communication network 100 may comprise more or fewer communication nodes as the communication nodes 101 to 133.
In an example, at least one communication node 101 to 133 of the distributed communication network 100 may be configured to communicate with a communication device that is not a communication node, such as a receiver, for example.
In another example, the distributed communication network 100 may comprise a plurality of communications nodes 101 to 133 and at least one communication device that is not a communication node. The communication device may be configured to communicate with at least one communication node of the distributed communication network 100 in order to determine an optimum communication path to the communication device.
According to an embodiment, the distributed communication network 100 is controlled and monitored by every communication node 101 to 133 in the network separately. This means that a communication within the distributed communication network is controlled and monitored in many redundant ways by each communication node 101 to 133.
According to another embodiment, the processor unit of every communication node 101 to 133 in the distributed communication network 100 is configured to be switched into a learning mode and to change communication parameters used for communication in the distributed communication network 100, if a new device is found that meets the criteria for enrolling in the distributed communication network and that is included in the distributed communication network. In other words, the communication nodes 101 to 133 will recognize a new communication node and included the new communication node into their calculations for the optimum communication path automatically and dynamically.
According to another embodiment, the processor unit of each communication node 101 to 133 is configured to check if the new device meets the criteria for enrolling in the distributed communication network by using at least one encryption key to decrypt a message from the new device and, if the message is decrypted successfully, to enroll the new device in the distributed communication network as a new communication node.
According to another embodiment, the processor unit of each node 101 to 133 is configured to monitor a state of the distributed communication network 100 and, if a communication node 101 to 133 becomes inactive, to exclude the inactive node 101 to 133 from using it as a repeater of data and to determine a new path for communicating data through the distributed communication network 100 that is only based on active communication nodes 101 to 133, which means that inactive communication nodes are excluded from communication over the optimum communication path. A communication node may be recognized as inactive by another communication node, if the communication node shows a latency that is above a given threshold or if the communication node submits a message telling that it is inactive for a given time window, for example.
In
Other features of nodes and the aircraft 200 will now be described below with reference to
The communication node 300 is an LRU or sensor unit. In one embodiment, the communication node 300 includes a processor unit 310 that performs a variety of processing and control functions; and a data communication module 320. In another embodiment, the processor unit 310 and the communication module 320 can be one or more electronic components installed on one or more circuit boards. The communication node 300 also includes a memory 330 that stores an algorithm that configures the processor unit 310 to determine an optimum communication path for transmitting data or information through the distributed communication network 100, when the algorithm is executed by the processor unit 310. Further, the memory 330 can store software components that are not illustrated for sake of clarity.
The processor unit 310 is configured to automatically and dynamically determine an optimum communication path through the communication network for communication between the communication node 300 and a target communication node and to configure the communication module to exchange data with the target communication node over the determined optimum communication path through the distributed communication network.
The processor unit 310 performs the computation and control functions of the communication node 300. As used herein, a “processor” or “processor unit” can refer to any type of conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, field programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP) or state machine. A processor unit can be implemented using a single processor or multiple processors that are not part of a single unit. Further, a processor unit may comprise single integrated circuits such as a microprocessor, or any suitable number of multiple processors or integrated circuit devices and/or circuit boards working in cooperation to accomplish the functions of a processor. Thus, a processor unit is not necessarily implemented as a single discrete unit in all embodiments, but may also be implemented using a plurality of said processors that are distributed throughout the node. It should be understood that the memory 330 may be a single type of memory component, or it may be composed of many different types of memory components. The memory 330 can include non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), memory (such as RAM), or some combination of the two. The RAM can be any type of suitable random access memory including the various types of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as SDRAM, the various types of static RAM (SRAM). The RAM may include an operating system, and executable code for power control programs and data conversion programs that can be loaded and executed at the processor to convert or translate data received by the processor unit 310. The data conversion programs can include configuration files that describe a data source of particular data, a data consumer for that particular data, and instructions for how that particular data needs to be processed and re-formatted prior to sending it over the bus toward the intended data consumer.
The processor unit 310 is configured to control the communication module 320 to submit and/or receive data and/or information to and/or from the distributed communication network 100, i.e. from particular communication nodes 101 to 133 of the distributed communication network 100. The processor unit 310 generates control signals (or “commands”) that are communicated to the communication module 320 to control communication with other communication nodes 103 to 133 throughout the aircraft 200 (as will be described in greater detail below with reference to
For example, in one embodiment, if two or more communication nodes wish to communicate with the communication node 300, the processor unit 310 of the communication node 300 is configured to buffer the received data in the memory 330 or an internal memory of the processor unit 310 and use a prioritization method to determine which data received from the two or more communication nodes to process first. Thus, the processor unit 310 may be configured to build a priority line for communication of important information.
