System for Communicating Avionics Information Through Portable Electronic Devices

摘要

A method and apparatus for using portable electronic devices such as commercial off-the-shelf cell phones and tablets for the communication of critical aviation data provides a protocol which minimizes processing by the portable electronic device other than the confirmation of a receipt of uncorrupted data. Failure of timely, accurate communication is detected at a certified avionics data server and communicated to the portable electronic device in the form of a fail-image. The communicated images may be composited with animated frames to provide a human recognizable indication of data integrity.

主权项

1. An avionics data server comprising:
a first interface communicating with one or more avionics buses conveying avionics data related to the safe operation of an aircraft; and a second interface communicating with at least one portable electronic device having an electronic display; wherein the avionics data server includes a processor executing a program stored in non-transient medium to:
(1) generate an image frame at the avionics data server from the avionics data the image frame displayable to provide information related to a safe operation of the aircraft;(2) determine a signature at the avionics data server, the signature providing a representation of data of the image frame;(3) forward the image frame from the avionics data server via the second interface to the portable electronic device;(4) receive a confirming signature from the portable electronic device to the avionics data server, the confirming signature providing a representation of the image frame as received by the portable electronic device; and(5) compare the confirming signature to the signature at the avionics data server and, when they do not match, forwarding a fail-image frame to the portable electronic device, the fail-image frame displayable to provide information indicating an unreliability of displayed information on the portable electronic device.