The processor unit 310 can be implemented via a microprocessor-based controller. The processor unit 310 can convert input data from one form to another before outputting it. In one embodiment, the processor unit 310 can receive input data (in discrete, analog or digital form) from a variety of different transmitting systems via the communication module 320. The processor unit 310 can process and reformat the input data into a common digital data format so that it can be communicated via communication module 320 over a high-bandwidth digital network. For example, in one implementation, the processor unit 310 functions as a protocol converter that can convert incoming input signals per a network protocol such as EIA/TIA-232, EIA/TIA-422, EIA/TIA-485, ARINC 429, USB, ARINC-664, MIL-STD-1553, CAN bus and Ethernet, etc. In addition, the processor 310 can receive data that has been converted per the network protocol, and convert the converted data back into a form that is useable by the various consumers.
The communication module 320 allows the communication node 300 to be connected to other communication nodes, network switches, Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) units that include additional control units, databases, or other electronic equipment onboard the aircraft. The communication node 300 can be designed for communication in accordance with a high-bandwidth bus protocol such as Ethernet, A664, AFDX, etc.
In a calculation step 430, an optimum communication path between the communication node and the target communication node is calculated by a processor unit of the communication node, based on information about at least one of current traffic in the distributed communication network, latency between particular communication nodes in the distributed communication network.
In a transmission step 440, the data determined in determination step 420 are transmitted via the optimum communication path calculated in calculating step 430 using a communication module of communication node.
In an example, the data determined in determination step 420 may be data that are to be transmitted from the communication node to the target communication node. Alternatively, the data determined in determination step 420 may be data that are to be repeated and, therefore, are transmitted from a source communication node to the communication node and from the communication node to the target communication node or a further communication node. The method terminates at 450.
As described above, a plurality of communication nodes can be distributed throughout a distributed communication network in an aircraft. Thus, in some implementations, the disclosed embodiments allow for replacement of most or all system controllers, central computers, data concentration devices and networks that are necessary for controlling communication in a vehicle. As a result, system capabilities and resources can be more efficiently utilized, and significant reductions in weight and installation and maintenance complexity can be achieved.
In addition, the distributed aircraft systems platform improves systems integration by combining a distributed communication network.
The distributed communication network also allows higher robustness to localized damage, due to the increased ability to perform functions in alternative ways. This is due to the fact that the distributed communication network contains a plurality of communication nodes that are organized automatically and dynamically for the optimum and thus, the fastest possible communication.
Because wiring and other hardware components can be removed with this distributed communication network architecture, particularly on larger aircraft, can significantly reduce system weight while improving safety. The distributed communication network architecture can also reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Some of the embodiments and implementations are described above in terms of functional and/or logical block components (or modules). However, it should be appreciated that such block components (or modules) may be realized by any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention. For example, an embodiment of a system or a component may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments described herein are merely exemplary implementations.
The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, USB flash memory stick, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Numerical ordinals such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. simply denote different singles of a plurality and do not imply any order or sequence unless specifically defined by the claim language. The sequence of the text in any of the claims does not imply that process steps must be performed in a temporal or logical order according to such sequence unless it is specifically defined by the language of the claim. The process steps may be interchanged in any order without departing from the scope of the invention as long as such an interchange does not contradict the claim language and is not logically nonsensical.
Furthermore, depending on the context, words such as “connect” or “coupled to” used in describing a relationship between different elements do not imply that a direct physical connection must be made between these elements. For example, two elements may be connected to each other physically, electronically, logically, or in any other manner, through one or more additional elements.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. For example, although the disclosed embodiments are described with reference to a flight control computer of an aircraft, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed embodiments could be implemented in other types of computers that are used in other types of vehicles including, but not limited to, spacecraft, submarines, surface ships, automobiles, trains, motorcycles, etc. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.
In
If no deterministic communication path is available, an optimum communication path is calculated using a shortest path algorithm such as Dijkstra's algorithm, Bellman-Ford algorithm, A* search algorithm, Floyd-Warshall algorithm, Johnson's algorithm, or Viterbi algorithm in a calculation step 507 using a processor unit of the sender node or a processor unit of a server, for example. The sender node transmits the data via the calculated optimum communication path to the target communication node, which receives the data in receiving step 509.
The optimum communication path calculated in calculation step 507 may be stored in a memory, such as a memory of a server, for example, and may be used as a determined communication path for data to be sent in the future.
